Bellamy himself then sealed the win three minutes from time to knock David O'Leary's side from the summit.

Alan Smith had given the visitors the lead with just 28 seconds gone, but a Michael Duberry own goal dragged the Magpies back into it two minutes before the break.

Bellamy passed up a glorious opportunity to give his side the lead two minutes into the second half - but Dyer's goal gave the Geordies a lead they rarely looked relinquishing, especially after Danny Mills was sent off for a wild swing at the Welshman.

The home side were indebted to goalkeeper Shay Given for a fine 73rd-minute double save from Mark Viduka and Smith for their first win in three Premiership outings, in front of 52,130 spectators.

Already robbed of the services of Rio Ferdinand, Harry Kewell and Olivier Dacourt among others by injury, O'Leary was dealt a further blow when Robbie Fowler was given permission to return home overnight following the death of his father-in-law.

It took the visitors just 28 seconds to force their way in front, Viduka catching the United defence square to head on a bouncing ball into the path of Smith who slid his shot expertly underneath Given's despairing dive.

But the Magpies were not about to take a back seat as they went in search of a second successive double over Leeds who - despite looking dangerous on the break through Viduka and Smith - found themselves under immense pressure at the back.

Newcastle poured forward in numbers as Nolberto Solano, Laurent Robert and Dyer got the bit between their teeth but could not find the telling cross to pick out Alan Shearer or Bellamy.

The visitors' task increased in difficulty within the space of three first-half minutes when first Duberry and then Woodgate were booked to leave each walking a tightrope.

Referee Graham Barber was winning few friends with a slightly fussy display and on 36 minutes he cautioned Bellamy for diving as he went down under Duberry's challenge and appealed for a penalty.

But just as it looked as though all the home side's endeavour would count for nothing, they were handed a route back into the game by the unfortunate Duberry.

Bellamy drove in from the right before sending in a cross which brushed Solano's head but thundered off the defender past the helpless Martyn and into the net.

The Tynesiders should have been in front within two minutes of the restart when Robbie Elliott caught out the Leeds defence with a ball over the top to put Bellamy in - but he hit his shot straight at Martyn and could not collect the rebound.

Robson's men imposed a stranglehold, and they edged their way in front with an hour gone. Solano's cross from the right was superbly chested on by Bellamy to Dyer, who kept his cool before slotting the ball past Martyn to make it 2-1.

The frustration got to Mills with 20 minutes remaining when he stupidly kicked out at Bellamy after being forced to concede a corner. He was summarily and deservedly dismissed.

Leeds refused to throw in the towel, and Given needed to be at his best to deny Viduka and then Smith in a tense finish.

But Bellamy finally collected the goal his performance so richly deserved as he ran on to Dyer's pass and found the bottom corner.