Leeds left looking for answers

How far away that thrilling 4-3 victory over Liverpool at Elland Road earlier this season seems now. O'Leary said: 'A lot of the players have no confidence. Maybe there is a bit of complacency, but I see their confidence drain away at home.

'With young players, it can drift very quickly when things go against you. But the supporters have been excellent despite everything.'

So often, earlier this season, O'Leary's injury-ravaged side rode the odds to prevail with a fine team effort. On Saturday, it was a Newcastle side shorn of Alan Shearer, Carl Cort and Kieron Dyer that delivered the result to ease their own disappointment of a midweek FA Cup exit at Villa Park.

As they clawed their way into an unlikely sixth place in the Premiership, it was tempting to view the game as Bobby Robson's over-achievers making a point to O'Leary's under-achievers.

Australia striker Mark Viduka, one Leeds' player who did make the grade, emphasised: 'When we lose, we all take the cop - it doesn't matter who's had a bad game and who's had a good one. We're all concerned at what's happened and we had a good discussion afterwards.

'We thought winning at Manchester City last week might be a turning point, but we haven't been up to scratch at home. It's very frustrating the way we concede goals.'

Newcastle's equaliser, quick enough to allow Leeds no lift from Robbie Keane's second-minute opener, was a Nolberto Solano penalty bitterly disputed by full back Danny Mills, who insisted he handled Kevin Gallacher's cross inadvertently.

Their killer goal, just before half-time, came from a beautifully-weighted ball by Gary Speed and a gravity-defying finish from Chilean midfielder Clarence Acuna, who lobbed Paul Robinson despite falling under Olivier Dacourt's challenge.

Robinson was hopelessly unsighted for the late third, a low Shola Ameobi volley set up by Solano. But by then, Leeds were cursing Shay Given's inspired performance on his return to Newcastle's goal.

The Republic of Ireland goal-keeper, whose answer to losing his place to Steve Harper was an unpopular and rejected transfer demand, won back some goodwill with a particularly fine save from Lee Bowyer at 1-1. He said: 'I over-reacted with the transfer request. I was a bit hasty.'