Villa arrived in Yorkshire with renewed confidence after starting off the season with two successive victories.

But Brian Little’s team couldn't cope with the power of the Leeds midfield in which Carlton Palmer, Gary McAllister and Gary Speed were all highly impressive.

It took Leeds only three minutes to make the breakthrough as David Weatherall’s powerful downward header beat Mark Bosnich before Speed standing on the line directed the ball home.

Bosnich made a marvellous when Kelly whipped in a cross and Yeboah’s header seemed a certain goal but the Australian star flew across his line to scoop the ball away.

Two minutes from time Leeds got their second when David White got on the end of Deane’s cross.

Villa who for long spells were overpowered were reduced to snatching at half chances as boss Little showed his displeasure with some of Leeds’ dirty tactics by remonstrating with the home bench after Deane had floored sub Graham Fenton.

Little had brought on Fenton for the ineffective Tommy Johnson in a bid to turn things around but the manager will have been disappointed in the manner that his side stumbled to their first defeat in three games

Savo Milošević, the £3,500,000 signing from Partizan Belgrade had an unhappy 90 minutes and the big striker was booked for sliding tackle on Tony Dorigo.

Villa’s best chance came when Alan Wright released Dwight Yorke but his shot went fractionally past foot of the post.

Leeds keeper John Lukic also had a scare when a 30 yard shot from Mark Draper took a wicked bounce but he somehow managed to divert the ball to safety.