Leeds United 0 - 0 Charlton Athletic

	Scott Parker holds off Eirik Bakke (MichaelSteele/Allsport)

Anxious manager O'Leary loaded up with four international strikers against the Premiership journeymen in a bid to end Leeds' increasingly desperate run since their New Year's Day victory over West Ham.

But even the combined might of Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, Robbie Keane and Robbie Fowler could not conjure the goal against Alan Curbishley's battlers that would have rekindled their top-four hopes.

Leeds have a great chance next Thursday of reaching their third successive European quarter-final after a hope-laden goalless UEFA Cup draw against Dutch champions PSV in Eindhoven.

Yet their current Premiership record of three points from the last six games is relegation form - only backmarkers Leicester have fared worse - and O'Leary's side are now nine points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, albeit with a game in hand.

Former Anfield favourite Fowler, who has been knocking them in for fun since his £13million move, contrived to miss Leeds' best opportunity four minutes into the second half when he smacked a shot against Dean Kiely's right-hand post after taking careful aim.

If Thursday's goalless draw in Holland was one that inspired some hope of an upturn in their rapidly fading season, then yesterday's display - greeted with a chorus of boos - did nothing for O'Leary's efforts to regroup for a Spring offensive towards a

O'Leary, who spent Saturday lunchtime at Old Trafford where Ruud van Nistelrooy snatched Manchester United's narrow win over Aston Villa, said: 'I was at a match that was settled by a touch of brilliance.You have to take your chances, but for all the chances we've had, we haven't scored.

'I thought Robbie was going to knock one in with his eyes closed, but he's a human being and he misses them too.'

Charlton boss Curbishley, forced to reshuffle his defence when he lost injured key defender Mark Fish, admitted: 'As soon as I saw they'd included four forwards I knew we'd be pinned down and under pressure. You need a bit of luck on your side at Leeds but we were disciplined and deserved our point.

'If they had scored early on, perhaps it would have been a different story. But getting goals in the Premiership is difficult, there are a lot of good defences. That's why you have to pay £15m for your strikers.'

Not only did O'Leary see Leeds' barren run stretch to eight matches, he also lost the influential Olivier Dacourt with a leg injury from Luke Young's robust tackle that now leaves the France midfielder doubtful for Thursday's second leg against PSV.

Dacourt showed in the first half just how important his midfield presence is to Leeds' drive, particularly in the absence of the suspended Lee Bowyer, and it was the Frenchman's pass that slipped Eirik Bakke through to force a fine save from Kiely in the 13th minute.

Another of Dacourt's through-balls tempted Kiely so far out of his goal minutes later that when Fowler gained possession to leave the former Bury goalkeeper stranded, he was too far out to take full advantage.

Kewell, who continued the improvement apparent in Eindhoven and landed a late 30-yard dipper on the roof of the net, managed to squeeze through Charlton's packed defence to set up Viduka for a goal attempt the big striker failed to curl inside Kiely's far post.

A goal then, 18 minutes into the match, would have relaxed Leeds and forced Charlton to come out and play a more open game, but when the same combination missed out minutes later - Viduka heading Kewell's cross over - the pattern began to form for the restless 39,000 crowd.

Their mounting frustration might have been reflected in skipper Rio Ferdinand's well-cheered charge down the right flank, but when Dacourt powered in a snap-shot from 30 yards, Kiely was able to tip it over the bar.

Viduka's neatly flicked header offered Keane a half-chance, but the Republic of Ireland striker looked a touch rusty as England Under 21 midfielder Paul Konchesky muscled his way in for the challenge that saved Kiely further hard work.

Fowler's 49th-minute shot against a post after fine approach work by Viduka and Kewell seemed to signal that it was not to be Leeds' day, and Charlton - sensing it too - became brave enough to try to rub salt in towards the end, only for Jason Euell to be flagged offside when he beat England goalkeeper Nigel Martyn.