Leeds United 2 Gillingham 1

Last updated : 05 February 2003 By Footymad Previewer

The Nationwide first division side fell behind to an 11th minute goal by Mark Viduka, but it was Bakke's 58th minute header that twisted the knife.

Substitute Guy Ipoua's 86th minute lobbed reply ensured a nerve-jangling finish and Leeds keeper Paul Robinson made an injury-time save from the Gills player-manager Andy Hessenthaler to avoid the need for extra time.

Norwegian Bakke was only playing up front because Alan Smith, virus, and Harry Kewell, hamstring, were missing.

Viduka took sweet revenge on Hessenthaler with a magnificent strike. The Aussie was making his final appearance before starting a three-match ban for his dismissal in the first meeting.

He claimed at the time that Hessenthaler helped to get him sent off by over-reacting to an aerial challenge at Priestfield, but his appeal against the ban failed.

Viduka made no attempt to hide his delight at firing Leeds ahead, blowing a kiss to Gillingham fans behind the goal in the South Stand.

Ian Harte played the ball into the goalmouth where it rebounded off defender Leon Johnson for Viduka to score with a rising angled shot from ten yards.

Leeds lost defender Lucas Radebe after a clash of heads with Mali international Mamady Sidibe on the half hour.

Luckless Radebe had been doubtful for the game after slipping on ice while putting out the dustbins and his painful departure gave Michael Duberry his first outing since Boxing Day.

Gillingham, also forced into fielding a weakened side, rarely tested Leeds keeper Robinson but he had to make a desperate save from Sidibe's powerful downward header in the 65th minute.

The crowd of 29,355 was Leeds' lowest for nearly three years and the much-predicted demonstration against the Leeds board was muted.