Mark Viduka had the final say in his battle with Andy Hessenthaler on a night when the expected outcry against Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale was surprisingly muted.

Leeds supporters' groups had warned Ridsdale he would be in for a rough ride, but United's FA Cup fourth-round replay was predominantly plain sailing.

Whatever happened to the fans' animosity prevalent last week in the wake of Robbie Fowler's £6million departure to Manchester City, and more significantly the £9million exit of Jonathan Woodgate to Newcastle, had seemingly faded into acceptance.

If Ridsdale was uneasily shifting in his seat during the 90 minutes, it would have been for nothing more than to get slightly more comfortable as the backlash never materialised.

There were barely a handful of banners dotted around Elland Road prior to kick off, and then they were only held up in a relatively half-hearted fashion, and as for fans venting their anger via any vitriolic chants, instead there was only silence.

It was the Gillingham supporters who warmed the heart on an otherwise bleak, chilly night, at one point early on singing: "There's only one Peter Ridsdale".

Leeds fans in the crowd of 29,355, the lowest for just over three years, responded with boos.

More pointedly, the most significant response came from the boot of Viduka in the 11th minute as it was his goal which silenced the 3,500 travelling Gills faithful, but ultimately fired Leeds into a fifth-round tie with either Liverpool or Crystal Palace.

It was sweet revenge for Viduka following his sending off in the initial 1-1 draw at the Priestfield Stadium when he was adjudged to have elbowed Gillingham player-boss Andy Hessenthaler.

A war of words between Hessenthaler and Leeds boss Terry Venables had followed the incident, with United's appeal against the red card proving in vain - the Elland Road striker starts a three-match ban this Saturday.

The Australia international signed off until the Old Trafford showdown on March 5 with Manchester United, or possibly a last 16 FA Cup replay, in emphatic fashion.

Ian Harte's through-ball struck Leon Johnson and rebounded into the path of Viduka, whose rasping first-time drive from 15 yards flew beyond goalkeeper Jason Brown for his eighth goal of the season.

Viduka could then not resist blowing kisses at the Gillingham followers as the rest of a largely reshuffled Leeds pack celebrated around him.

Venables was without Alan Smith, who had brought a ray of light to the Leeds camp by agreeing to sign a new three-and-a-half-year contract before kick-off, because of a virus, as well as Harry Kewell (hamstring).

For Venables, who had started the season with six strikers, it meant he was down to just one for this tie - Viduka finding himself partnered by midfielder Eirik Bakke, who killed the game off in the 58th minute.

Leeds had thoroughly dominated proceedings from the start and deserved their second goal when the emergency forward Bakke rose to head home his fourth goal of the season from a Harte free-kick on the right wing.

It was only then that a Leeds defence which had surprisingly started with skipper Dominic Matteo and Lucas Radebe in attendance at its heart, despite the fact both had been struggling yesterday with knee injuries, was finally tested.

By then, though, Leeds were without Radebe as the South African had departed on the half hour with concussion following a sickening clash of heads with Mali international striker Mamady Sidibe.

It was Sidibe who finally forced previously untroubled Leeds keeper Paul Robinson into a stunning save soon after United had opened up their two-goal cushion.

Robinson, expected to make his debut for England in next week's friendly at Upton Park with Australia, showed why he is so highly thought of as he was at full stretch to tip away Sidibe's powerful header from a Kevin James cross.

Brown then excelled as he made equally superb saves from Viduka's header low down to his left-hand post, and then from Seth Johnson, the midfielder starting his first game since the final match of last season in filling the void created by Bakke.

Those two chances sandwiched the arrival of Guy Ipoua who first missed a sitter within moments of his 71st minute arrival before then setting up a nervy finish.

Ipoua ran onto a long through ball from Hessenthaler, slotting home what proved to be only an 86th-minute consolation past an advancing Robinson.

The Leeds fans and Ridsdale were then in unison in the closing stages, but only in respect they were all on the edge of their seats throughout the four minutes of injury time before then celebrating Leeds' first victory in six matches.

However, after the final whistle a group of around 100 Leeds fans made their way to the back of the West Stand to make their feelings known - with "We want some answers", "Sack the board", "Ridsdale out" and "What the **** is going on" among the chants - before being dispersed by stewards.

Teams

Leeds: Robinson, Mills, Radebe (Duberry 32), Matteo (Milner 76), Harte, Kelly, Okon, Seth Johnson, Wilcox, Viduka, Bakke.

Subs Not Used: Martyn, Burns, Simon Johnson.

Goals: Viduka 11, Bakke 58.

Gillingham: Brown, Nosworthy, Leon Johnson, Hope, Edge, James, Hessenthaler, Southall, Perpetuini (Ipoua 71), Wallace (Tommy Johnson 71), Sidibe.

Subs Not Used: Bartram, Spiller, Awuah.

Booked: Southall, Tommy Johnson.

Goals: Ipoua 86.

Att: 29,359

Ref: M Dean (Wirral).