Leeds United 5 Stoke City 0: Five-star Whites move six points clear in automatics with just four games left

Stoke somehow survived in the 22nd minute thanks to double goal-line clearance but United took the lead on the stroke of half-time through a cool Mateusz Klich penalty awarded for a foul on Helder Costa who himself doubled United's advantage two minutes after the break.

Skipper Liam Cooper then supplied a finish not befitting a centre-back three minutes before the hour after a superb team move featuring brilliant movement from substitute Pablo Hernandez who then netted a brilliant fourth goal with 18 minutes left.

An awesome display was then completed as Patrick Bamford netted in the third minute of added time.

The victory took Marcelo Bielsa's side back to the division's summit and one point above West Brom with United six points ahead of third-placed Brentford.

The Whites now need just seven points from their final four games to guarantee a return to the Premier League, even if Brentford and West Brom win all of their remaining games.

United went close after just 29 seconds when a poor clearance from Danny Batth fell to Tyler Roberts whose curling effort from just inside the box was tipped behind for a corner by keeper Jack Butland.

But Ben White then got in a muddle when losing possession at the back in the fourth minute with the centre-back booked for conceding a free-kick.

Tyrese Campbell took the set piece and blasted his shot into the wall and James McClean's effort from the rebound was deflected wide.

Stoke had lined up with a back five, packing men behind the ball whilst threatening on the counter but Leeds gradually got going and Patrick Bamford blasted a decent effort narrowly over from the edge of the box in the 16th minute.

United then worked an opening for Mateusz Klich whose fierce goalbound shot was blocked by Bruno Martins Indi and Stoke then survived by the skin of their teeth two minutes later when Bamford's shot was cleared off the line when clean through with Roberts unable to finish the rebound which was also blocked on the line.

Roberts then flashed another cross/shot well wide before Jack Harrison blazed over from just inside the box in the 37th minute after a lovely ball from White for Bamford.

But Stoke then conceded a needless penalty in the 43rd minute when Tommy Smith brought down Helder Costa who was heading away from goal and Klich coolly converted the penalty in sending Butland the wrong way.

Bielsa then brought on Pablo Hernandez for Roberts during the break and United doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart after Hernandez linked up with Stuart Dallas to set up Costa who produced a clinical finish from inside the box.

United were rampant and Bamford volleyed against the crossbar from close range before Phillips blazed over seconds later.

Butland then kept out Bamford's stinging shot from a tight angle but United's third goal arrived three minutes before the hour after skipper Cooper supplied a delicious finish to a Hernandez cross.

Butland then denied Dallas with Klich slicing the rebound wide and Stoke then attempted something of a rally but only a save with Butland's legs denied Jack Harrison a United fourth from a rapid counter.

But United were proving unstoppable and Hernandez finished off a flowing move with a superb strike into the bottom right corner with 18 minutes left.

Even then Leeds went in search of a fifth and Stoke were unable to even net a consolation with McClean's decent effort whizzing over the bar in stoppage time.

And United fittingly had the final say with Bamford netting a superb fifth goal in the third minute of added time with a fine finish from a tight angle that went in off the post.

Leeds United: Meslier, Ayling, White, Cooper (Berardi 83), Dallas (Douglas 75), Phillips, Klich (Shackleton 78), Harrison (Alioski 78), Costa, Roberts (Hernandez 46), Bamford. Subs not used: Miazek, Stevens, Poveda, Struijk.

Stoke City: Butland, Smith, Batth, Collins (Chester 46), Martins Indi, Cousins (Thompson 82), Campbell (Gregory 61), Clucas, Powell (Sorensen 75), McClean, Vokes (Diouf 62). Subs not used: Davies, Lindsay, Ward, Ince.

Referee: Darren Bond.