Manor Solomon’s first-half goal fired Leeds back to the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-0 win at Oxford.
The Israel international arrived at the far post in the 33rd minute to smash Jayden Bogle’s right-wing cross high into the net from five yards at the end of a fast attacking move.
It meant Daniel Farke’s men returned to the summit after Burnley’s 2-1 comeback victory at Watford had taken them top earlier in the day.
Leeds are five points clear of third-placed Sheffield United with now just three games to play.
In front of a sell-out crowd, Oxford started the game well but Leeds controlled the final 20 minutes of the first half and should probably have added to Solomon’s strike in the second half.
Ao Tanaka struck a post with a blistering shot from 25 yards three minutes from time following a sloppy clearance by Cameron Brannagan.
U’s boss Gary Rowett made two changes to the side that won 1-0 at Sheffield Wednesday with Polish winger Przemyslaw Placheta and Wales striker Mark Harris coming back in.
Leeds head coach Farke kept with the team that started the win over Preston, and injury doubt Dan James was named among his subs.
The Whites were making their first competitive appearance at the Kassam Stadium, facing a U’s outfit they had beaten 4-0 at Elland Road in December, just before Rowett took charge.
The home side started brightly, forcing a corner in the opening minute and Sam Long met Tyler Goodrham’s near-post delivery with a downward header but Harris had strayed offside.
The U’s went close to taking the lead in the seventh minute when, from Goodrham’s pass inside, Brannagan hit a fierce 20-yard drive that Karl Darlow just parried away.
Leeds, with confidence returned thanks to a six-match unbeaten run, were very fluid in their play, and twice they sent crosses flashing across the Oxford goalmouth.
Brenden Aaronson was played in by Tanaka, but Jamie Cumming kept out the USA international’s shot with a smart save to his right.
It needed an outstanding clearance from Ben Nelson to save Oxford when Solomon got behind their defence and crossed dangerously from the left.
But there was no stopping Solomon a few minutes later as he thumped the ball home to put Farke’s men in front with his ninth goal of the season.
From then until the break it was comfortable for the visitors who looked especially dangerous with their pace down their left side.
At the start of the second half Bogle fired wide from the edge of the area when the ball ran loose to him.
Oxford were struggling to create attacking moves, their opponents always seeming to be that much quicker all over the park.
Ilia Gruev struck a long-range free-kick straight into Cumming’s arms after a cynical challenge by Michal Helik, and a few minutes later Willy Gnonto went close with a right-foot shot from 20 yards.
Helik got on the end of a deep Greg Leigh cross in stoppage time, but he could not direct the effort on target.
