In-form Mark Viduka's rich vein of form continued as the Leeds striker struck his 16th goal of the season to continue United's push for a place in Europe next season.

But Champions League football looks beyond Leeds following Newcastle's remarkable come-from-behind victory at Derby to leave the Magpies four points clear of David O'Leary's side and with a game in hand.

UEFA Cup football looks the more likely route to the continent for Leeds, which could arrive as early as Sunday if Chelsea and Arsenal win their respective FA Cup semi-finals.

O'Leary will no doubt be lighting many a candle throughout the day to ensure his side avoid the prospect of Intertoto Cup football, and a mid-July start to the season.

The loss of Jonathan Woodgate earlier this week had given O'Leary the kind of defensive headache he could have done without, particularly at such a critical juncture of the season.

What the club described in a statement as "horseplay" - Woodgate shadow boxing with a friend during a night out around Middlesbrough - led to the 22-year-old undergoing surgery to repair a fractured jaw which has ruled him out for the rest of the season.

It meant O'Leary started this game without four of his recognised centre backs in Woodgate, skipper Rio Ferdinand, Michael Duberry and Lucas Radebe, so forcing right-back Danny Mills into the heart of the defence alongside skipper Dominic Matteo.

Perhaps a better team than this poor Villa side at present would have capitalised on such deficiencies, although credit where it is due to Leeds for they were forced to defend resolutely at times, particularly during the second half.

But this is an Aston Villa team going through a transitionary period following the departure of John Gregory and the arrival of Graham Taylor, who has engineered just a single win in his 10 matches in charge.

Villa could perhaps count themselves unfortunate to concede the opener as centre-back Olof Mellberg was just returning to the pitch after receiving lengthy treatment for a nose bleed.

Leeds took advantage of Mellberg's absence as they sliced open the heart of what was left of the Villa defence, with David Batty's initial through-ball finding Robbie Keane on the edge of the area.

The Republic of Ireland international in turn flicked the ball on for Viduka who, with his back to goal, delightfully deceived the covering Mark Delaney with a drag back before stabbing the ball home from eight yards past Peter Enckelman.

The goalkeeper is now in command of Villa's number one jersey after the legendary Peter Schmeichel signed a one-year contract with newly-promoted Manchester City for next season.

In truth, though, the goal was fully deserved as Leeds had always looked the more likely team to score up to that point, and with Viduka making amends for a woeful miss just two minutes earlier.

A crossfield pass from Keane struck the retreating Thomas Hitzlsperger, with the ball inadvertently falling into the path of Viduka. The Australia international was alert to the opportunity, but despite sliding his right-foot curler past the advancing Enckelman, the shot also flashed an inch past the right-hand post.

The linesman's flag - one of six in the opening nine minutes - had denied Leeds the opener in the sixth minute when Keane sidefooted home Smith's right-wing cross.

A Gareth Barry slip, as the Villa full-back looked to cut out an Ian Harte free-kick from deep inside the Leeds half, had allowed Smith the chance to whip the ball into the six-yard box.

Keane, starting only his second game in four months with Robbie Fowler surprisingly benched, looked to have scored his second goal in successive matches, only for United to be caught offside again.

Villa barely threatened during what was a tepid opening first 45 minutes, with the best chance a 20-yard half volley from Juan Pablo Angel which forced Nigel Martyn into a smothering save low down by his left-hand post.

The Colombian international was also rightfully booked by referee Barry Knight for attempting to win a penalty as Matteo came into challenge.

That was as much as Villa could muster as they looked like a side currently in freefall, although they at least made a fight of things in the second period. Martyn collected a Hitzlsperger 20-yard drive after seeing the ball late through a crowd of players, while Peter Crouch had one of Villa's best chances of the match soon after.

The £5million capture from Portsmouth first flicked a long through-ball over the head of Mills, allowing the lanky striker to drop a 15-yard sidefoot half volley over the head of Martyn, but onto the roof of the net.

The final 10 minutes led to a bombardment with two Martyn mistakes almost allowing Villa a share of the spoils, although the England international did redeem himself with a fingertip stop to deny half-time substitute Jlloyd Samuel's close range drive.

It was a period in which Mills was booked, his 10th of the season, and resulting in yet another suspension which will see him miss the last two matches of the current campaign.

Teams

Aston Villa: Enckelman, Delaney, Mellberg, Staunton, Barry, Kachloul (Samuel 46), Boateng (Stone 65), Taylor, Hitzlsperger, Crouch, Angel (Vassell 65).

Subs Not Used: Myhill, Balaban.

Booked: Angel, Taylor.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Mills, Matteo, Harte, Smith, Batty, Bakke, Bowyer, Keane, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Wilcox, Johnson, Fowler, Richardson.

Booked: Batty, Bowyer, Mills.

Goals: Viduka 29.

Att: 40,039

Ref: B Knight (Orpington).