ROBBIE BLAKE thought his Leeds United career was over until Dennis Wise took charge and ordered him to shed the flab.

Now the born-again striker has plundered four goals in as many games and is the big hope for an Elland Road revival.

After his two goals helped to crush Colchester 3-0, Blake admitted: "I did feel as if I was going to be on my way before Dennis arrived.

"I agreed with him that I was a bit overweight. I've lost five pounds since then and I probably have two more to lose, but I do feel sharper."

Before opening the scoring in the 36th minute, Blake missed a simple headed chance and had an angled shot tipped around a post by Colchester keeper Aidan Davison.

"It shouldn't have surprised anyone when I missed the first chance because I'm not very good with my head, but when my first goal did come everything went well for me after that."

Blake took advantage of Shaun Derry's superb through ball as he ran into the box and scored. And after Richard Cresswell had headed his first goal of the season from Eddie Lewis's cross, Blake showed his coolness from the spot.

The eager Cresswell was bundled off the ball by right-back John White and Blake cheekily chipped the penalty into the centre of the goal as Davison moved to his right.

Blake said: "I know Aidan well and knew he would go to the right, so I chipped it down the middle. There is a feeling of confidence now that we can move up the table."

Wise said: "Since I came here Robbie has been a little gem - he has been fantastic. I played him on the right side but I had a chat with him about where he was allowed to go and he put a good shift in, not only on the ball but in his general work, and he deserved his goals.

"I believe in Robbie and so does my assistant Gus Poyet and the team. He has so much ability. Robbie thrives on confidence and gets into positions other players can't find. He goes where he can hurt people and that is what we want him to do.

"He is looking sharper and enjoying himself, which is important."

Wise added: "We remained solid. I was pleased with the back four. The clean sheet was important because we have been all over the place in the last few weeks defensively."

Gary Kelly missed the game with a back injury, so Hayden Foxe took over at right-back in a new-look defence that kept only Leeds' second clean sheet since August Colchester offered little and manager Geraint Williams claimed it was their worst performance of the season.

Leeds chairman Ken Bates confirmed in his programme notes that Leeds are negotiating a pay-off for their former England winger Steve Stone.

Leeds match facts

Coca-Cola Championship
Leeds United 3, Colchester 0
(at Elland Road)Leeds United: Stack, Crainey, Kilgallon, Heath, Lewis (Westlake 76), Foxe, Derry, Douglas, Cresswell (Beckford 90), Blake, Horsfield (Moore 62). Subs not used: Warner, Johnson. Booked: Derry, Blake. Goals: Blake 36, 53 pen, Cresswell 48.

Colchester: Davison, White (Jones 60), Brown, Baldwin, Barker, Duguid, Jackson, Izzet, McLeod, Cureton, Iwelumo (Guy 70). Subs not used: Gerken, Elokobi, Richards Booked: Izzet, Duguid.

Referee: M Jones (Cheshire).

Attendance: 17,678.