Leeds United moved into the top four of the Premiership and made it a miserable 48th birthday for Leicester City manager Martin O'Neill, as their extra class helped them secure victory at Filbert Street.

Goals from the impressive youngsters Harry Kewell and Alan Smith enabled David O'Leary's side to leapfrog over the free-falling Aston Villa and avenge their last gasp Worthington Cup reversal earlier in the season.

But while the picture looks rosy for Leeds, the warning bells are ringing for O'Neill's side who are being sucked dangerously close to the relegation area.

They launched a late rally in which the sharp-looking Tony Cottee deservedly scored the 199th league goal of his career.

But it was too little, too late, and the cold reality is that Leicester have taken only three points from seven games and failed to win in the Premiership since Boxing Day.

For long periods, they were second best, as Leeds knocked the ball around with great confidence, and Lee Bowyer sparkled in the centre of the park.

Only some last ditch saves from Leicester 'keeper Kasey Keller kept the Foxes in the hunt before they staged a typical late rally.

But in truth, the spark seems to have disappeared from their general play despite the vain promptings of Muzzy Izzet.

Leeds, in contrast, can look forward to setting their sights on challenging for a Champions' League place available for finishing in the top three if they maintain their current form.

They certainly played like a side suffering no hangover after last week's FA Cup exit at the hands of Tottenham.

Cottee, Leicester's Worthington Cup semi-final goal hero, was impressive in the early stages with some neat link-up play.

The first moment of danger came in the 13th minute when fit-again Emile Heskey deflected a low cross from Steve Guppy just wide from close range, after Leeds 'keeper Nigel Martyn had punched out a cross from Andrew Impey.

But Leeds were soon imposing their authority on the game, knocking the ball around with great confidence, and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink should have put them ahead in the 16th minute.

Bowyer's precise through-pass enabled Hasselbaink to beat the offside trap and race clear of the three man Leicester rearguard, but Keller blocked his shot with his legs.

Martyn saved a low drive from Impey away to his right after good play by Cottee - but in the 24th minute, the visitors went ahead with a well-executed goal from Kewell.

United defender Ian Harte picked out Hasselbaink on the touchline, and he cut inside Pontus Kaamark before sending in a precise, low centre.

Kewell was the first to react, nipping in front of Rob Savage at the near post to tuck a low, first-time shot into the opposite corner of the net.

Leeds had that extra class in the opening 45 minutes against O'Neill's battlers, and another splendid piece of play by Bowyer created a gilt-edged opportunity for Kewell.

He raced onto a 40-yard ball over the static Leicester defence by the England Under-21 player, but again Keller came to the home side's rescue by blocking his shot.

Leeds then had strong penalty appeals turned down after a last-ditch tackle by Andrew Impey on Willem Korsten, and television replays suggested he had made contact with the player before the ball.

The half-time whistle saw Leicester booed off the pitch - a stark contrast to their Worthington Cup semi-final triumph over Sunderland 12 days ago.

O'Neill brought on Ian Marshall for the injured Emile Heskey at half-time, and Leicester briefly threatened to get back into the game.

David Wetherall made a great block to deny Izzet after Marshall had knocked a centre from Impey back into his path.

But Leeds soon regained the initiative and in the 61st minute, they doubled their lead courtesy of Alan Smith.

Leicester were grateful to Kaamark for keeping them in the hunt when he blocked a goal-bound shot from Kewell.

But they were left with a mountain to climb when a shot from Korsten struck Rob Ullathorne and fell invitingly for Smith who tucked the ball home.

Cottee gave Leicester hope in the 76th minute with a typically-predatory finish across the body of Martyn after Izzet had knocked the ball into his path.

But it was Leeds who came closest to scoring again when Keller blocked a shot from Smith after he had raced clear.

Teams:

Leicester: Keller, Ullathorne, Elliott, Kaamark, Guppy, Impey (Gunnlaugsson 66), Izzet, Lennon, Savage, Cottee,Heskey (Marshall 46).

Subs Not Used: Arphexad, Taggart, Zagorakis.

Booked: Savage, Ullathorne, Gunnlaugsson.

Goals: Cottee 76.

Leeds: Martyn, Harte, Radebe, Wetherall, Haaland, Korsten, Kewell, Hopkin, Bowyer, Hasselbaink (Ribeiro 90), Smith.

Subs Not Used: Wijnhard, Halle, Robinson, Jones.

Booked: Smith, Harte.

Goals: Kewell 24, Smith 60.

Att: 18,101

Ref: G Barber (Pyrford).