Milner offers Leeds hope

Leeds finally gave their fans something to cheer about with a 1-0 win over high-flying Charlton on the day a group of Gulf investors confirmed they were planning a takeover bid for the cash-strapped club.

James Milner's ninth-minute goal earnt Eddie Gray his first victory since becoming caretaker manager after the sacking of Peter Reid.

The 17-year-old's goal provided a happy end to a grim week in which Leeds warned that they could go into administration.

Milner showed a remarkably cool head as he calmly accepted a pass from Mark Viduka and side-footed his shot past goalkeeper Dean Kiely.

"I thought we deserved our win. This is a difficult place to come to and most sides would be delighted to win here," said Gray.

"I'm especially pleased with our attitude. There has been a lack of confidence running through the club and hopefully this victory will give the players a lot more belief and we can start to climb the table.

"The ability is there. The players just need to have belief in each other."

Leeds could have gone 2-0 up after 11 minutes when Mark Viduka swept past Chris Perry and chipped the ball over goalkeeper Kiely from close range, only to see defender Radostin Kishishev get back to clear off the line.

The substitution of Carlton Cole, on loan from Chelsea, for Mathias Svensson at half-time added a little bit of bite to Charlton's attack.

However, Paul Robinson did not have a serious save to make until the last five minutes when he was tested by Jason Euell's 20-yard drive which flew straight into his arms, before diving to his right to turn an effort from Cole round the post.

Charlton were restricted to hit-and-hope, long-range efforts after Matt Holland had hit the post in the first half, and looked as though they could have done with a touch of magic from enigmatic Italian Paolo di Canio, ruled out before the kick-off with a groin strain.

Leeds were forceful and direct and Kiely was much the busier of the two goalkeepers, twice saving from Viduka and also denying Milner a second goal.

The teenager was causing Charlton so much trouble that the frustrated Kishishev was booked in the 88th minute.