Leeds United quickly put last weeks disappointing defeat at Swansea City behind them with an emphatic win over Yorkshire rivals Doncaster Rovers.
The game finished 5-2 to Leeds, but in a game that saw them have thirty-one shots on goal it could have been more.
Simon Grayson made two changes from the side that was beaten at Swansea with Leigh Bromby and Bradley Johnson coming in for Alex Bruce and Davide Somma.
Leeds started the game on the front foot, Max Gradel saw a shot saved by Woods in the Rovers goal and Howson shot over the bar when he really should have done better.
Rovers first chance fell to Paul Keegan but his header cleared the bar.
Leeds took the lead in the twelfth minute when Gradel cut in from the left before beating Woods with a thirty yard drive.
Gradel had Leeds next chance on goal but this time his shot cleared the bar.
Neil Kilkenny then saw his shot saved by Woods after good work down the right.
Leeds were enjoying the vast majority of the play and Luciano Becchio was next to try his luck for Leeds but he screwed his shot wide.
Schmeichel had to make his first save of the afternoon halfway through the half when Wayne Thomas had an effort on goal for the visitors.
Billy Sharp had a couple of half chances for Rovers but both his long-range efforts sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Robert Snodgrass missed a great chance to double the lead when he failed to hit the target with his right foot shot after going round the keeper.
Leeds were then caught with a sucker punch on the stroke of half time, a ball over the top found Sharp and after having his initial shot saved by Schmeichel, he prodded in from a tight angle to bring the scores level at the break.
Leeds had dominated for long periods of the first half and should have been going in at the break two or three to the good; instead, they were once again conceding soft goals close to the break, similar to the Norwich home game recently.
If it wasn`t bad enough that they had let the lead slip, they found themselves behind within five minutes of the restart.
Once again, a ball in behind the central defenders caused the problems. This time Franck Moussa was on hand to put Rovers ahead.
Leeds hit back immediately from the restart when Howson won the ball in midfield, before unleashing a shot from twenty yards that beat Woods
Straight back at the other end and Schmeichel had to produce a good save to deny Moussa from put Rovers back in front.
The second half had started much more evenly and George Friend had a shot for Rovers that cleared the bar.
Sharp then tested Schmeichel, as Rovers were much more in the game in the second half.
Gradel then had two fantastic chances to put Leeds ahead in the space of minutes. He twice got in behind the defence, his first effort went wide of the post and then Woods saved his next chance with his feet.
Leeds were now in control of the game again and Howson and Becchio both had efforts of target.
Kilkenny then saw another effort saved by Woods as Leeds started to pile pressure on the Rovers defence.
Snodgrass was next to go close for Leeds but his header cleared the bar.
The pressure finally paid off when Luciano Becchio found himself in acres of space in front of goal and he made no mistake from eight yards.
Gradel was being a constant thorn in the sides of Rovers and he forced Woods into another save as Leeds looked for the comfort of a two-goal lead.
They didn`t have to wait long and once again it was Gradel on the score sheet.
Snodgrass did well down the right before pulling a ball back for Paynter, his shot was saved by Woods and the ball fell to Gradel who drilled the ball home from inside the six yard area.
Johnson then tried to get in on the goals but his header cleared the bar.
Leeds scored a fifth in the final minute of normal time, a good ball over the top by Snodgrass released Howson and the club captain made no mistake to cap a fine personal performance.
Leeds were looking for a sixth and Paynter had an header go wide of the post as the home side were in total control.
A good win for Leeds, and one that was deserved after dominating for large periods.
Once again though the inability to keep clean sheets is alarming as two goals by Doncaster means they have now conceded ten in their last four games and seven in their last three at home.
With other results going Leeds way it now gets them right back in the mix for an automatic promotion spot.
They will now prepare for a trip to Preston on Tuesday night against a side that put six past Leeds at Elland Road earlier in the season.
Teams
Leeds
Schmeichel, Lichaj, Bromby, O`Brien (Naylor 90), McCartney, Howson, Gradel (Watt 90), Becchio (Paynter 80), Snodgrass, Johnson, Kilkenny
Subs not used
Higgs, Bruce, Somma, McCormack
Doncaster
Woods, Hird, Thomas, Friend, Mills, Stock (Wilson 86), Oster, Keegan (Hayter 77), Sharp, Shiels (Coppinger 69), Moussa
Subs not used
Bradshaw, Gillett, Souza, Kilgallon
Join Vital Leeds
Vital Leeds offers everything that a Leeds United supporter could wish for. If you can think of something and suggest it, we`ll put it on the website!
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
The site is regularly updated with news and views regarding all the current events at Elland Road, alongside a fully interactive message forum.
With news and views, along with a forum, polls and article comments, everything you need in a fans site is right here!
You can even win prizes, by posting articles comments, posting on the message forum and voting on the polls.
Vital is also 100% interactive. Not only can you have your say on the articles and the forum but you can also suggest an article or a poll so you can air your views.
So why not join Vital today?
It’s easy to register here and enjoy getting involved
Message Board
To visit the message board, click here.
Get involved
This website is your website and we are looking for people to help run the site. Do you go to most of the games and have an opinion? Why not write a match report? Perhaps you are a budding journalist or even just someone who is very opinionated? Well why not join our team? If this interests you please contact Vital Leeds .
Vital Leeds is now available on both facebook and twitter, so if you are that way inclined and more importantly understand all this new fangled dangled stuff, feel free to watch us, poke us or whatever else you are meant to do there!
Vital Leeds on:
Vital Leeds on: