Luciano Becchio scored a brace as Leeds saw off Carlisle to reclaim the second automatic promotion spot in League One.
Becchio tapped in an early opener for Leeds after Carlisle keeper Adam Collin spilled a Robert Snodgrass free-kick.
Carlisle levelled against the run of play when Richard Keogh headed in a free-kick from Leeds old boy Ian Harte.
Leeds sealed the win after the restart, Max Gradel heading in Jonathan Howson's cross before Max Gradel fed Becchio who a slotted in the second.
The Argentine striker's double secured a third straight win for Leeds, moving them a point clear of third-placed Millwall, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Yeovil, and three points ahead of Charlton and Swindon, in fourth and fifth.
It means that Leeds' automatic promotion hopes are back in their own hands, although the visiting contingent must have feared the worst when Carlisle levelled on the stroke of half-time.
By that stage Leeds, who were the dominant force throughout the opening period, should have been out of sight.
But they squandered several presentable chances, most notably when Becchio - who was preferred in attack to the club's leading scorer, Jermaine Beckford - failed to convert a Snodgrass cross from all of three yards.
Carlisle's equaliser came two minutes from half-time, when Leeds defender Richard Naylor fouled Gary Madine to concede a free-kick 35 yards from goal.
Former Elland Road favourite Harte swung in the dead ball, and Keogh thumped home a header for his fifth goal of the season.
But Leeds were swift to exact revenge after the break - Gradel scoring within two minutes before Becchio effectively sealed the outcome four minutes later.
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds:
"I thought we were excellent from start to finish. We dominated from start to finish and I think with the chances we had we should have sealed it by half-time.
"We suffered a blow conceding an equaliser right on half-time, but we showed great mental toughness to keep going and started the second half very well, got the two goals and saw the game out comfortably.
"It was a big decision to leave out Jermaine Beckford, but that's my job and our strike force was excellent tonight, both could have claimed hat-tricks.
"But they know they need to still perform because Jermaine will score goals again."
Live text and stats
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
League One
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Carlisle
1-3
Leeds United
FT
(HT 1-1)
Keogh 43
Becchio 13
Gradel 47
Becchio 51
Carlisle
01 Collin
03 Horwood
14 Harte
19 Aldred (Raven 64)
21 Keogh
11 Thirlwell (Bridge-Wilkinson 59)
12 Taiwo
25 Clayton yellow card
09 Dobie (Bowman 80)
16 Marshall yellow card
28 Madine
Substitutes
40 Pidgeley,
02 Raven,
23 Kane,
04 Bridge-Wilkinson,
08 Kavanagh,
15 Rothery,
30 Bowman
Leeds United
12 Higgs
06 Naylor yellow card
26 Bromby
33 Collins
04 Doyle
08 Kilkenny
14 Howson
22 Hughes
28 Gradel (Grella 88)
10 Becchio (Beckford 88)
23 Snodgrass
Substitutes
01 Ankergren,
19 Parker,
21 Lowry,
15 McSheffrey,
09 Beckford,
13 Grella,
24 Watt
Ref: HalseyAtt: 8,728
CARLISLE
LEEDS UNITED
Possession
Carlisle44%
Leeds United56%
Attempts on target
Carlisle3
Leeds United7
Attempts off target
Carlisle3
Leeds United7
Corners
Carlisle2
Leeds United6
Fouls
Carlisle14
Leeds United10
Final Result
Full Time
90:00+3:05 The game is over, as the referee blows his whistle.
90:00+1:47 Free kick taken by Leigh Bromby.
90:00+1:47 Booking Ben Marshall is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+1:13 Neil Kilkenny fouled by Ben Marshall, the ref awards a free kick.
88:57 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jonathan Howson on Evan Horwood. Direct free kick taken by Adam Collin.
88:23 Free kick awarded for a foul by Robert Snodgrass on Adam Clayton. Adam Clayton takes the free kick.
87:07 Substitution Mike Grella comes on in place of Max Gradel.
86:45 Effort from just outside the box by Adam Clayton goes over the bar.
83:53 Free kick awarded for a foul by Michael Doyle on Ben Marshall. Ian Harte takes the direct free kick.
83:32 The referee gives a free kick against Luciano Becchio for handball. Direct free kick taken by Richard Keogh.
81:31 Evan Horwood delivers the ball, Richard Naylor manages to make a clearance.
79:58 Substitution Scott Dobie goes off and Ryan Bowman comes on.
75:28 Free kick awarded for a foul by Gary Madine on Richard Naylor. Shane Higgs takes the direct free kick.
75:17 Evan Horwood crosses the ball, Andy Hughes makes a clearance.
74:28 Luciano Becchio fouled by David Raven, the ref awards a free kick. Neil Kilkenny restarts play with the free kick.
73:33 Corner taken by Neil Kilkenny from the left by-line, Header by Richard Naylor from deep inside the penalty area misses to the right of the target.
72:41 Gary Madine challenges Neill Collins unfairly and gives away a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Neill Collins.
71:57 The ball is crossed by Marc Bridge-Wilkinson, Gary Madine takes a shot. Shane Higgs makes a save.
70:23 Evan Horwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Jonathan Howson. Neil Kilkenny takes the free kick.
68:12 The ball is crossed by Ben Marshall, Marc Bridge-Wilkinson has an effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the left of the goal.
66:48 Shot from just outside the box by Ben Marshall goes over the crossbar.
64:19 Free kick awarded for a foul by Ian Harte on Luciano Becchio. Leigh Bromby restarts play with the free kick.
63:07 Substitution David Raven comes on in place of Tom Aldred.
60:37 A cross is delivered by Andy Hughes, save made by Adam Collin.
59:41 The ball is sent over by Richard Keogh, save by Shane Higgs.
58:56 Substitution Marc Bridge-Wilkinson replaces Paul Thirlwell.
58:21 The ball is swung over by Scott Dobie, Adam Clayton takes a shot. Save made by Shane Higgs. Outswinging corner taken right-footed by Adam Clayton from the right by-line, clearance made by Neill Collins.
56:31 The ball is sent over by Robert Snodgrass, Adam Collin makes a save.
55:44 Luciano Becchio takes a shot. Save made by Adam Collin.
53:12 Max Gradel is ruled offside. Adam Collin restarts play with the free kick.
51:58 Corner from the left by-line taken by Adam Clayton, save made by Shane Higgs.
50:03 Assist on the goal came from Max Gradel.
50:03 GOAL - Luciano Becchio:Carlisle 1 - 3 Leeds United Luciano Becchio scores a goal from deep inside the penalty area low into the middle of the goal. Carlisle 1-3 Leeds.
46:47 Assist on the goal came from Jonathan Howson.
46:47 GOAL - Max Gradel:Carlisle 1 - 2 Leeds United Max Gradel scores a headed goal from close range. Carlisle 1-2 Leeds.
46:43 Jonathan Howson crosses the ball,
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00+1:01 The ref blows to signal half-time.
45:00+0:10 Shot from deep inside the area by Robert Snodgrass clears the bar.
42:54 Assist by Ian Harte.
42:54 GOAL - Richard Keogh:Carlisle 1 - 1 Leeds United Richard Keogh scores a headed goal from inside the penalty area. Carlisle 1-1 Leeds.
42:32 Ian Harte crosses the ball,
42:32 Booking The referee books Richard Naylor for unsporting behaviour.
42:08 Foul by Richard Naylor on Gary Madine, free kick awarded.
41:11 Shane Higgs takes the free kick.
41:11 Booking Adam Clayton is booked.
40:52 Adam Clayton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Jonathan Howson.
38:47 Unfair challenge on Ben Marshall by Leigh Bromby results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.
38:24 The ball is sent over by Ben Marshall, clearance by Richard Naylor.
37:27 The ball is sent over by Scott Dobie, Shane Higgs makes a save.
33:53 Corner taken by Neil Kilkenny, clearance by Ian Harte.
33:35 Max Gradel takes a shot. Save by Adam Collin.
33:02 The ball is swung over by Max Gradel, clearance by Evan Horwood.
30:13 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Richard Keogh by Michael Doyle. Direct free kick taken by Ian Harte.
29:27 Foul by Evan Horwood on Jonathan Howson, free kick awarded. Leigh Bromby restarts play with the free kick.
28:10 Adam Clayton gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Neill Collins. Neill Collins takes the direct free kick.
26:57 Max Gradel gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Evan Horwood. Adam Collin takes the free kick.
22:42 Corner taken right-footed by Neil Kilkenny, Headed effort on goal by Robert Snodgrass from inside the penalty box misses to the right of the target.
20:51 Evan Horwood concedes a free kick for a foul on Luciano Becchio. Robert Snodgrass produces a shot on goal direct from the free kick, save made by Adam Collin. Corner from the right by-line taken by Neil Kilkenny, clearance by Ian Harte.
17:35 A cross is delivered by Robert Snodgrass, Luciano Becchio has an effort at goal from close range which goes wide of the left-hand upright.
17:04 Corner taken right-footed by Neil Kilkenny, clearance made by Richard Keogh.
15:19 Shot from just outside the box by Luciano Becchio misses to the right of the target.
13:59 Paul Thirlwell gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Max Gradel. The free kick is swung in right-footed by Neil Kilkenny, clearance by Tom Aldred.
12:41 Robert Snodgrass provided the assist for the goal.
12:41 GOAL - Luciano Becchio:Carlisle 0 - 1 Leeds United Luciano Becchio grabs a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Carlisle 0-1 Leeds.
11:29 Free kick awarded for a foul by Paul Thirlwell on Jonathan Howson. Shot on goal comes in from Robert Snodgrass from the free kick, Adam Collin makes a save.
10:35 Paul Thirlwell concedes a free kick for a foul on Neil Kilkenny. Direct free kick taken by Leigh Bromby.
9:52 Effort on goal by Robert Snodgrass from just inside the penalty area goes over the target.
8:21 The official flags Max Gradel offside. Indirect free kick taken by Adam Collin.
7:21 Corner from the left by-line taken by Neil Kilkenny, Luciano Becchio concedes a free kick for a foul on Adam Collin. Adam Collin restarts play with the free kick.
6:02 Andy Hughes concedes a free kick for a foul on Richard Keogh. Ian Harte restarts play with the free kick.
4:38 Ben Marshall fouled by Jonathan Howson, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick taken by Adam Collin.
4:01 Jonathan Howson produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that misses to the right of the target.
1:32 Luciano Becchio fouled by Ian Harte, the ref awards a free kick. The free kick is delivered right-footed by Neil Kilkenny from right channel, Evan Horwood manages to make a clearance.
0:00 The referee starts the match.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Swindon 1-1 Exeter
Bookmark with:
What are these?