Leicester City 0 - 2 Leeds United

	Robbie Fowler (left) heads home (MikeFinn-Kelcey/Allsport)

Leeds boss David O'Leary was delighted that his players had given themselves renewed hope of Champions League football after what he admitted had been 'a diabolical season'.

But it was Fowler's display in front of England No 2 Tord Grip, ahead of Wednesday's friendly with Italy at Leeds, that caught the imagination.

Fowler and Mark Viduka scored the goals that leave Leeds two points behind fourth-placed Newcastle, who have a game in hand.

O'Leary, delighted with the man he bought from Liverpool, said: 'Fowler will score goals for many years to come for this club. He has already shown what a good player he is. He will prove to be very valuable.'

Fowler completed a hat-trick on this ground for Liverpool earlier this season and Leicester manager Dave Bassett bemoaned the lack of a quality finisher in his own line-up.

'If we had a Fowler in our team, I'm sure we'd have considerably more points in the bag,' said Bassett. 'It comes to something when you can say that Robbie Fowler is the top scorer at Filbert Street this season.'

There was no such levity for Woodgate, left out of Eriksson's squad in circumstances that will convince no-one that the decision was made purely for football reasons.

Indeed, if footballing judgment alone is the criteria, he must occupy a seat on the plane to Japan. Woodgate's penance has lasted 27 months, but he now appears content to seek redemption through cool persuasion and efficiency of performance.

Not for a moment yesterday did he allow his mind to be cluttered by the week of debate between Eriksson and the more conservative thinkers within the FA establishment.

Wisely, the centre-back, in the absence of his injured defensive ally Rio Ferdinand, stayed rigidly focused, doing what he does best - defending his team, rather than himself from public rebuke.

Style marks were forsaken as Woodgate, with a level of impressive concentration and vigilant covering, gave a risk-free, unfussy demonstration of his particular trade.

He did not betray the cause for a single moment and while O'Leary maintained a diplomatic silence on the England controversy, Bassett adopted a more belligerent stance.

'Woodgate is a very good player and I think he should be in the England team,' he said. 'If he's good enough, then play him. The rest is nonsense. Let his football do the talking.'

Woodgate's sentence of 100 hours' community service for affray was completed three weeks ago. Now, it appears the men in suits, rather than managerial preference, have decided Woodgate's immediate international future.

His absence is England's loss. For all Leicester's vulnerability, Woodgate still had to curb the energy and ebullience of Paul Dickov. He also watched, agonisingly, as the unmarked Matt Elliott thumped a post before Leeds had scored.

But in the 17th minute, following a set-piece, Fowler conjured an over-head shot that Ian Walker somehow saved. Viduka flung himself full length for the breakthrough header.

Then the Croat's spin-turn baffled Leicester, an accurate shot was thrust against the bar by Walker and Fowler headed home. Game over.