Venables stunned by latest setback

This time there was no bitterness, no boos, no chants of "Venables out". Leeds United's sixth Premiership defeat in eight at Elland Road was met instead with stunned disbelief as Charlton Athletic wrenched victory with two goals in the final 10 minutes. David Hopps reports from Elland Road.

Perhaps the outpourings of hate against Venables have finally subsided, to be replaced by something equally unwelcome - bewilderment. Two days after the chairman Peter Ridsdale had demanded better at the annual meeting, Leeds, both team and fans alike, made a decent show of unity, only to get caught cold at the last.

Venables vowed in the programme he would not "throw in the towel" but afterwards he expressed himself stunned, and looked it. "The players did well and the crowd were fantastic," he said. "But this was a big blow and the next month is very important."

Charlton might have relegation fears - is it really credible Leeds have them too? - but they are young and willing. Scott Parker had a wonderful match in midfield and Shaun Bartlett's aerial power caused countless problems.

They equalised after 80 minutes when Gary Rowett struck a long cross from the right, Bartlett won the header and Kevin Lisbie hooked in his first goal of the season. The winning goal, in injury-time, capped Parker's afternoon as he ran at a retreating defence and tucked the ball past Paul Robinson.

In between, Leeds could have won it themselves as Michael Bridges struck a post from 18 yards and Robbie Fowler headed wide. Venables will draw heart from their return to fitness, but a rift between Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka, his striking partner with Leeds and Australia, is his latest problem.

Kewell had never cut a more isolated figure than he did at kick-off time yesterday after Viduka had depicted him as individual with little sense of team spirit.

Leeds supporters no longer pretend to understand him, but his eighth Premiership goal of the season, three minutes before half-time, was a reminder of how much they need him. It is a love affair built on mutual suspicion.

It takes a lot to goad Kewell into a passionate response, but Parker inadvertently discovered how when a stray arm caught Kewell in the face and, for all his melodramatics, he failed to win a free-kick.

Parker's surge forward broke down on the edge of the Leeds area and when Stephen McPhail played another through-ball, Kewell's resentment remained powerful enough for him to wrest possession from Rowett, tear goalwards and swerve a shot past Dean Kiely from 25 yards. Congratulations from his Leeds team-mates were muted.

Viduka was absent with a calf injury, but his lack of respect for Kewell is so marked that he had protested in the Australian media against suggestions that Frank Farina, the Socceroos' coach, was about to make Kewell captain of his country.

"Harry doesn't speak to anyone when he comes to camp," said Viduka. "I have been here at Leeds for two years and he hasn't spoken much to me. I don't know why he's like that."

Leeds's composure was more evident yesterday but it might have collapsed within 15 minutes had Bartlett not seen his header from Paul Konchesky's cross smack against Robinson's bar.

Bakke's header, a minute later, was cleared off the line by Jason Euell, but neatly as McPhail tried to fashion openings in midfield it was Charlton, where Parker matched subtlety with energy and Konchesky crossed with intent, who created clearer chances. Jon Fortune, the England under-21 defender, should have buried a close-range header on the hour.

Venables's programme notes had been bullish: "It's time to clear up a few misconceptions," he said. "I'm not throwing in the towel because I don't believe we are in a long-term decline.

"I came to Leeds United because I see it as a club that gives me the chance of winning trophies. That remains the aim."

This ranks as Leeds's best home performance since the defeat of Manchester United. But they have a softness about them which does not equip them for times of struggle.

Sunderland, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton, Bolton and now Charlton know that only too well.

Guardian Service

LEEDS: Robinson, Kelly, Woodgate, Duberry, Harte, Bowyer (Fowler 82), Bakke, McPhail (Bridges 82), Wilcox, Kewell, Smith. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Lucic, Mills. Booked: Wilcox. Goals: Kewell 42.

CHARLTON: Kiely, Young, Fish (Fortune 20), Rowett, Powell, Kishishev (Jensen 74), Parker, Euell, Konchesky, Bartlett (Svensson 90), Lisbie. Subs Not Used: Roberts, Bart-Williams. Booked: Parker. Goals: Lisbie 80, Parker 90.

Referee: A D'Urso (Essex).