Robbie Keane plunged his former club deeper into relegation trouble as Tottenham won at Leeds. Keane muscled past Michael Duberry in the 56th minute and shot past Paul Robinson after running on to Mauricio Taricco's free-kick.

It was only Spurs' sixth strike away from home this season and helped end a run of four straight away defeats.

Leeds took Mark Viduka off at half-time and the striker has now returned to Australia for family reasons.

The first half was especially poor in quality with few opportunities created from open play.

Keane had the game's first chance in the second minute but drove his shot straight at goalkeeper Paul Robinson.

From then on the main attempts on goal were from a succession of free-kicks - Jermaine Pennant going close for Leeds before an Ian Harte set-piece was almost converted by Dominic Matteo.

Another Harte free-kick - after Pennant was brought down by Taricco in a challenge which earned the Argentine a yellow card - sailed over.

And Nicky Barmby - recalled after a 10-month absence to face his former club - was inches away from scoring only for Ledley King to clear.

At the other end Robinson had to dive at the feet of Keane in the 27th minute and later the Leeds goalkeeper was fortunate to recover after spilling a Darren Anderton shot.

Spurs started the second half brightly, however, and after Keane saw a shot beaten out by Robinson, the breakthrough goal arrived in the 56th minute.

A long ball pumped forward by Tottenham exposed Leeds' out-of-shape defence as Keane raced on to it, held off Michael Duberry and fired a shot past Robinson.

That buoyed Spurs - Keane came close again soon after - while Leeds were struggling to create with solo striker Viduka having made way for Michael Bridges.