Reid's new life has an up and down side

Leeds United 2 Tottenham Hotspur

It looks as though Peter Reid will avoid the invidious distinction of being complicit in the relegation of two Premiership sides in one season. Sunderland, the club he managed before his dismissal early in the season and in which he still owns a five per cent shareholding, were finally forced to accept their fate at St Andrew's.

Meanwhile his newly acquired Leeds prised a point more towards safety, with the benefit of two goals from the stocky Australian Mark Viduka following his hat-trick in the 6-1 triumph at Charlton last week. But they made mighty hard work of it.

For much of the second half Leeds contemplated a ninth home defeat after Spurs' first-half response to Viduka's opener had been goals from Teddy Sheringham and Robbie Keane. The latter, of course, is one of the most potent symbols of Leeds' financial mismanagement, and the Irish international duly returned to his former club with a scintillating run and drive past Paul Robinson which merely served to emphasise to the Leeds faithful what they had been deprived of by his £7 million move to north London.

But Glenn Hoddle's men succumbed to a safety-first approach after the interval. It gave Leeds all the encouragement they required, and Viduka secured a merited equaliser with 14 minutes remaining. "In the end I was pleased with a point, because we were anxious in the second half and didn't really play," reflected Reid, in charge of his first match at home. "But the biggest thing for me was that we kept on going."

As for Sunderland, he conceded that he felt for his old club and those who supported them. "I had seven-and-a-half great years there and it's a fantastic club," he said. "You've got to have sympathy for them. I'm just hoping they'll bounce straight back." The Stadium of Light regulars might suggest that, as he oversaw the initial stages of their decline and spent £25m on players to no great effect in the months before his departure, "regret" might be a preferred word to "sympathy".

For much of the first half-hour this had a decided end-of-term feel about it. The midfield passing of Tottenham, who still harbour European interests, was indifferent and there were few opportunities for Keane to prosper. Leeds, frequently threatening a susceptible-looking Spurs rearguard, were the dominant force in that early period.

Ian Harte fashioned one opportunity for Viduka but the striker could only find Kasey Keller's midriff from a tight angle. Then Harry Kewell and Viduka combined with rare finesse before the latter turned and drove just wide.

Tottenham, who apart from last week's triumph over Birmingham have appeared singularly lacking in ambition in recent weeks, finally began to stir. Gus Poyet deceived Danny Mills cleverly and crossed, but none of his team-mates could take advantage, and then Michael Duberry thwarted Keane with an excellent saving challenge.

Yet just as Spurs began to demonstrate their attacking intent, Leeds scored. It was splendidly constructed, too, with Eirik Bakke releasing Kewell, whose superbly weighted ball found Viduka in the visitors' area. The Australian converted the chance with aplomb to register his 16th goal of the season.

Within six minutes Spurs had levelled. A Mauricio Taricco corner was headed on by Goran Bunjevcevic, leaving Sheringham to steal in and score with a header and forge ahead of Keane in the Tottenham top goalscorer race with 12. Two minutes later, a determined run by Keane took him past Harte and Bakke and he finished superbly.

There was little to encourage the home faithful immediately after the interval. On the hour, Reid brought on the exciting teenager James Milner for Mills and deployed him on the right of midfield. Yet it was Poyet who nearly placed the result beyond Leeds with a close-range attempt.

But Leeds always appeared likely to benefit from Spurs' caution. They achieved their reward when Keller brought down Kewell, whose compatriot Viduka scored with ease from the resultant penalty.

It all provoked a frenetic end to the match. Poyet headed narrowly wide of Robin-son's goal, Bakke was also close at the other end and, in added time, Spurs claimed a penalty for a foul on Simon Davies by Lucas Radebe. The referee, Rob Styles, appeared correct in adjudging that the latter had touched the ball away before contact.

There was one for the dictionary of misguided optimists in yesterday's match programme. Leeds' new chairman, Professor John McKenzie, we are told, "hopes to continue living a quiet life in the Leeds area". Somehow that particular responsibility and a low profile are unlikely to be synonymous. However, another win by his team before too long might just aid his peaceful existence.

Leeds United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2
Viduka 31, pen 76; Sheringham 37, Keane 39

Half-time: 1-2 Attendance: 39,560