UNITED 2 (Becchio 53, 62), OLDHAM 0

United: Ankergren, Hughes, Naylor, Kisnorbo, Lowry, Snodgrass, Doyle, Howson, White (Gradel 65), Becchio (Johnson 90), Beckford (Grella 84), Subs: Martin, Kilkenny, McSheffrey, Bromby.

Oldham: Brill, Smalley (Colbeck 59), Gregan, Hazell, Jacobson, Taylor, Furman, Stephens, Marrow, Price, Abbott (Eaves 80). Subs: Flahavan, Aljofree, Colbeck, Parker, Lomax,  Lee.

Referee: P Taylor

Booked: Lowry (Leeds), Furman, Taylor, Smalley, Gregan (Oldham).

Att: 17,635

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United manager Simon Grayson again made changes for the visit of Oldham as he looked to arrest a run that had produced just one win in eight games.

Aidy White came in to inject some pace on the left flank and Robert Snodgrass came in on the right as Grayson deployed to wide man in a bid to improve on United's attacking presence at home.

Leeds were quicker out of the traps than in recent home games and created the first chance inside six minutes when Jermaine Beckford fired wide after an Andrew Hughes cross.

Oldham had come to sit deep and their attacking intentions were to hit Leeds on the break after an attack broke down.

On 15 minutes, it took some good defending to deny Beckford after White had instigated a break for Leeds. Moments later, Beckford was screaming for a penalty after he appeared to be barged over by Reuben Hazell.

United's next foray forward ended with Jonny Howson lifting a shot over the top from the edge of the box, and Oldham had to clear their lines after Dean Brill fumbled a Snodgrass shot.

Grayson's men were looking far more cohesive than in the games against Walsall and Oldham, and had already created more than in the first half of either game.

Shortly before the half-hour, Snodgrass worked himself an opening on the edge of the box but his shot was just wide of the mark. And Micky Doyle was denied by an advancing Brill from close range after he took time over getting his shot in following more good play by Leeds.

Moments before half-time, United had another penalty appeal waved away when Becchio went down under pressure from Hazell while well-placed to meet a Snodgrass cross.

And in first half stoppage time, as snow began to fall heavily, it took more good defending from Oldham to deny a combination of Beckford and Becchio.

Oldham were also on the back foot at the start of the second period with Alex Marrow making a decisive clearance. And Brill had to make a decent save on 52 minutes when Snodgrass curled a free-kick goalwards.

But the openiong goal came just moments later when Brill failed to hold a Beckford shot and Becchio was on hand to tap the ball home from close range.

Former United defender Sean Gregan became Oldham's fourth booking of the game shortly after the goal when he flattened Becchio.

The South American dusted himself down and bagged his second goal of the night moments later. Snodgrass played ina lovely cross and Becchio rose well to power the header home.

Moments after the goal, White received a standing ovation when he left the field to be replaced by Max Gradel.

Oldham finally created a chance on 67 minutes when Chris Taylor was denied by Casper Ankergren after working himself a decent opening. The visitors had little option but to try and force a way back, but Grayson's men looked comfortable.

Gradel was lively when he came on and he hit the sidenetting from a narrow angle with five minutes left on the clock as United looked to add a third.

As the game ticked past the 90-minute mark it was Becchio's turn for a standing ovation when he was replaced by Johnson.

Four minutes were added on, but it mattered little as United eased towards a welcome victory to keep up the pressure at the business end of the table.