SWINDON 3 (Austin 13, Paynter 60, 63 pen), LEEDS 0
Swindon: Lucas, Cuthbert, Jena-Francois, Amankwaah, Greer, Douglas, McGovern, Ferry, Ward, Paynter, Austin (Pericard 77). subs: Smith, Easton, Timlin, Morrison, Macklin, Marshall.
Leeds: Ankergren, Crowe (Michalik 46), Bromby, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Howson, Doyle, Kilkenny (Becchio 46), Johnson (Gradel 65), Snodgrass, Beckford. Subs: D Martin, Grella, Robinson, White.
Referee: P Gibbs
Booked: McGovern, Amankwaah (Swindon), Bromby, Snodgrass, Ankergren, Kisnorbo (Leeds)
Att: 14,508 (3336 Leeds)
With the heroics of Saturday's FA Cup draw still fresh in the mind, Simon Grayson named an unchanged side for the visit to in-form Swindon.
Having gone two league games without a victory, Grayson's men were looking to halt that mini-run and almost 4,000 United fans contributed to a full house at the County Ground to give the team their backing.
It was certainly an entertaining opening with both Jon-Paul McGovern and Jermaine Beckford getting in shots inside the first few minutes. It was end-to-end stuff at the start with both sides looking to attack. Casper Ankergren made a couple of routine saves and Billy Paynter headed over from a corner, but at the other end Robert Snodgrass threatened to carve open the hosts with a mazy run.
But it was Swindon who drew first blood on 13 minutes when a through ball worked its way through to Charlie Austin, and the home side's prolific marksman smashed the ball past Ankergren to register his eighth goal in nine games.
Ankergren was also called upon to make a good save from McGovern when Swindon threatened again and Leeds were having to weather an early storm.
As with the previous weekend, Leeds started to settle after the 20-minute mark and were looking to apply the pressure with some good passing and movement. United were also having to contend with a number of seemingly harmless offences being adjudged as free-kicks.
had an opportunity on 29 minutes when he screwed a shot wide after a great one-two with Bradley Johnson, and it was clear that United's passing play was causing Swindon problems. While the home side looked comfortable with the ball, the same couldn't be said when they were on the back foot.
It was almost 1-1 on the half-hour when Snodgrass released Jonny Howson and his low cross was steered over the bar by Scott Cuthbert who stuck out a desperate foot.
Ankergren was called upon to make another save for Leeds shortly before half-time when he pushed away a McGovern free-kick as Swindon enjoyed another spell of pressure before the break.
United had an opportunity with a free-kick at the other end, but Paddy Kisnorbo failed to direct his header on target following a good Snodgrass delivery.
Grayson made two changes at half-time as he opted for more attacking presence. Luciano Becchio replaced Kilkenny and Lubo Michalik came on for Jason Crowe with Bromby moving across to right back. And United started quickly, Dave Lucas called into action just 30 seconds after the re-start to collect a Snodgrass cross when under pressure from Beckford.
It was Leeds who were putting on the pressure and Beckford was denied by a decisive block when he looked to seize on a looping ball into the box. On 53 minutes, Lucas made a crucial save on the line to deny Bradley Johnson after a corner found its way to the feet of the Leeds midfielder.
United were playing some good football and were looking to get at a Swindon side, who were being forced to sit deeper, and Lucas was called upon again to make a routine collection when Michalik turned a cross goalwards.
But, against the run of play, Swindon snatched a second goal on the hour-mark following their first real foray into the Leeds half. A cross from Jean-Francois on the left found Paynter who delivered a powerful header past Ankergren to double the home side's advantage.
And things got worse less than two minutes later when, as United looked to recover from a slip at the back, the referee awarded a penalty and booked Ankergren. The decision wasn't clear, but Payner stepped up to take full advantage of the opportunity and he tucked the ball home to make it 3-0.
The goal was a hammer blow, given United's supremacy in the second half, and Grayson immediately brought on Max Gradel in place of Johnson. The new signing played a part straight away as first Lucas made another decent save and then the bar came to the rescue for the home side.
But the third goal had come as a killer for Leeds and with 20 minutes remaining, Grayson's men were staring up a mountain the West Country as Swindon fans partied as though as they had just won their first piece of silverware in decades.
Such was United's night that when Becchio did find the net with a firm header on 75 minutes, the goal was ruled out for an infringement. And as the gaps started to open, Paynter wasted a chance to score his hat-trick for the home side. Ankergren also made another good save when a Paynter effort took a deflection.
The Leeds keeper made further saves from Payner and Danny Ward as the game headed towards its final moments and those early exchanges in the second half suddenly seemed a long time as United lurched towards the heaviest league defeat of the season.
United had a couple of near-misses in the final moments, but there was to be no consolation goal for Grayson's side as the winless run in the league stretched to three games.
