UEFA Cup: Leeds United 1, Partizan Belgrade 0 (4-1 on agg).

Darren Huckerby made it a happy anniversary for David O'Leary as he celebrated his first year in charge of Leeds United with an easy passage into the second round of the UEFA Cup.

United's young guns held a 3-1 advantage from the opening leg in neutral Holland, and Parti-zan never looked like upsetting O'Leary's night, their threatened bombardment of the United goal never materialising.

Instead, Leeds were allowed to canter to victory, despite rarely getting out of second gear in a dour game played in wet conditions.

The victory capped an amazing 12 months for both Leeds and their Irish manager since George Graham quit Elland Road for the bright lights of London to manage Spurs.

O'Leary has cast aside the often negative approach that Graham employed at Elland Road and given youth its chance to transform United into genuine title challengers at the top of the Premiership.

Unfortunately for another capacity crowd at Elland Road, Leeds failed to produce any of the sparkling football which has characterised their play since O'Leary took charge.

However, even a below-par United were far too good for the disappointing Yugoslav champions, who did not bring a save out of Leeds keeper Nigel Martyn until 11 minutes from time.

United should have killed the Yugoslavs' challenge off in the first half, only Partizan goalkeeper Nikola Damjanac ensuring the score remained goalless before the break.

The keeper, who was badly at fault with two of United's goals in the first leg, managed to deny Harry Kewell, Lee Bowyer and Michael Bridges as United took control, despite rarely showing the attacking verve they are capable of.

David Batty was in fine form through the middle with some tough tackling and intelligent use of the ball, while Bowyer and David Hopkin worked tirelessly to close down the Yugoslav side.

Leeds' breakthrough finally came nine minutes after the interval when Kewell's storng burst forward allowed him to slip the ball through for Huckerby and, after the former Coventry man skipped past the Partizan goalkeeper, he cracked a goal-bound shot which defender Marjan Gerasimoski could not prevent crossing the line.

That sealed the game, and with Partizan's limp attack being well shackled by the majestic Lucas Radebe, it was a comfortable passage to the second round for O'Leary's men.

Leeds United: Martyn, Kelly, Harte, Radebe, Woodgate, Hopkin (Bakke 80), Batty, Bowyer, Kewell (Jones 85), Bridges (Smith 67), Huckerby. Subs: Haaland, Robinson, Mills, Hay.

Partizan Belgrade: Damjanac, Savic, Sabo, Gerasimovski, Stanojevic, Trobok (Duljaj 65), Ivic (Stojakovic 86), Tomic, Obradovic (Baljak 63), Pekovic, Stojisavlevic. Subs: Ilic, Arnaut, Vukovic, Miskovic.

Attendance: 39,806

Man of the Match: Lucas Radebe (Leeds United)

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