Leeds moved a step closer to manager David O'Leary's 'impossible dream' of a place in Europe as Sheffield Wednesday again begin to flirt dangerously with the relegation zone.

Goals from Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and David Hopkin helped Leeds to their fifth successive Premier League victory, maintaining their outside chances of a championship tilt at the big three of Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea.

The reality is Leeds are now in pole position for fourth place and with it a guaranteed spot in next season's UEFA Cup as they are now seven points clear of Aston Villa, whose slump continued at Spurs.

As for Wednesday, they crashed to their third successive defeat in 11 days and are still far from safe, a point which manager Danny Wilson will be only too well aware.

But Wilson will again be left wondering how his side did not come away with at least a point as they certainly employed the right tactics from the midway point of the first-half, hustling and harrying Leeds out of their trademark eloquent stride.

Leeds were unable to string together the crisp passing movements which have unlocked many a defence this season, with Owls centre-half Des Walker at his sublime best.

But by that stage Leeds were already a goal to the good, with Hasselbaink having cracked in a venomous 18-yard free-kick after being teed-up by Ian Harte and Hopkin.

It was the Dutch international's 15th of the season, but only his fourth in 14 games as the powerful forward has endured a lean spell in front of goal of late.

After that it was a close run contest between former England star Walker and United's South African international skipper Lucas Radebe for the crown of best defender on view.

But it was bad news for Leeds when Radebe had to be stretchered off four minutes from time with what appeared to be a knee injury, the third time this season he has suffered such an unfortunate fate.

For the 86 minutes he was on the pitch he was again magnificent, even though several chances went begging.

Andy Booth, with four goals in his five previous games against Leeds, was one of the main culprits, although his work-rate could again not be faulted.

It was clear he missed the ingenuity of a suspended Benito Carbone alongside him. As it was, Booth had three glorious headed opportunities during the course of the first half, with the frustration on his face for all to see as they all went begging.

Skipper Peter Atherton, making his 200th Owls appearance in all competitions, was the supplier of the first with a right-wing cross which Booth glanced narrowly wide.

The second, this time at the near post from an Andy Hinchcliffe delivery from the left, also flew past the same right-hand post.

The third, and perhaps the most clear-cut, was over the bar as England international Hinchcliffe planted a perfect corner onto the head of the former Huddersfield forward.

But it was Leeds who should have gone into the break with a two-goal cushion as another piercing drive from goalscorer Hasselbaink was deflected inches past Pavel Srnicek's woodwork in the eighth minute.

The Czech international was then a relieved man as teenage star Alan Smith failed to steer home a low, precision cross from the left after brilliant movement between Harry Kewell and David Hopkin.

Srnicek, however, was at his brilliant best in the 25th minute as he first denied Hasselbaink and then an even better save to deny Smith.

The two sides then effectively cancelled each other out during most of the second-half, with the one significant moment coming in the 73rd minute.

Hasselbaink's surging run allowed him to feed an incisive defence splitting pass through to Hopkin, who was initially denied by a brave Srnicek.

But the rebound fortuitously fell into the path of the Scot, whose left-foot side-foot trickled over the line, allowing him to celebrate his third goal of the season and another vital win.

It then took a stunning save from Srnicek in the sixth minute of injury time to deny Hasselbaink a second and Leeds a third, which would have been an extremely flattering scoreline.

Teams:

Sheff Wed: Srnicek, Atherton, Walker, Thome, Hinchcliffe, Alexandersson, Jonk, Sonner (Briscoe 32), Rudi, Booth,Humphreys (Agogo 49).

Subs Not Used: Pressman, Newsome, Stefanovic.

Booked: Atherton, Thome, Booth, Agogo, Hinchcliffe.

Leeds: Martyn, Haaland, Woodgate, Radebe (Wetherall 86), Harte, Kewell (Korsten 88), Batty, Hopkin, Bowyer, Smith, Hasselbaink.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, McPhail, Jones.

Goals: Hasselbaink 4, Hopkin 73.

Att: 28,142

Ref: G Poll (Tring).