Philippe Coutinho's deflected strike gave the visitors a half-time lead before second-half goals from Matty Cash and Calum Chambers put the game beyond Leeds' reach.
Fans started leaving their seats well ahead of the final whistle as the result looked sewn up long before the 90 minutes was up.
There was further cause for concern in the game's dying minutes as Junior Firpo was stretchered off the pitch by the Leeds' medical team, forcing United to finish the game with ten men.
1. Illan Meslier
7 - Had it not been for the keeper things would have been much worse.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.
2. Stuart Dallas
3 - Given a torrid time defending, struggled on the ball too. Villa targeted him from early on.
Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images.
3. Luke Ayling
4 - Battled, took charge in some shaky defensive situations and showed a cool head. Couldn't stem the tide with Leeds' heads gone.
Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images.
4. Pascal Struijk
4 - Not at the level he can play at, not as good on the ball as he can be.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images.
5. Junior Firpo
3 - Poor defensively, wasteful on the ball picking wrong options. Gave Cash the freedom of Leeds for the third. Sadly left on a stretcher.
Photo by LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP via Getty Images.
6. Robin Koch
4 - Didn't look like the midfielder Leeds needed in there in the final third, but he's a defender playing in midfield.
Picture by Jonathan Gawthorpe.