After the euphoria of a packed Elland Road on Thursday night, just 11,192 spectators - many of these from Port Vale - bothered to turn up to Elland Road this afternoon to watch Leeds ease past their First Division opponents thanks to two second half Eirik Bakke goals.

O'Leary made just one change from the team that did so well against Spartak in midweek, resting Michael Bridges and giving a start to Darren Huckerby. David Batty, as expected, failed to make the starting line up.

The game started scrappily with the home side struggling to come to terms with the slightly eerie atmosphere from within the quarter filled stadium. Port Vale made the better start, with Gardner's header drifting wide of Martyn's goal in the opening minutes, then Minton skying an effort way over the bar. Our first opportunity came when Huckerby shot wide of the visitors' goal after good work by Kewell.

With less than ten minutes on the clock, Rougier almost capitalised on a rare mistake by Radebe but was foiled by Woodgate with Martyn well out of his goal. Smith shot wide, then with half an hour gone, we had our best chance of the game so far, Harte skipping past two defenders only to see his right foot drive clip the upright.

Before half time, as we raised the pace, we had three more opportunities to give ourselves the lead. Firstly, Musselwhite dived at Kewell's feet to block his shot, then when the rebound fell to Bowyer, Snijders did well to prevent him netting the rebound. Finally, Bakke wasted a golden opportunity, glancing his header over the bar when it looked easier to score.

In the second period, we upped the tempo once more and began to dominate, albeit in patches. Kewell, as always a major thorn in opponents' sides, saw a long range effort palmed away by Musselwhite, then his header from a McPhail cross sailed over the bar.

On 61 minutes, Bakke opened his Leeds account and gave us the lead. When Gary Kelly's excellent header was saved by the Port Vale keeper, the Norwegian U21 Captain was on hand to volley the rebound into the top of the net. Then, just seven minutes later, he flicked home the winner with the outside of his boot in clinical style.

It was no more than we deserved and had it not been for excellent work from Musselwhite in the Port Vale goal, we might have had more than two goals.

All in all though, given the exertions of midweek and the poor atmosphere within the ground today, O'Leary will be glad to have got this one in the bag at the first opportunity. Manchester City now await in Round 4.

United Star Man: Eirik Bakke