SIR BOBBY ROBSON last night leapt to the defence of Peter Ridsdale three weeks after taking advantage of Leeds United's financial crisis by snapping up Jonathan Woodgate.

Ridsdale is being villified by Leeds fans for dismantling a team that reached the Champions League semi-finals two years ago.

But Newcastle boss Robson told the supporters who have turned on the Leeds chairman to go easy on him after he approved the departure of more than £50m-worth of talent.

Robson also backed the Elland Road club to return to English football's top table soon.

"Peter Ridsdale has taken a lot of stick and all he was guilty of was trying to bring success to the club," Robson said.

"Leeds have got to get their finances right, and they'll have to look to their academy.

"But Leeds is a football area, and if you have an attractive manager in charge then you can attract good players.

"They've had that all the way back to Don Revie, and we mustn't forget Howard Wilkinson was the last English manager to win the League title."

Robson is looking for Newcastle to make amends for their only home Premiership defeat of the season at Elland Road today.

Leeds won 2-0 on Tyneside in September and Robson is keen for his side to replicate the performance they produced on that night, despite the scoreline.

He said: "I don't like the word revenge; I like the word opportunity, and this is an opportunity to retrieve the three points they took from us.

"We haven't played much better at home this season than we did against Leeds, and we lost.

"Mark Viduka was allowed to be offside, and he walked back and scored. Alan Smith then scored a pearler at the end.

"Leeds had their problems but they've now recovered, which I always felt they would, and they're on a nice little run.

"They won at Crystal Palace, and Liverpool couldn't beat them in two attempts, so Leeds can't be a bad side.

"I know Mark Viduka, Dominic Matteo and Eirik Bakke are out, but Harry Kewell's on fire at the moment.

"We're currently third but two bad results on two Saturdays could see us end up sixth or something in the table.

"Having worked so hard all season, we don't want to lose this position, but it can happen."