German Jordan visit Leeds United: Click here for full story and video of Claudia Ciesla.

"The Romans didn't build a great empire by organising meetings," he is said to have muttered.

"They did it by killing anyone who got in their way."

* Click here to enjoy a picture slideshow of match action from Leeds United's 5-2 win.

Bates has built a career out of uncompromising ambition but his attitude is growing contagious among those closest to him.

There is, it seems, no appetite at Elland Road for taking unnecessary prisoners.

Last night's victory over Chester City was created in the ruthless image of Leeds United's owner and polished by the most unforgiving 45 minutes of Gary McAllister's increasingly dynamic tenure.

Chester's need for respite was written in the 6-0 defeat suffered by the club at Dagenham and Redbridge on Saturday.

It was a result which was beyond the descriptive reach of their manager Simon Davies.

But the expectation that Leeds might be more lenient during the first stage of the Carling Cup was misjudged and in vain.

Instead, Davies stood embattled again yesterday evening, forced to explain the concession of five goals and a performance which bordered on spineless before half-time.

Even at this early stage of the season, Chester's retention of their Football League status is intrinsically linked to the body's insolvency policy which has so far crippled three of City's competitors in League Two, and the club are presently without direction or hope.

Leeds' dominance was such that a 5-1 advantage had been established by the 41st minute.

It was a humiliation so great that Paul Butler, United's former captain, was removed from Chester's defence during the interval.

With the wolves at his door and limited experience to call upon, Davies requires steadfast defiance from players of Butler's ilk.

What he received last night was a ragged outing from a tired veteran whose star has faded.

The first week of the season may have sold Davies down the river, but McAllister would work hard to find fault with either of the two results which have heralded the 2008-09 term.

United's win at Scunthorpe last weekend carried more credence and, undoubtedly, more value than the rampant destruction of a non-league club in League Two clothing, but the honesty with which they addressed the initial round of the Carling Cup was striking.