LEEDS 2 (Thomas 18, Green 67), IPSWICH 0

Leeds: Kenny, Byram, Tate, Lees, Peltier, Tonge, Green, Norris, Thomas (Brown 84), Becchio (Varney 90), Diouf (McCormack 81). Subs: Ashdown, Pearce, Hall, White.

Ipswich: Henderson, Orr (Hewitt 86), Chambers, Smith, Cresswell, N'Daw, Martin, Drury, Edwards, Murphy (Emmanuel-Thomas 73), Campbell (Chopra 62).  Subs: Higginbotham, Loach, Mohsni, Reo-Coker.

Referee: O Langford

Att: 19,123

United manager Neil Warnock made two changes to his starting line-up, following defeat at Derby. A fit again Jerome Thomas came in for Ryan Hall and El-Hadji Diouf, who had signed a new 18-month contract with the club on the eve of the game, replaced Ross McCormack.

And it was Diouf who almost marked his new contract with a goal inside the opening 10 minutes. Paul Green got up well to flick a ball into the box and Diouf was denied by the quick reactions of Stephen Henderson who beat his shot away.

Henderson also fumbled a Diouf cross while under pressure from both Luciano Becchio and Ipswich defender Luke Chambers.

Diouf was a real threat early on and when another of his crosses was flicked on by Green, Ipswich had to hack the ball clear.

United went in front  from the resultant corner when Tom Lees headed goalwards and Jerome Thomas was on hand to stab the ball over the line.

Moments later, David Norris was denied on the line after great work by Michael Tonge as United remained in firm control of the contest.

Ipswich's moments were few and far between and after one early effort went wide Lees headed one teasing cross to safety.

The visitors did look more of a threat leading up to the break and Carlos Edwards forced Paddy Kenny into making a good block when he drilled in a low shot a few minutes before the interval.

United started the second half in positive fashion, and the visitors had some early defending to do, scrambling one effort clear.

Both sides toiled as the game went past the hour mark, but it was United who struck again following a classic counter attack.

Diouf fed David Norris, who laid it off to Thomas. Becchio allowed his pull-back to fall into the path of Paul Green, and the midfielder smashed home his second goal in as many weeks with a thumping strike.

United were edging towards victory when Kenny was called upon to make a couple of excellent saves, the second of which was a close range block from Michael Chopra.

They were two fine moments from Kenny, and they represented the last real action of the game as United closed in on a fourth league victory in five outings.