Leeds continued their impressive form to move another step up the Premiership ladder with a dazzling home display against Derby.

Dave Woods reports for BBC Radio 5 Live

A rampant first-half comeback guaranteed Leeds their sixth successive victory, a feat not achieved in the top flight since Don Revie guided them to the old First Division title in 1974 - the last time Derby won at Elland Road.

The win pushes United into third place in the Premiership, ahead of Chelsea - who face Aston Villa on Sunday - and with it the final coveted Champions' League slot.

The result has also dented Derby's own dreams of Europe and ended the recent revival under boss Jim Smith which had seen the Rams move up to sixth.

One-way traffic

For Smith, the first-half was all one-way after Francesco Baiano had given Derby a fourth-minute lead from the penalty spot.

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Leeds skipper Lucas Radebe uncharacteristically and needlessly scythed down Derby's debut-making Greek wing-back Vas Borbokis as he made an instant impact.

After almost 90 seconds of treatment for Borbokis, Baiano then sent Nigel Martyn the wrong way from 12 yards for his fifth of the season.

But Leeds proved unstoppable as they swept the Rams aside over the course of the next 40 minutes with three fully deserved goals.

Winger Willem Korsten signalled United's intent with a 15-yard left-foot drive which was narrowly wide of recalled keeper Mart Poom's left-hand post.

Bowyer equals the scores

Within two minutes Leeds were level when Bowyer beat Poom with a second bite of the cherry after Spencer Prior had blocked his first side-foot effort following Hasselbaink's cross from the right.

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The Dutch international followed up his free-kick special at Sheffield Wednesday last week with another sublime dead-ball drive for United's second.

Prior was called for a foul on Harry Kewell on the edge of the area, allowing Stephen McPhail and David Hopkin to tee up 'hot-shot Hass' for a low curler round the wall and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Stimac off

Derby's problems increased five minutes before the break when an accidental collision with Kewell led to influential captain and centre-back Igor Stimac being carried into the dressing room.

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United then took advantage of a Derby side down to the bare bones. Hasselbaink was again the supplier, this time with a neatly-flicked through ball to fellow Dutchman Korsten from the left wing.

Korsten was in the act of falling on his backside when he just managed to squeeze an acutely-angled left-foot shot beyond Poom.

Leeds took their foot off the gas in the second half, but were still comfortably in control, proven by a fourth in the 85th minute and the goal of the game.

Left-back Ian Harte cut across the Derby area and when the opportunity arose, the Republic of Ireland international let fly with a screaming 22-yard right-foot shot which flew into Poom's top left-hand corner.

Teams:

Leeds: Martyn, Haaland, Radebe, Woodgate, Harte, Hopkin, Bowyer, McPhail, Korsten, Hasselbaink, Kewell. Subs: Wetherall, Ribeiro, Halle, Jones, Robinson.

Derby: Poom, Prior, Carbonari, Stimac, Borbokis, Bohinen, Powell, Laursen, Baiano, Harper, Burton. Subs: Launders, Christie, Elliott, Robinson, Hoult.