Viduka has the final say to lift Leeds

Leeds 2

Leeds supporters’ groups had warned Ridsdale he would be in for a rough ride, but United’s FA Cup fourth-round replay was predominantly plain sailing.

There were barely a handful of anti-Ridsdale banners dotted around Elland Road prior to kick off, and then they were only held up in a relatively half-hearted fashion, and as for fans venting their anger via any vitriolic chants, instead there was only silence.

The most significant response came from the boot of Viduka in the 11th minute as it was his goal which ultimately fired Leeds into a fifth-round tie with either Liverpool or Crystal Palace.

It was sweet revenge for Viduka following his sending off in the 1-1 draw at the Priestfield Stadium when he was adjudged to have elbowed Gillingham player-boss Andy Hessenthaler.

The Australia international signed off until the Old Trafford showdown on March 5 with Manchester United, or possibly a last 16 FA Cup replay, in emphatic fashion.

Ian Harte’s through-ball struck Leon Johnson and rebounded into the path of Viduka, whose rasping first-time drive from 15 yards flew beyond goalkeeper Jason Brown.

Viduka could then not resist blowing kisses at the Gillingham followers as the rest of a largely reshuffled Leeds pack celebrated around him.

Venables was without Alan Smith because of a virus, as well as Harry Kewell (hamstring), with Viduka finding himself partnered by midfielder Eirik Bakke, who killed the game off in the 58th minute.

Leeds had thoroughly dominated proceedings from the start and deserved their second goal when the emergency forward Bakke rose to head home from a Harte free-kick.

It was only then that a Leeds defence which had surprisingly started with skipper Dominic Matteo and Lucas Radebe in attendance at its heart, despite the fact both had been struggling with knee injuries, was finally tested.

By then, though, Leeds were without Radebe as the South African had departed on the half hour with concussion following a sickening clash of heads with Mali international striker Mamady Sidibe.

It was Sidibe who finally forced previously untroubled Leeds keeper Paul Robinson into a stunning save soon after United had opened up their two-goal cushion.

Robinson, expected to make his debut for England in next week’s friendly at Upton Park with Australia, was then at full stretch to tip away Sidibe’s powerful header from a Kevin James cross.

Brown then excelled as he made equally superb saves from Viduka’s header low down to his left-hand post, and then from Seth Johnson, the midfielder starting his first game since the final match of last season in filling the void created by Bakke. Those two chances sandwiched the arrival of Guy Ipoua who first missed a sitter within moments of his 71st minute arrival before then setting up a nervy finish.

Ipoua ran onto a long through ball from Hessenthaler, slotting home what proved to be only an 86th-minute consolation past an advancing Robinson.

The Leeds fans and Ridsdale were then in unison in the closing stages, but only in respect they were all on the edge of their seats throughout the four minutes of injury-time before then celebrating Leeds’ first victory in six matches.

LEEDS: Robinson, Mills, Radebe (Duberry 32), Matteo (Milner 76), Harte, Kelly, Okon, Seth Johnson, Wilcox, Viduka, Bakke.

GILLINGHAM: Brown, Nosworthy, Leon Johnson, Hope, Edge, James, Hessenthaler, Southall, Perpetuini (Ipoua 71), Wallace (Tommy Johnson 71), Sidibe.

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).