**Oxford United were beaten 4-0 at Elland Road this afternoon by Leeds United who showed their promotion credentials.**
Dan James opened the scoring in the first half but it was in the second period that Leeds showed their quality, with Jayden Bogle doubling the lead and further goals from Brenden Aaronson and Manor Solomon completing the damage.
Craig Short took charge of the game, with manager-in-waiting Gary Rowett watching from the stands. There were three changes to the side that lost to Sheffield Wednesday last time out, with Will Vaulks coming into midfield, Przemysław Płacheta on the wing, and Mark Harris up front.
While Oxford were content to allow Leeds possession, it was from a spell of United possession that the home side took the lead in the ninth minute, as Leeds broke down the left and James was on the end of Manor Solomon's cross to tap home from close range.
Oxford carved open a good chance three minutes later as Owen Dale fed Płacheta, but he was unable to keep his shot down as Ilian Meslier came out to meet him. Joe Rothwell then had a shot from range but he was unable to find the net against his old club.
Half an hour in and James thought he had his second with a curling shot from the edge of the area, but Jamie Cumming was equal to it and got a strong hand to the ball to keep it out. The U's keeper then denied Joel Piroe as Leeds looked to press home their advantage.
The final action of the first half, of which Oxford were mainly on the back foot, was an improvised header from Elliott Moore that almost provided an equaliser, looping over Meslier but landing on the roof of the net.
The second half was 11 minutes old when Leeds doubled their lead. Some intricate passing took them into the Oxford area and the move was finished by Bogle, sliding the ball home to give the U's a mountain to climb.
Five minutes later and it was 3-0 as Leeds cut through United's defence, Aaronson firing home. Solomon made it four in the 73rd minute with a powerful drive from a tight angle.
The result leaves the U's in the relegation zone going into the Christmas fixtures, but with a new man at the helm there is plenty to look forward to for Oxford fans. Be there on Boxing Day to see the new-look United.
UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Vaulks (McEachran 77), Moore, Płacheta (Edwards 67), Brannagan, Harris (Scarlett 78), Dale (Rodrigues 62), Goodrham, Leigh, Kioso (Long)
Unused subs: Ingram, El Mizouni, ter Avest, Goodwin
Attendance: 36,646 (away fans TBA)
Report: Martin Brodetsky; Photography: JasonPix, Steve Edmunds