Stephen Turner reporting

Leeds' late charge for a Champions League place continues apace.

A routine victory at doomed Leicester - courtesy of goals from Mark Viduka and Robbie Fowler - may not be the most spectacular of results, but United's third successive win was achieved with a professionalism which suggests David O'Leary has banished the mid-season lethargy from his dressing room.

The wailing and gnashing of teeth on the terraces which greeted Leeds' dismal performance at Everton earlier this month may have been unsavoury, but it seems to have fostered the same togetherness among the players which saw the Yorkshiremen top the Premiership as recently as New Year's Day.

Leeds now have their noses ahead of Chelsea, who play at Anfield tomorrow, and with fourth-placed Newcastle's season threatening to peter out into anonymity, nobody at Elland Road will feel another crack at Europe's best is out of the question.

They never looked like losing at Filbert Street, even after Olivier Dacourt hobbled out of the action with barely a quarter of an hour played.

Seth Johnson replaced him to minimal effect, but he may have significantly more chances to display his wares if the Frenchman makes his likely exit from English football in the close season.

In truth neither Johnson nor any of his team-mates had to perform at their peak against a home side whose approach to the game was akin to that of a rugby team.

Invariably, their most menacing tactic was to pump the ball long and wide to the lively Matthew Piper, hope he could force a throw-in, and send the big men forward to hassle Nigel Martyn from debutant Jon Ashton's mortar-like deliveries.

It didn't work, though had Matt Elliott not shinned without conviction against an upright when it seemed easier to open the scoring, England hopeful Jonathon Woodgate and his defensive partner Dominic Matteo might at least have been forced to break sweat.

They had slight cause for concern when the ever-aggressive Paul Dickov looped a harmless volley onto  the back of the crossbar, but any football to savour in a largely turgid affair came from the visitors.

Fowler had already tested Ian Walker from a Viduka pass when he met Matteo's 18th-minute flick-on with a textbook scissors-kick. Walker reacted well, but sadly for him his defenders were nowhere near as sharp, and the big Australian was first to the rebound.

It was Viduka's first goal in 12 games, but he was again in the thick of things 13 minutes later, hitting the post via Walker's body after some penalty-box rough-and-tumble. This time Fowler was the beneficiary, merrily bundling his fourth strike in three games.

More could have followed, but in the second half Viduka found Jacob Laursen handily positioned on the goal-line after the keeper had gone Walker-about, the same player had a stunning volley well saved, and Fowler failed to get sufficient bend on a well-struck effort 20 minutes from time.

No matter - the job had been done, and Leeds will now welcome Manchester United to Elland Road with something other than parochial pride to play for. Leicester, meanwhile, are 14 points from safety. They need a miracle.

Man of the Match: Mark Viduka (Leeds) - Scored one, made another, and was Leeds' most intelligent if not their most energetic performer. 

Leicester: Walker, Ashton, Laursen, Elliott, Marshall (Sinclair 53), Oakes (Tommy Wright 86), Izzet, Savage, Piper, Dickov, Deane.
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Benjamin, Heath.
Booked: Dickov, Savage.

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Woodgate, Matteo, Harte, Batty, Dacourt (Johnson 14), Kewell, Smith, Viduka, Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Kelly, Keane, Robinson, Wilcox.
Booked: Batty, Matteo.
 
Att: 18,976
Ref: S Dunn (Bristol)

Opta Index (Match Stats)

Leicester City	Team	Leeds
0	Goals	2
3	Shots On Target (inc Goals)	9
5	Shots Off Target	4
2	Blocked Shots	3
8	Corners	7
12	Fouls Conceded	16
16	Fouls Won	12
0	Offsides	0
2	Yellow Cards	2
0	Red Cards	0