TWO down - three to go. Leeds United's dramatic 3-2 win over fellow strugglers Leicester City at Elland Road last night breathed new life in to their Premiership survival battle.

Caretaker-manager Eddie Gray believed winning the final five home games of run-in would be the key to their escape.

A fortnight ago they beat Manchester City 2-1 and last night snatched a late victory after throwing away a 2-0 lead.

Fittingly, it was Alan Smith, the man who literally leads from the front, who bagged the goldust winner to settle a roller-coaster encounter. If his post-England v Sweden speech about Leeds lacking spirit and fight at

times in this troubled season upset some of his team-mates then they did not show it.

They hauled themselves off the canvas after Leicester's crippling one-two threatened to take a point back to the East Midlands.

Recalled Michael Duberry's header and Mark Viduka's overhead kick gave United the luxury of a two-goal lead inside 13 minutes.

Any defence containing (Matthew) Heath and (Ben) Thatcher are bound to be on different wavelengths. So it proved as the blues of Leicester were parted with embarassing ease by Viduka, Smith and the slippery Jermaine Pennant, who led many venomous counter-attacks.

Leicester boss Micky Adams threw on an extra attacker in Paul Dickov before half time to add support to Les Ferdinand and the dangerous Marcus Bent - but despite City's smart approach play, Leeds created the better chances.

Ian Walker made two great stops to deny Smith while Leicester couldn't fashion much from their possession. With 15 minutes remaining Leeds, although under pressure, seemed to be coping.

Then Adams made a double substitution and while Leeds were coming to terms with changes the unmarked Dickov snaffled a goal from inside the box.

In their next attack the Leeds defence backed off and Muzzy Izzet powered a 25-yarder in to Paul Robinson's top right-hand corner.

The game had been turned on its head inside two minutes and it was Leeds who were rocking as the hungry Foxes could sniff a winner.

After several near scrapes in and around panic-stricken United's area, Robinson saved low to his right to deny sub Peter Canero. It was to prove a priceless stop.

A point was of little use to either side but Leeds summoned up one last thrust down the left and James Milner's cross was chested down by Viduka - allowed far too much freedom by three Leicester defenders - for Smith to gleefully smash in the winner at the Don Revie Stand end.

The final twist of a thrilling and at times bizarre encounter came in the 90th minute when Viduka received a second yellow card from whistle-happy ref Mike Dean for kicking the ball away and will now miss the game against Portsmouth on April 25.

The Pompey home game and those against Everton a week tonight and Charlton on May 8 promise to be more nerve-shredding affairs.

Updated: 10:07 Tuesday, April 06, 2004