Leeds United 3, Port Vale 0

There was no happy return to West Yorkshire for Lee Sinnott at Elland Road tonight.

It was not vintage Leeds but a first-half header from David Prutton and second-half goals from Jermaine Beckford and sub Tore Andre Flo put paid to any hopes the former Farsley Celtic boss had of pulling off a shock win.

Leeds took the game to the visitors and put plenty of pressure on a nervy defence.

Fullbacks Frazer Richardson and Andy Hughes were given acres of space and it was from a charging run from Hughes that Leeds went ahead.

He whipped in a left-footed cross for Prutton to head home his third goal of the season at the far post.

That could have signalled a collapse by the visitors and they certainly lived dangerously, Beckford hitting one post with a header and the other with a shot.

But Leeds fell back into bad habits, ignored the full backs and began to give the ball away. Vale had a couple of good chances but Luke Rodgers and David McGold-rick put them wide.

Leeds made the game safe early in the second half when Beckford notched his 11th goal of the season.

The striker made no mistake when he turned his man, dragged the ball back and shot into the corner.

Beckford took a knock for his troubles and was soon substituted by Flo to make sure he will be fit for Saturday's derby clash with Huddersfield.

And it was Flo who unleashed a superb volley from the edge of the box to sew up a comfortable win.