NEWCASTLE were frustrated by the indefatigable defiance of Leeds goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who vindicated Terry Venables' decision to promote him ahead of Nigel Martyn.

Robinson enhanced his credentials with a performance which laid the platform for Leeds to end a run of four straight defeats at the hands of Sir Bobby Robson's side.

Mark Viduka scored after only four minutes and Alan Smith delivered the decisive strike four minutes from time when he crashed home an angled right-foot drive following a loose clearance by Titus Bramble.

Nevertheless, Newcastle were guilty of squandering a succession of golden opportunities, with striker Shola Ameobi and centre-back Andy O'Brien the chief culprits.

Near the hour mark, Ameobi headed over from well inside in the six-yard box on the end of Olivier Bernard's cross.

And O'Brien, deputising for the injured Nikos Dabizas and like Ameobi making his first start this season, nodded Nolberto Solano's right-wing corner down and over from only six yards in the 72nd minute.

It was exactly three years since Robson had taken charge of his first Newcastle game, a 1-0 defeat at Chelsea.

But that was an inconsequential milestone on the day which marked the first anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States.

Like the rest of the football world, St. James' Park paid its own silent tribute to the victims.

What followed was another Premiership contest between former England managers, Robson and Venables, the grandfather and the godfather of the national game, who have provided the country with its two footballing highlights in the past 36 years.

The current England incumbent, Sven-Goran Eriksson, last week brought two of Venables' charges - Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer - in from the international cold and included others in Robinson, Smith and Danny Mills in his squad for the friendly draw against Portugal.

Injury had precluded the involvement of Newcastle's own national treasure, Kieron Dyer, from joining the party at Villa Park.

But, shin niggles notwithstanding, he was back on duty for the Magpies, nine days after aggravating his injury in the 2-2 draw at Anfield.

The resourceful Robson had rescued that game when he boldly introduced long-term injury victims Craig Bellamy and Laurent Robert as second-half substitutes, and they responded by inspiring a wholly implausible fightback from 2-0 down.

Striker Bellamy's lack of match fitness following his lengthy recuperation from knee surgery meant he had to be content to start on the bench again.

But winger Robert made his first starting appearance this season only a month after it was feared a stress fracture of the spine might keep him out three times as long.

Both Robson and Venables have already experienced a gamut of emotions this season as a result of resounding victories and alarming setbacks, so this was an encounter which was always likely to serve as a useful yardstick to measure their sides' true mettle.

Leeds were beaten 3-1 here in January, but had taken the lead through Smith after only 28 seconds.

And they executed another lightning strike on Wednesday night. Former Middlesbrough star Nick Barmby released Harry Kewell on the left and as the offside flag stayed down, the Australian crossed low to the six-yard line where Viduka slid in to fire into the roof of the net.

Kewell then lashed a 20-yarder over the bar when he had time to do better before Newcastle skipper Alan Shearer brought a save from Robinson after turning just inside the penalty area.

With Lomana LuaLua rested after his late return from international duty with the Congo, Shearer was partnered by Ameobi.

But when Robert popped up on the right to curl in an inviting cross, Ameobi's header was woefully weak and wide.

Worryingly for Robson, Woodgate was given the freedom of St. James' Park in the 25th minute when he began a move deep inside his own half and continued his run to get on the end of Viduka's knockdown from Smith's centre, and sweep the ball narrowly over the bar.

Shearer then appealed for a penalty when his attempted pass struck Mills on the arm, referee Dermot Gallagher instead awarded a corner.

Leeds started to resort to their strongarm tactics and Mills, sent off here at the beginning of the year for a maniacal hack at Bellamy, was booked this time for a foul on Bernard.

And three minutes later, Smith - another with a reputation as an on-field serial offender - joined Mills in the book for barging into marked man Bernard.

Newcastle found another gear as Ameobi worked the ball to Robert, whose stinging drive was blocked by Robinson at his near post.

The keeper then had to make a desperate stop with his right foot to deny Ameobi, and push out a thunderous right-foot drive from Bernard as the Magpies kept up the pressure.

And Robinson grabbed the ball on the line one-handed two minutes before the break after Ameobi contrived a close-range stab.

Newcastle's Gary Speed, facing his former club, picked up a yellow card for clattering Viduka across the back of the legs only three minutes after the resumption.

The tenacity and vigour with which the Magpies set about the second period helped to raise the Geordie decibel level.

But there were groans all round after Shearer spun away from Leeds skipper Dominic Matteo and raced goalward only to shoot straight at Robinson when he had two men over in Dyer, who threw up his arms in frustration, and Solano.

Ameobi's last meaningful act was the miss of the night and not long after, Robson gambled on a double substitution.

The Newcastle boss introduced Bellamy and Hugo Viana for Ameobi and Speed, with the latter showing disgust over his manager's decision as he took his seat on the bench.

Newcastle keeper Shay Given didn't have the busiest of nights, but he had to perform a double save from Kewell and Viduka in the 69th minute.

Bellamy was soon involved, curling an effort just over after Shearer's path to goal had been blocked.

And Robinson refused to yield when he turned Solano's swerving drive over in stunning style.