Leeds manager Terry Venables can celebrate his 60th birthday on Monday with a smile after avoiding the threat of an FA Cup giantkilling at Scunthorpe.

The majority of an 8,328 crowd - the best in Glanford Park's 15-year history and so producing record gate receipts of more than £90,000 - turned out with expectant hope of witnessing an in-form Leeds suffer further misery this season.

The competition remains Leeds' last realistic hope of silverware after disappointing exits from the Worthington and UEFA Cups, and with their Premiership form wretched prior to a much-needed revival over Christmas and New Year.

There was certainly the potential for an upset, despite Leeds having won four and drawn one of their five previous league matches to lift themselves clear of the drop zone and give themselves hope of a place in Europe again for next season.

Certainly at half-time, Scunthorpe boss Brian Laws must have looked at his players in the dressing room wondering why his side were a goal down as the fact there are 63 places between the sides had hardly been in evidence.

There was certainly no sign of stage fright from the Iron, and instead it was Leeds who looked nervous, particularly in the opening exchanges and with memories of the 2-1 shock at Cardiff a year ago still fresh in the minds for the majority of Whites stars.

Venables had warned ahead of this game that it threatened to be "a hell of a banana skin", and Laws was determined Leeds would slip up again as domestic cup competitions have proven to be frightful experiences for the Yorkshire side in recent seasons.

Scunthorpe also had history on their side for it was 19 years ago they beat Leeds at the third-round stage, winning 4-2 in a second replay at their former home of The Old Showground at a time when current assistant Eddie Gray was in charge.

Laws' side started with every intention of emulating such an heroic feat for after just 17 seconds Matt Sparrow saw a curler from the edge of the area blocked by goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

That had come courtesy of skipper Dominic Matteo finding himself out of position as the Scotland international was starting at left-back in place of the benched Ian Harte for his first match after three months on the sidelines following knee surgery.

What proved to be the home side's best chance of the opening half followed just four minutes later when Martin Carruthers took advantage of a Danny Mills' error to steal in front of the centre-back, only to fire an acutely-angled shot across the face of goal.

Leeds initially struggled to get out of their own half in the opening 10 minutes such was the Scunthorpe pressure, until Viduka should have steadied his side with a 12th-minute opener.

Harry Kewell whipped in a left-wing cross which found an unmarked, awaiting Viduka in the six-yard box, only for the Australian to flick his header narrowly wide of the left-hand post.

With Leeds appearing to find their feet, soon after a deflected Jason Wilcox cross found its way to Viduka for a 15-yard angled shot on the turn which keeper Tom Evans initially spilled, recovering to take it at the second attempt with Kewell following in.

Scunthorpe, though, were more than holding their own, but at a time with confidence rising they then let the initiative slip from their grasp as a Sparrow trip on Eirik Bakke led to Burntwood referee Alan Wiley unhesitatingly pointing to the spot.

Viduka then nonchalantly sent Evans the wrong way in the 32nd minute for his second goal in successive matches, and his seventh of the season, despite the best efforts of the Iron fans behind the goal in trying to put off the imposing striker.

Such had been the barracking Viduka received, he proceeded to blow kisses to those same supporters on his way back to the centre circle.

Scunthorpe refused to wilt, with Ian Kilford inches wide with a fine 25-yard free-kick, while Carruthers sliced wide when well placed after being fed by Wayne Graves.

The corner count of 9-0 in Scunthorpe's favour told its own story, but such had been the concerted effort of Laws' players, they primarily had blown themselves out.

Leeds effectively took charge after the break, albeit without really imposing their superiority on the match and despite a squad comparison with Leeds' costing more than £40million in relation to the £245,000 for Scunthorpe.

After Viduka, and in particular Kewell, had proved profligate early in the second half, Leeds sealed their place in Monday's fourth round draw in the 68th minute.

Viduka was the provider with a slide rule through ball for Bakke to loft a superb flick over the advancing Evans, finally easing nerves and the prospect a late rally from the home side.

Scunthorpe did continue to threaten, with Robinson producing the save of the game from a Carruthers flick soon after Bakke's breakthrough, and while Laws can be proud of his players, he will maybe reflect on what might have been.

Teams:

Scunthorpe: Evans, Stanton, Jackson, Byrne, Dawson, Graves, Sparrow, Kilford (Calvo-Garcia 64), Featherstone (Brough 70), Torpey, Carruthers (Parton 86).

Subs Not Used: McCombe, Lee Ridley.

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Mills, Woodgate, Matteo, Smith, Okon, Bakke (Milner 78), Wilcox (Seth Johnson 86), Viduka, Kewell (Fowler 84).

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Harte.

Goals: Viduka 32 pen, Bakke 68.

Att: 8,329

Ref: A Wiley (Staffordshire).