PHOTOS: Leeds United 2 Birmingham City 0: Saiz and Dallas fire thriving Whites to top spot

United took a 17th-minute lead when a thunderbolt effort from Pierre-Michel Lasogga was parried by David Stockdale into the path of Saiz who gratefully blasted the ball home from close range.

And after surviving a flurry of chances for Birmingham, United made absolutely sure of victory in the second minute of second half stoppage time when substitute Dallas finished off a flowing counter attack.

Leeds now sit one point clear of Cardiff City who dropped to second after being beaten 3-0 at Preston North End.

Birmingham caused plenty of problems and a dangerous early attack was only ended by a hard tackle by Vurnon Anita on Sam Gallagher for which Birmingham wanted a penalty.

From a 14th minute corner, Birmingham’s Michael Morrison then looped a header inches wide and only a superb block from Pontus Jansson kept out a firm shot from Gallagher moments later.

But Leeds went close one minute later when a Pablo Hernandez effort was cleared and in the very next minute United took the lead.

Lasogga made the goal by chasing a long ball and unleashing a fierce effort from a tight angle at Stockdale who could only parry the ball into the path of Saiz who smashed the ball home.

Leeds then immediately went close to adding a second as Lasogga headed a chance on to the roof of the net but Birmingham remained a threat and Jeremie Boga blasted a good opportunity wide from a tight angle before another fine tackle from Jansson denied the same player soon after.

At the other end, a right wing cross from Saiz fell to Hernandez in the box but the Spaniard hammered a low shot just wide.

But only a sensational goal-line clearance from Luke Ayling denied Birmingham a certain equaliser on the stroke of half time after Maxime Colin’s header had beaten the onrushing Wiedwald.