Leeds 5-0 Burton: Pierre-Michel Lasogga scores debut double

Pierre-Michel Lasogga scored a debut double as Leeds underlined their promotion credentials with a thumping 5-0 win over Burton.

The Brewers dealt a huge blow to Leeds' Sky Bet Championship play-off hopes in April, but they could not lay a glove on Thomas Christiansen's side at Elland Road on Saturday.

Lasogga, a deadline-day loan signing from Hamburg, set Leeds on their way and the hosts were out of sight courtesy of a Kalvin Phillips effort and Pablo Hernandez's penalty on the stroke of half-time.

Kemar Roofe got in on the act just after the restart and the excellent Lasogga nodded home his second as Leeds continued their unbeaten start to the season in emphatic fashion.

United looked in the mood from the off and had a flurry of early chances - Roofe seeing a shot cleared off the line and Samuel Saiz denied by Stephen Bywater following up, before Lasogga had a goal-bound volley blocked.

The breakthrough came on 20 minutes when Eunan O'Kane found Lasogga just outside the area with a perfectly weighted ball which the German striker took in his stride before firing a left-footed drive into the bottom corner.

Burton were struggling to cope with Leeds' movement and fluidity and they were left with a mountain to climb after Phillips curled home a left-footed shot from 12 yards in the 35th minute.

Kyle McFadzean was booked for pulling back Saiz in the build-up to the goal and he was quickly hauled off by Burton manager Nigel Clough, expressing his displeasure as he made his way to the dugout.

Lasogga thumped a strike against a post as Leeds poured forward in search of a killer third goal, which arrived from the penalty spot through Hernandez after Luke Ayling had his shirt pulled from a corner.

Leeds were forced into a half-time change as Stuart Dallas replaced the injured Vurnon Anita at left-back, and the Northern Ireland international introduced himself with a firm volley straight at Bywater.

The Burton goalkeeper had to be at his best to deny Lasogga after he was played in by Saiz and, from the resultant corner, Pontus Jansson headed just wide.

A fourth goal seemed inevitable and Roofe grabbed it on 54 minutes after accepting Burton's invitation to stride towards the edge of their box before picking his spot from 20 yards.

Roofe then turned provider just before the hour mark, springing the offside trap and lifting a ball from the byline straight onto the head of Lasogga, who made no mistake from close range.

That was Lasogga's last contribution as he left the field to a standing ovation and Leeds cruised through the final half-hour with Tuesday's home clash with Birmingham in mind.

The managers

Thomas Christiansen: "He's a very good striker and he proved that today in his first appearance. He scored two nice goals but he also combined well and held the ball up which is very important.

"It was a good game, not only from him but also the rest of the players. As a striker you need the confidence to prove your skills and today was a good start for him. He started the game after only a few days with the team and his performance and two goals will help him a lot to get that confidence."

Nigel Clough: "We weren't very good and they were excellent from start to finish. We couldn't do too much about the quality of the goals they scored. It's very rare you get a goalkeeper that's conceded five goals and can't say he had a chance with any of them.

"It's the nature of Burton Albion in the Championship. We know we're going to lose games. It's not nice when you lose 5-0 but you have to hold your hands up sometimes and say the opposition were excellent."