Match Report

Jermaine Beckford stayed on the goal trail with two more as Leeds put Hartlepool United to the sword, while Fabian Delph and Luciano Becchio joined in the scoring.

After his hat-trick at Northampton Town in Monday's FA Cup replay, Beckford wasted little time in netting his 17th goal of the season.

The game was 15 minutes old when Andrew Hughes delivered a perfect cross from the right and Beckford's glancing header flew into the net before Arran Lee-Barrett could flinch.

Hughes, operating at right-back, with Frazer Richardson on the bench, had almost created a goal in the sixth minute for Beckford's striking partner Becchio whose header was fractionally wide.

Hartlepool, looking to avenge their Carling Cup defeat at Elland Road in September, equalised in the 25th minute.

When Leeds cleared a corner to Michael Nelson just outside the penalty box, he lobbed the ball into the goalmouth where Joel Porter headed past David Lucas unchallenged for his 11th goal of the season.

Lee-Barrett sprang to Hartlepool's rescue on the half-hour with two blocking saves from Becchio, who had sprinted through from near halfway, but the visitors played some attractive, incisive football as they looked to catch Leeds on the break.

Porter and James Brown went close in the first half and Nelson blazed over the bar from Sam Collins' free-kick just after the break but Leeds regained the lead on 50 minutes.

Delph, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Friday, stroked the ball into the net after good work by Jonathan Douglas - on his 27th birthday - and Becchio.

Kevin Kyle hit the Leeds bar but Becchio netted the home side's third goal when keeper David Lucas aimed a long ball for Beckford to help it on and Becchio supplied a clinical finish from eight yards.

Andy Robinson missed three late chances before Beckford grabbed his second goal of the match and his fifth of the week, stabbing the ball home from Hughes' pass.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides