Troubled Leeds slumped to another Coca-Cola Championship defeat as Stoke struck twice in the second half at the Britannia Stadium.

Leeds had pulled back level with a spirited showing before the break but a Ugo Ehiogu own goal and a Ricardo Fuller effort increased Dennis Wise's relegation fears.

The Yorkshire side had gone into the game five points adrift of safety and without a goal in four games and trouble loomed again as Mamady Sidibe put Stoke ahead.

But the Yorkshire side responded well and claimed a deserved equaliser when Ian Moore headed his first goal in 10 games just before half-time.

It was not to last, however, as the visitors' shaky defence cracked twice to allow Stoke to keep their play-off ambitions on track.

Stoke made the brighter start and went a goal ahead when Leeds failed to pick up Sidibe at an 11th-minute corner.

Lee Hendrie, playing the last match of his loan spell from Aston Villa, crossed from the right and the unmarked Sidibe headed past Tony Warner.

Leeds tried to muster a quick reply but Jonathon Douglas shot over from distance.

Stoke then continued to press with Darel Russell twice shooting at Tony Warner from long range but the goalkeeper was untroubled.

Leeds' next chance came when Ian Westlake curled a 25-yard free-kick towards goal after being brought down by Danny Higginbotham but Steve Simonsen dealt with the effort.

Simonsen was also called on when David Healy tried his luck but the keeper was able to gather.

Leeds then stepped up the tempo with Douglas again shooting over before their extra endeavour was rewarded with an equaliser after 41 minutes.

Moore was the man on target when he stooped to head home a low cross.

It did not stay level for long, however, as Stoke reclaimed the lead when Ehiogu turned into his own net eight minutes into the second half.

Former England international Ehiogu diverted a shot from Patrik Berger past his own keeper after a Liam Lawrence corner.

Berger, the Czech former Liverpool star, had only entered the fray at half-time due to injury to fellow Villa loanee Hendrie.

Frazer Richardson attempted to bring Leeds back into the game but could not keep his long-range effort on target.

Chances became few and far between with only a Lawrence shot at Warner and an Eddie Lewis free-kick at the other end lighting up a long spell devoid of goalmouth action.

Stoke eventually killed off the match 14 minutes from time when Jamaican forward Fuller took advantage of poor defending to score for the first time in six matches.

Warner had come out of his goal to help the exposed Ehiogu but Fuller nipped between and finished coolly.

Fuller went looking for another soon after but lobbed over from distance while Vincent Pericard had a shot parried by Warner.

Berger and Sidibe also had late shots as Stoke finished in the ascendancy.

Teams:

Stoke Simonsen, Hoefkens, Duberry, Higginbotham, Hill,Lawrence, Russell, Diao, Hendrie (Berger 46), Sidibe,Fuller (Pericard 81).

Subs Not Used: Brammer, Sweeney, Dickinson.

Goals: Sidibe 12, Ehiogu 54 og, Fuller 77.

Leeds Warner, Richardson, Ehiogu, Heath, Lewis,Westlake (Kandol 61), Douglas, Derry, Howson, Healy, Moore.

Subs Not Used: Sullivan, Carole, Rui Marques, Beckford.

Booked: Westlake.

Goals: Moore 41.

Att: 18,128

Ref: A D'Urso (Essex).