Adrian Sherling reporting

Lee Bowyer scored a brace on his European return as Leeds put four past Troyes in their UEFA Cup Second round tie.

The powerful midfielder was impressive coming back from suspension as David O'Leary's side took advantage of some generous defending, but they may live to regret their profligacy in front of goal.

Troyes were as inept in defence as they were dangerous going forward - the gallic Manchester City - and could not stop the power and precision of Mark Viduka, who was involved in everything Leeds created and should have had six.

The Australian international opened the scoring after just six minutes, picking his way through the visitors' defence before planting a ferocious right-footed shot past Tony Heurtebis.

He should have doubled that soon after, but instead of shooting left-footed when through on goal, he tried a flick with the chutzpah of a striker full of confidence. He also managed to block Eirik Bakke's goalbound header - much to the chagrin of the Norwegian - but the Elland Road faithful saw his good side on 23 minutes as he set up Bowyer for the second.

The striker made a nuisance of himself inside the Troyes box and he forced the ball to his team-mate, whose low, hard drive arrowed into the bottom corner.

Troyes however, are an exciting outfit and made a game of it with a beautifully worked goal on the half-hour. Controversial front man Patrice Loko rounded Nigel Martyn following a slide-rule throughball from Nicolas Gousse and Leeds had just a single-goal lead to show for their superiority.

Viduka, back as Mr. Hyde rather than Dr. Jeckyll, tried a ludicrously complicated chip after being set free from a woeful backpass from Gousse and Heurtebis saved.

However, the stopper was helpless when the Australian nodded into an empty net after Bowyer flicked on Robbie Keane's tempting cross.

A messy fourth, seconds after the interval asserted the home side's dominance as Bowyer knocked the ball home after Viduka had been denied by the keeper. Any hopes the visitors' had of getting something out of the game seemed to disappear when Algerian international Medhi Meniri was sent off for an elbow on Viduka.

But they never gave up and former French international Loko got a second of his own on 82 minutes, sliding home Jerome Rothen's magnificent curling cross, to give the scoreline a very different complexion. 

Leeds are still very much in contention, but failed to kill off their opponents and could still be in trouble if they have an off-day similar to their trip to Maritimo when they travel to Troyes.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke (Batty 66), Dacourt, Kewell, Keane (Smith 70), Viduka.
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Woodgate, Robinson, Wilcox, Duberry.
Booked: Bowyer.

Troyes: Heurtebis, Boutal (Niang 77), Olivier Thomas, Leroy, Meniri, Rothen, Bradja, Gousse (Hamed 58), Amzine, Danjou, Loko (Djukic 85).
Subs Not Used: Sekli, Tourenne.
Sent Off: Meniri (49).
Booked: Rothen, Djukic.

Att: 40,015
Ref: Fernando Mendez (Spain)

Opta Index