Four more wins from their remaining eight Premiership games should be enough to guarantee European football at Elland Road again next season.

On current form there's even an outside chance of Champions League qualification - but manager David O'Leary quickly quashed that notion after their 4-1 demolition of Derby saw them move temporarily into third place on Saturday evening.

"For that to happen would be a miracle," said the Leeds boss and victories for Manchester United and Chelsea yesterday supported his opinion.

But with home games against Alex Ferguson's leaders and champions Arsenal, and trips to Chelsea and fellow Euro-hopefuls West Ham to come it promises to be a thrilling end to the season for O'Leary's stylish youngsters.

Even though they spent about half the game in third gear they were far too good for Derby and racked up their sixth successive Premiership win - the first time they have won six on the bounce since 1987-88 when Billy Bremner was in charge.

If they beat bottom club Nottingham Forest at Elland Road a week on Saturday they will match the seven straight victories achieved at the start of the 1973-74 season when the late Don Revie's side went on to win the title.

On paper that should be a formality, but O'Leary, despite only being in management a few months, is wise enough to know that football has a nasty habit of kicking you in the teeth and is determined to keep his youngsters' feet on the ground.

Not even a clear fourth minute penalty slotted in by Franceso Baiano after Lucas Radebe had brought down Greek winger Vassilis Borbokis could knock Leeds out of their stride.

Despite missing the ill David Batty, Lee Bowyer and David Hopkin controlling the midfield the spotkick proved to be Derby's only meaningful goal attempt even though the Leeds defence had a few moments of indecision.

Going forward United were in a different league. Derby defended far too deeply in the first half and were punished by some free-slowing attacking play.

Hopkin and Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink carved open Derby's right flank for Bowyer to roll in an 18th minute equaliser.

By the interval Leeds were 3-1 up and coasting. Hasselbaink smashed in the second - his first Premeirship goal at Elland Road since early December - from a free-kick from the edge of the box. Then the striker turned provider, slipping the ball in from the left for fellow Dutchman Willem Korsten to escape Derby's lumbering defence and steer an angled shot beyond Mart Poom in the County goal.

The second half was a non-event. Derby belatedly tightened up at the back, Leeds seemed content to keep out of referee Mike Reed's notebook and knew that Derby didn't have the firepower to get back in the game.

That ruthlessness streak, the desire to really put opponents to the sword, is still missing from O'Leary's vibrant team. Derby were there for the taking, but it was not until near the end that United emphasised their superiority. Ian Harte made a rare sortie into the attack, was practically invited to come inside by the retreating Derby defence, and thumped a glorious shot with his supposed weaker right foot past Poom.

The future certainly looks rosy for Leeds, who, if they dispose of Forest, will then have a club record of nine straight wins - achieved in 1931-32 - in their sights.

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