Leeds United turned on a super show for the second time in five days to bolster their hopes of UEFA Cup qualification and inflict a severe dent on Derby's own European aspirations.

George Graham's side gave a perfect example of how to counter-attack, playing Jimmy Hasselbaink as their only striker, but tearing the Rams' defence to shreds with lightning breaks.

It was their biggest Premiership success since they won by the same scoreline at Swindon in the final match of the 1993-94 season.

Derby, who had only once previously conceded more than one goal in a game at Pride Park, had more of the play territorially, but they looked exposed every time Leeds ventured forward.

It is certainly a case of what a difference a week makes, with Leeds having firmly put behind them the shock FA Cup exit at the hands of Wolves with two commanding performances to crush Blackburn (4-0) and now Derby.

And Derby manager Jim Smith will be glad to see the back of the Yorkshire club, who came back from 3-0 down to win 4-3 at Elland Road in December.

Leeds snuffed out the normally threatening Derby attack, with little seen of Francesco Baiano, who was marked by the impressive Lucas Radebe.

But it was when they surged forward that they looked so impressive, with Harry Kewell and Gunnar Halle exploiting acres of space.

Leeds made two changes from the side who trounced Blackburn, with Robert Molenaar and Halle replacing David Wetherall and Robert Hopkin.

Smith named the side who had overpowered Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 at Pride Park a fortnight ago - but his charges were soon brought back down to earth after a short break in Spain.

After eight minutes the visitors went ahead courtesy of an own goal from Jacob Laursen, with Derby goalkeeper Martin Poom having to shoulder much of the blame.

Leeds skipper Gary Kelly floated in an innocuous looking freekick from 30 yards which Poom should have come out to collect.

But the Estonian stayed rooted to his line and Laursen, under pressure from Alfie Haaland, could only deflect the ball into his own net.

Derby retaliated and Kelly came to Leeds' rescue when he cleared a header off the line from Baiano following a Gary Rowett corner.

Leeds keeper Nigel Martyn turned a looping header from Igor Stimac round and from the resulting Rowett corner Paulo Wanchope volleyed over from the edge of the area.

But County were then stunned by two goals in seven minutes which put Leeds firmly in command.

The Derby defence was nowhere in the 35th minute when Hasselbaink delivered a low cross which Haaland allowed to run to Halle - and he made no mistake with a low cross-shot into the net.

It was Halle's first goal in his 54th game for Leeds since his £400,000 move from Oldham in December 1996.

It became 3-0 when, after a run and cross by Kewell, the initial shot from Haaland was blocked, only for Lee Bowyer to drill home the rebound from 15 yards.

Derby needed an early second-half goal to give them any hope and after Martyn blocked a shot from Wanchope, they had two appeals for penalties rejected, when Ian Harte and Radebe handled in the area.

But Leeds killed off the game in the 59th minute with another surging break. Kewell played a one-two with Hasselbaink to beat the offside trap and raced clear of the Derby defence before planting a low drive wide of Poom.

In the 71st minute Leeds completed their nap hand, with substitute Stephen McPhail's long ball sending Hasselbaink clear and he kept his cool before collecting his 16th goal of the season.

The only blemish for Leeds was an eighth booking of the season for Radebe, which means he will have to serve a two-match suspension.

Teams

Derby: Poom, Rowett (C. Powell 46), D. Powell, Stimac, Wanchope, Laursen (Delap 82), Carsley, Eranio (Hunt 33), Dailly, Burton, Baiano.

Subs Not Used: Willems, Hoult.

Booked: Stimac, Dailly.

Leeds: Martyn, Kelly, Haaland, Radebe, Hasselbaink, Bowyer, Halle, Kewell (McPhail 71), Harte, Hiden, Molenaar.

Subs Not Used: Beeney, Wetherall, Matthews, Hopkin.

Booked: Radebe.

Goals: Laursen 8 og, Halle 36, Bowyer 42, Kewell 59, Hasselbaink 72.

Att: 30,217

Ref: S J Lodge (Barnsley).