UNITED 3 (Tonge 34, Diouf 85, Becchio pen 90+1), SOUTHAMPTON 0

United: Ashdown, Peltier (Pugh 90), Lees, Pearce, White, Byram, Austin, Brown, Tonge, Diouf, Varney (Becchio 90). Subs: Kenny, Drury, Green, Norris, Gray.

Southampton: Davis, Hooiveld, Ward-Prowse, Lee, Do Prado, Mayuka, Seaborne, Chaplow, Reeves, Butterfield, De Ridder. Subs: Gazzaniga, Shaw, Stephens, Chambers, Hoskins, Sinclair, Isgrove.

Referee: C Foy

Att: 17,002

A place in the quarter-finals was at stake as United manager Neil Warnock re-shuffled his pack for the visit of Premier League Southampton. Luke Varney returned after illness to take his place in the front-line with El-Hadji Diouf while Jamie Ashdown came in for Paddy Kenny in goal.

Southampton, struggling in the Premier League with only one win to their name, made wholesale changes to the starting line-up for the tie.

United started the contest brightly and Southampton had some early defending to do. Luke Varney was denied by an offside flag, and both Aidy White and Sam Byram had early crosses cut out.

On 14 minutes, Varney came within a whisker of scoring when after latching on to a Diouf header the ball flew narrowly wide. More good attacking play by United led to Michael Tonge heading over the bar.

United enjoyed by far the better of the opening exchanges, another effort was deflected into the side-netting, And Varney went close after a great ball by Byram.

Moments later, Varney was left wondering just what he had to do to score he showing great reactions to cash in on a defensive effor before delivering what appeared to be a delightful chipped finish only to see it come back off the upright.

But Varney did have a hand in the opening goal when his ball in was half-cleared and Michael Tonge was on hand to follow up to drill the ball in.

It was no less than Leeds deserved for a dominant first half in which, with a little bit of luck, the scoreline could have been greater.

And the second half started in similar vein with United assuming an early control of proceedings, looking to double the advantage to put Southampton under real pressure.

United continued to enjoy the better of a game that was producing few chances. Varney was  a constant threat, Diouf's movement caused problems, and the the Premier League side were the ones forced to dig deep into their resistance.

A double change for the visitors saw teenager Lloyd Insgrove introduced and he attempted to inject some life into the Saints, but on the rare occasions they came forward, Michael Brown did a sterling job in front of the back four and Jason Pearce and Tom Lees were both solid.

And United were rewarded for a strong performance when Rodolph Austin roared forward with five minutes to go and after Kelvin Davis blocked his shot, Diouf was on hand to apply the finishing touch.

That was game, set, and match to United, who moved a huge step nearer to Wembley by booking a place in the quarter-finals, and there was even time to add a third goal.

Tonge was bundled down in the area and substitute Luciano Becchio stepped up to convert.