WHEN Leeds United kicked off their League Cup first round tie against Chester with Lewis and Carole on the wings they were hoping for fairytale football.

Instead they got the Mad Hatter's Tea Party as United's White Rabbits produced a sleep-inducing performance which saw them limp home 1-0.

Kevin Blackwell included Eddie Lewis and Seb Carole on the flanks, but for the best part on a hour they provided width but no service as Leeds laboured to break the deadlock.

United's pedestrian approach early on made it easy for Mark Wright's well-drilled outfit to fall back and erect their defensive barricades. The lack of urgency and pace throughout the Leeds team and a catalogue of misplaced passes was poor reward for the few home fans that bothered to turn out in an Elland Road attendance of just over 10,000.

Chairman Ken Bates' programme notes about his latest joust with Chelsea were much more entertaining than what was happening on the field.

Fittingly, Leeds needed a bizarre goal to pull themselves out a rabbit hole.

Blocked shots by Robbie Blake and Ian Westlake finally saw the ball cannon off Paul Linwood on to a post and Eirik Bakke just managed to squeeze the ball over the line via the same upright.

The goal triggered a belated injection of interest from Leeds but they should have been punished when Greg Blundell screwed his shot horribly wide from inside the box with only Neil Sullivan to beat.

The paucity of United's performance could be measured by the fact that the planned introduction on youngsters Danny Rose and Jonny Howson failed to materialise as Blackwell slung on senior players David Healy and Matthew Kilgallon near the end to quell Chester's spirit.

At least Leeds were not late for a very important date - in the second round.

Leeds kick-off their home reserves' campaign against Bradford City at York' KitKat Crescent tonight (7pm) in the Pontin's Holidays League Division 1 Central League.

LEEDS MATCH FACTS

Carling Cup, first round Leeds United 1, Chester City 0.

(at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Sullivan, Richardson, Foxe (Kilgallon 88), Gregan, Crainey, Carole, Bakke, Westlake, Lewis, Blake (Healy 88), Beckford (Moore 74). Subs (unused): Howson, Rose. Caution: Gregan. Goal: Bakke 57.

Chester City: Danby, Vaughan, Artell, Wilson, Westwood, Linwood, Hand, Walters, Martinez (Rutherford 80), Blundell, Broughton (Holroyd 70). Subs (unused): Marples, McSporran, Palethorpe. Caution: Linwood, Westwood, Holdroyd.

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex) Attendance: 10,013.