Huddersfield Town left Elland Road wondering how they could dominate so much of a game and end up losing.
The answer was that Leeds have in Jermaine Beckford a striker in such good form that he can turn a game on his own.
The forward struck twice in the second half after Leeds had been on the rack throughout the first 45 minutes but still led through Jonathon Douglas' long-range strike - which was their only shot of the first half.
Huddersfield started with 17-year-old keeper Alex Smithies making his full debut.
Andy Ritchie also gave a debut to full-back Robbie Williams and, like his team-mates, he quickly settled into the action as Town started far more confidently than high-flying Leeds.
They should have gone ahead in the second minute but Andy Booth's shot was blocked and Ronnie Wallwork fired over the top with the goal gaping.
The rest of Wallwork's play was impressive as he pulled the strings and Town out-fought and out-passed a lacklustre Leeds side.
Yet as often before this season, Leeds went ahead without playing well.
Douglas picked up the ball 35 yards out and hit a speculative low shot that flew off the greasy surface and beat Smithies' right hand.
That rocked Town for a few minutes but they quickly regained their composure and were unlucky when the impressive Phil Jevons hooked a volley inches wide.
Leeds had more good fortune when Radostin Kishishev was let off with a warning when a second yellow card looked inevitable and Dennis Wise took off his midfielder at half-time, replacing him with Jonathan Howson.
Leeds at last produced a good passing move five minutes into the second half and, when David Prutton crossed from the left, Beckford slid in at the near post to poke it home.
The Leeds striker was on hand again to pick up the pieces when Smithies made a superb save to deny Prutton.
And when Beckford went off to a standing ovation, Tore Andre Flo came on and tapped in the fourth.