WHEN Kieron Dyer was at Ipswich Town it was Sunderland, and since he has been at Newcastle United that team has been Leeds United.

The 24-year-old doesn't have his favourite sides, but what he does remember are the clubs that he always plays well against

His double on Saturday made it four goals against the Yorkshiremen since his £6m arrival on Tyneside in the summer of 1999. But as impressive as his goals were, it was his all-round performance that proved just too good for Leeds.

The timing of his runs and his 'high energy' display meant the home side's midfield duo, Paul Okon and Seth Johnson, just didn't have the time or space to play.

They spent Saturday afternoon chasing shadows and Leeds' defence was left with the thankless task of picking up the England midfielder.

"When I was Ipswich I always seemed to do well against Sunderland," said the man of the match. "But Leeds have become my lucky side since I came to Newcastle.

"Shola Ameobi and Jermaine Jenas both fancied me for a goal at Elland Road but I don't think anybody fancied me for two."

Anyone who had money on Dyer for a hat-trick would have left west Yorkshire kicking themselves. In the 70th minutes an exquisite piece of skill saw him leave fellow England international Danny Mills trailing in his wake as he bore down on goal.

After drawing Paul Robinson he placed a shot wide of the goalkeeper only to see his effort rebound back off the post. He certainly impressed his manager.

"He was outstanding," said Sir Bobby.

"He's such a player that he can play in a variety of positions but central midfield on the right side is his position.

"He's got energy to burn and he makes more runs than any midfield player I see in the country.

"I don't think he's scored a hat-trick before but he would have deserved it.

"He gets into some great positions but sometimes he just doesn't put the ball past the keeper.

"He's got to learn to do that more. He did it twice and his second goal today was great - the sort you see (Robbie) Fowler and (Thierry) Henry score. He placed it, he passed it in.

"His runs were unbelievable. He saw more of the ball than anyone else and they couldn't hang on to him."

The midfielder's runs began in the first minute and by the 18th they led to the opening goal.

Good interplay between Alan Shearer and Laurent Robert allowed the skipper to release Dyer in the box, and his left-foot shot flew past Robinson.

His second just after the break was created from a long ball by Titus Bramble which found Craig Bellamy in acres of space.

The Welshman laid the ball into Dyer's path and he calmy took the ball inside before placing it past Robinson.

The outstretched leg of Lucas Radebe and the right hand upright prevented his first hat-trick, and with European action in mind Robson took his matchwinner off with ten minutes left.

In those dying minutes Newcastle had a number of chances to pile further misery on Leeds - the best falling to Shola Ameobi.

Dyer said: "With the Champions League game on Wednesday the gaffer wanted to protect my shins - that's why I came off. But when I saw Shola going one on one with Paul Robinson I had visions it could have been me and I might have claimed my hat-trick.

"I had already seen one shot come off the post, but I'll settle for two goals and three points."

Newcastle's third goal arrived in somewhat controversial circumstances.

The referee's assistant waved for a foul by Bramble on Alan Smith as Leeds attacked but referee Alan Wiley ignored the flag.

Gary Speed duly fed Robert who flew down the left only to be upended by Mills.

Robert floated the ball in and Shearer headed home from eight yards.

Leeds had good reason to moan and moan they did.

But it was 3-0 and that's how it stayed with the Yorkshiremen left to lick their wounds.

The truth was they had little to grumble about with Shay Given having a relatively trouble-free afternoon, with the home side's best chance coming from an error by Bramble in the first half.

His clearance rebounded off Alan Smith for Harry Kewell. The Australian took the ball wide of Given but an excellent block by Andy Griffin - in for the suspended Olivier Bernard - saved the day. Apart from a double-effort from Kewell in the second-half that was the sum of the home side's threat.

Dyer said: "I think the last few weeks have proved we mean business again in the Premiership this season.

"I remember watching Sky before the Bolton game at home and looking at the run of league games we had to come. Even I thought it would be hard to keep picking up points.

"In fact the only points we've dropped from the last five games were aginst Arsenal and we could have taken all three if things had gone our way."

Result: Leeds United 0 Newcastle United 3.

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