LEEDS UNITED...2 FULHAM...0Leeds United have spent a lot of time this season living on the edge. But they took a major stride back from the precipice of relegation last night.

Two goals from Mark Viduka, his 18th and 19th of the season, lifted Leeds two places to 15th in the Premiership, above Fulham on goal difference, and, though the drop is still a mathematical possibility, Peter Reid has all but completed the task set by Peter Ridsdale a month ago.

Leeds have won two of the five games Reid has overseen and drawn one and, if their form remains erratic, Reid's record compares favourably with the last eight games of the Terry Venables era, which yielded four points from 24.

Leeds are now six points ahead of West Ham and have a superior goal difference.

Viduka is to be thanked by Reid for that, the Australian scoring eight times since the former Sunderland manager arrived at Elland Road.

Fulham, who have tricky fixtures against Chelsea and Everton before a final afternoon trip to Charlton, are the more vulnerable club this morning.

They may need to win one of those three games to ensure they stay up and they will have to show much more ambition than they did here to get that win. The Leeds goalkeeper, Paul Robinson, had a much quieter night than he could have imagined and Fulham's lack of urgency contrasted with their hosts' attitude.

Despite the comprehensive nature of the defeat at Southampton on Saturday and Reid's scathing opinion of his players' attitude afterwards, the temporary manager sent the same starting XI out, presumably to repair the self-inflicted damage.

Leeds could not have started any better. Harry Kewell was fizzing even before Viduka's emphatic opener and it was the left-winger's dash down the right that won the corner from which Viduka scored.

Gary Kelly flighted in the centre and Viduka rose unchallenged 10 yards out to power a meaty header past Maik Taylor. The goal, Viduka's 10th in his last seven league games, should have settled the Yorkshiremen, especially when allied to the promise of Kewell. They then spent the rest of the half controlling their nerves as much as the game.

Fulham played their part in that. In mitigation, their centre-half, Martin Djetou, may have been injured when Viduka scored and he was soon off, replaced by Zat Knight.

Leeds were sharper in the tackle initially and occasionally strung a series of passes together. Fulham's reorganisation after Djetou hardly amounted to an overhaul but it was still a while before they were matching Leeds' energy.

But, when Lee Clark began to drop deep from his advanced position behind Elvis Hammond, Fulham looked a more fluent outfit. When they then started to knock the ball around Leeds were jittery, although it was the 44th minute before Fulham worried Leeds in theie penalty area. Then Danny Mills slid in to block a goal-bound shot from Luis Boa Morte.

There was massed relief at that. Even though Robinson did not have a meaningful save to make prior to the interval the home side seemed to need the security of a second goal.

There were decent efforts from Eirik Bakke, Alan Smith and Kewell but Taylor, notably, ended the first half like Robinson having not made a stop. Given their own place in the table Fulham could not afford to be complacent about the scoreline and Barry Hayles went on for the anonymous Junichi Inamoto.

Hayles managed only one touch of the ball before Viduka gave Leeds that second goal they craved. Kewell should have been the man responsible for it. Supplied by Viduka, he charged into the Fulham box but saw his toe-poked shot cannon off Taylor, who had spread himself bravely. Taylor was still on the ground as the ball ran free and Viduka, following up, lashed it into the bottom corner.

Guardian Service

LEEDS: Robinson; Kelly, Duberry, Mills, Harte, Kewell, Bakke, Matteo, Wilcox, Viduka, Smith. Subs Not Used: Martyn, Bravo, Barmby, Kilgallon, Simon Johnson. Goals: Viduka 4, 49.

FULHAM: Taylor; Finnan, Melville, Djetou (Knight 10), Harley, Davis, Clark, Legwinski, Inamoto (Hayles 46), Boa Morte, Hammond. Subs Not Used: Herrera, Sava, John Collins. Booked: Boa Morte, Hayles.

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).