Reid sees reasons to cheer up

Leeds United 2; Newcastle 2: Peter Reid fancied a glass of water; Bobby Robson's first word was "gin". But it was the Leeds United manager who was given a tonic yesterday.

A grim pre-season of defeats by clubs such as Shelbourne, Hull City and Burnley, allied to the sale of Harry Kewell and the training ground arguments with Mark Viduka, had left Reid regretting his annual month off alcohol and perhaps even his decision to succeed Terry Venables five months ago. Leeds were in a mess and Reid could not find solace even in his local.

Then, when the August tipping spree started, Leeds were among those teams being mentioned as candidates for relegation. Reid admitted to being worried himself about yesterday and what the rest of the season might hold.

On Saturday, though, at Thorpe Arch, venue for the rucks with Viduka and goodbyes over the past 12 months, Reid saw something at last that amounted to a dose of optimism. "I was worried but yesterday there was a real spark in training - they looked really sharp," Reid said.

Week in, week out Leeds will be fortunate to find a defence as accommodating as Newcastle's but there were enough plus points to merit satisfaction. Another should arrive in the next few days with the on-loan signing of Jermaine Pennant from Arsenal.

Faith has been repeatedly dented, but Viduka's presence in the team, Alan Smith as committed as ever and impressive debuts from Jody Morris, Zoumana Camara and Lamine Sakho lifted the atmosphere at the club. There was even some icing in the form of David Batty's first league appearance for 16 months. Batty came on for Jason Wilcox with the score 2-1 to Leeds.

A bright opening saw Smith volley one decent opportunity over and then go closer with a marvellous over-the-shoulder lob. But in the 20th minute home hopes subsided like Kieron Dyer in the Leeds penalty area after a Lucas Radebe lunge. In his 600th domestic club appearance Alan Shearer rattled the ball in.

In the build-up to the penalty Lee Bowyer had supplied an accurate pass to Craig Bellamy. In contrast to Jonathan Woodgate, Bowyer received the predictable amount of stick from Leeds's fans.How, on form, Bowyer can be picked ahead of Nolberto Solano is perplexing. But the Peruvian has annoyed Robson by continuing to play international football and, after the game, Robson pinned against a wall a reporter who dared to point out his treatment of Solano is different to his attitude to Hugo Viana.

Bowyer slid into mediocrity following his pass to Bellamy, though he was not alone there. Misplaced Newcastle passes flowed and one from Gary Speed, just four minutes after Shearer's penalty, was collected by Morris. Morris found Sakho on the edge of the Newcastle area and he fed Viduka, the big Australian lashing the ball past Given.

The second-half began with Bowyer kicking Dominic Matteo off the ball, but the pain was soon Newcastle's. This time it was Olivier Bernard who gave the ball away, the French full back's attempted header to Given being read by Smith. Given was off his line and Smith smacked the ball through his legs.

It was the high point of a fine individual performance by Smith, who swapped shirts with Woodgate at the end. But with more than half an hour to play and Leeds's confidence still fragile, they retreated.

Solano, Jermaine Jenas and Shola Ameobi were thrown on and in the attacking flurry that followed, Paul Robinson made a sound save from Speed while Radebe produced a clearance off the line.

But Newcastle came again and with two minutes left Shearer trapped a Hughes cross and stretched to poke the ball past Robinson.