"Going down, but we'll be back," sang the optimistic Leeds fans on an emotional day at Elland Road when the club's relegation to the Football League was confirmed.

Those loyal supporters, as they have all season, refused to turn the club's final home match in the Premiership, potentially for years to come, into a wake.

Instead, they tossed beachballs around in The Kop, sang their hearts out and raised the roof when Matthew Kilgallon, Jermaine Pennant, and who else but hometown hero Alan Smith, scored the goals to give Leeds a point - albeit one snatched yet again from the jaws of three.

As Smith, handed the captain's armband by Dominic Matteo as a poignant farewell gesture, stated earlier this week, if only the players had given as much as the supporters then Leeds would again be playing top-flight football next season.

The Football League now beckons for Leeds, but not for the likes of Smith, Mark Viduka, Paul Robinson, Matteo and a handful of the other 18 players who are paid over £1million a year as chairman Gerald Krasner confirmed in his programme notes.

A wind of change will blow through the club during the closed season, not for the first time and perhaps initially with yet another takeover for haulage magnate Steve Parkin is expected to confirm his interest next week.

Beyond that, the summer sales will then begin in earnest, with Smith leading the exodus, for what Leeds hope will be a fee of around £10million, potentially abroad as the 23-year-old has declared his interest in a transfer to the continent.

It is abundantly clear Leeds have to further slash their debts and cut a wage bill unsustainable for a top flight, never mind one in the Coca-Cola League, as it will be known from next season.

Caretaker-manager Eddie Gray, certain to be another casualty despite stating his desire in wanting to continue in the post for next season, at least offered a glimpse of the future.

In the absence of the injury-hit Viduka, out for this match and next week's curtain-closer at Chelsea with hamstring and back injuries, Gray chose to partner Smith with James Milner.

The 18-year-old, who is courting a number of clubs, is one player the board have said they will not sell in the summer - but previous regimes have made such promises only to go back on their word.

Milner is a player who is pivotal to Leeds' hopes of challenging for at least a play-off place next season, as are Kilgallon and Frazer Richardson, deployed at centre and right back for this match.

Kilgallon gave an exemplary performance at the heart of the back four and it was his far-post sliding strike to an inswinging Stephen McPhail free-kick which brought United back into a game which saw them go behind in the ninth minute.

Charlton, who still harboured faint hopes of a UEFA Cup spot before kick-off, threatened to turn Elland Road into a morgue when skipper Matt Holland sent a searing 30-yard drive into the top left-hand corner beyond the outstretched grasp of Robinson.

It extended Leeds' run without a clean sheet to 20 matches stretching back to Boxing Day.

But then Leeds turned the tide and played the kind of football which must make the fans wonder just why their beloved club are down.

After Kilgallon's opportune strike, Milner was twice denied in a matter of moments by two superb saves from Dean Kiely before Leeds then grabbed the lead three minutes before the break.

Milner played in a ball to Smith and went for the return, only for Jonathan Fortune to steer the ball into the path of on-loan Arsenal winger Pennant who proceeded to cut inside Luke Young before despatching his second goal of the season past Kiely.

Following a tame start to the second period, then came the moment Leeds fans had been waiting for, for when Michael Duberry was tugged in the area by Fortune and referee Mark Halsey belatedly pointed to the spot, up stepped Smith for the 67th-minute penalty.

In front of The Kop to boot, it might not have been the greatest of kicks as it was virtually straight down the middle, but it had enough power on it for Kiely to be unable to keep it.

Smith was mobbed by his team-mates, and after they had dispersed, he remained behind for a few poignant moments to take in the plaudits of the supporters and offer his own in return, kissing the Leeds badge and punching the air.

It should have been the perfect send off, but Leeds have made a habit of creating their own demise and so it proved again as six minutes later Duberry brought down Jason Euell, allowing the striker to send Robinson the wrong way with his spot kick.

A Leeds game would not be the same without a touch of Keystone Cops defending and that duly followed 11 minutes from time when Duberry, McPhail and Robinson all made a hash of a simple clearance, with Euell stealing in to snatch a point.

It did not detract from the lap of honour at the final whistle, with Smith the pivotal figure as many fans broke through the cordon of security staff to mob a player who will long be remembered in the annals of the club for decades to come.

Teams

Leeds Robinson, Richardson (Radebe 82), Duberry, Kilgallon, Harte, Kelly (Wilcox 73), McPhail, Matteo, Pennant, Smith, Milner.

Subs Not Used: Carson, Barmby, Winter.

Goals: Kilgallon 29, Pennant 41, Smith 69 pen.

Charlton Kiely, Young, Hreidarsson, Fortune, Powell (Perry 60), Stuart (Kishishev 60), Holland, Euell, Konchesky, Di Canio (Bartlett 60), Johansson.

Subs Not Used: Leite, Fish.

Goals: Holland 11, Euell 76 pen, 79.

Att: 38,986

Ref: M Halsey (England).