STYLISH Leeds United bounced back after two successive away defeats to thump Birmingham City 3-0 at fortress Elland Road.

That made it nine wins from their last ten Championship games at LS11 – a stark contrast to their spluttering form on the road.

It was a game in which Leeds rediscovered the attacking spark that had heralded the start of the festive four fixtures when they crushed promotion rivals Ipswich Town 4-0.

After the recalled Patrick Bamford opened the scoring on 34 minutes there was little threat to the Championship’s only unbeaten home record as Leeds smoothly moved through the gears to leave City in their slipstream.

Bamford, who came in for Joel Piroe, was making his first start since May and his re-introduction saw Georginio Rutter drop deeper into an attacking midfield role.

It took time for Leeds to get into their stride but after putting the Blues under a spell of sustained pressure the visitors conceded to a simple move. Dan James whipped in a centre from the right and Bamford escaped his markers to head past goalkeeper John Ruddy.

As half-time approached Leeds doubled their lead with some enterprising work on the opposite flank. Substitute Junior Firpo, on for the injured Sam Byram, drilled a low cross into the box where James thumped the ball past Ruddy via a deflection.

The Whites turned the screw after half-time and almost made it three when Bamford smacked a shot against the base of an upright. 

The goal that was inevitably coming arrived in the 67th minute. Rutter, who caused Wayne Rooney’s men problems all afternoon, chipped a delightful ball over the defence for Firpo to pick out Crysenscio Summerville who calmly despatched his 12th goal of the season.

Firpo almost put the icing on the cake when a header from a corner came back off a post as United strove to match their Ipswich scoreline.

A comprehensive Leeds victory also included the full debut of 23-year-old Leeds goalkeeper Kristoffer Klaesson. Largely untroubled, he made one decent save from Siriki Dembele in a rare Birmingham attack in the first half.

It was the third-choice goalie’s first United start of any description since an Under-21 outing 11 months ago. With regular net-minder Ilan Meslier suspended and Karl Darlow out with a dislocated thumb, Norwegian Under-21 international Klaesson was thrown in at the deep end and emerged with a clean sheet.

He was well protected by centre-backs Joe Rodon and Liam Cooper who quickly snuffed out what few attacks the struggling Blues were able to muster.

Leeds manager Daniel Farke said: “In the first 20 minutes everything felt a bit heavy, we were not quick enough. After the first goal we controlled the game, we didn’t allow them to have chances.

“I was a bit concerned because we didn’t bury the game after so many good situations until the third goal. We could and should have scored more. It was a really good performance, perhaps not perfect.”