Australian striker Mark Viduka helped Leeds stylishly ring in the New Year with his first goal since November 10 in the 2-0 win over Birmingham as the club's recent revival gathered pace.

Viduka's return to form has helped extend a run in which Leeds have taken 13 points out of a possible 15 from their last five matches.

The run has lifted the Yorkshire giants back to mid-table after briefly falling to the brink of the relegation zone.

"It was a good New Year's day," Viduka said after the match.

"We could not really celebrate last night but I'm sure we will all be celebrating tonight.

"The last three or four games we have showed some good football and some promising play," he added. "If we can continue in that way we will be very difficult to beat.

"It is always good when you are winning games. There is less pressure and you can go out there and relax.

"All of us are starting to be more relaxed now and the results are showing that."

Leeds opened the scoring in the sixth minute with Erik Bakke's first premiership goal of the season, although that came within moments of Birmingham being denied the first of three clear-cut penalty appeals.

Two more followed in the second half either side of Viduka scoring his sixth goal of the season with a close range header.

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