The English have not had so much fun out of Troyes since Henry V made plans in their cathedral to become king of France. Henry never managed it, dying before the deed was done, but last night the bells rang jubilantly here for a freewheeling Leeds display which might have brought greater rewards.
Troyes' fluidity had won warm pre-match words, but it was Leeds own inventiveness that dominated the night. Mark Viduka and Lee Bowyer both scored twice as Leeds led 4-1 by the 46th minute, although if a two-goal lead inspires confidence for the second leg, Patrice Loko's second goal of the night, a tap-in nine minutes from time, gave the French hope. Leeds cannot be crowned just yet.
Troyes are one of the smaller clubs in the French first division, and this season marks their debut in European competition. But their impact has been immediate, and nowhere more so than Tyneside where they shocked Newcastle by going 4-1 up at St James's Park in a scintillating passing display before drawing 4-4 and scraping through to the second round on away goals.
But that smacked also of defensive vulnerability and Leeds proved as much by going ahead within six minutes, Viduka evading two defenders to score from Bowyer's pass. Viduka should have stretched Leeds's lead further, but he was so taken by the amount of space available in the area as Ian Harte played him through that he over-gilded his finish, struck the goalkeeper, Tony Heurtebis, and Frederic Danjou cleared.
Leeds's strikers found abundant space at the heart of Troyes' defence, so much so that they passed the entire half as if taking a stroll in the Yorkshire Dales. Robbie Keane's low drive was pushed aside; another pleasing perambulation saw Keane head high; and Eirik Bakke's header from Harte's corner was almost diverted in by Viduka.
Viduka's lack of physical presence can drive Leeds supporters to distraction, but here he sensed his superiority. He spun on to Harte's throw and won a second tackle, allowing Bowyer to extend Leeds's lead with a low left-footed drive midway through the half.
It was unimaginably easy, but Troyes warned against complacency by pulling a goal back after 31 minutes when Loko escaped Dominic Matteo to reach Nicolas Gousse's through-ball ahead of the onrushing Nigel Martyn. They might even have equalised, but Samuel Boutal's anticipated header from Jerome Rothen's central free-kick never materialised, leaving Martyn to save awkwardly with his knees.
Instead, by half-time, Leeds had regained their two-goal cushion. Keane crossed from the right and Bowyer's first header was finished at the far post by Viduka.
It took Leeds less than a minute to relax into the second half when the fourth arrived. Bowyer survived at least three attempts to suppress his run, won the last tackle with feeling and, when Viduka's shot was blocked by Heurtebis, Bowyer's follow-up brought him his second of the night.
Troyes centre-backs, Danjou and Medhi Meniri, had barely made a challenge all night, and when Meniri did manage to make contact, it was with an elbow in Viduka's face.
Leeds also had the satisfaction at half-time of Seth Johnson adding his signature on the field to a £7 million sterling transfer from Derby.
LEEDS UNITED: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bowyer, Bakke (Batty 66), Dacourt, Kewell, Keane (Smith 70), Viduka. Subs Not Used: Kelly, Woodgate, Robinson, Wilcox, Duberry. Booked: Bowyer. Goals: Viduka 6, Bowyer 23, Viduka 44, Bowyer 46.
TROYES: Heurtebis, Boutal (Niang 77), Olivier Thomas, Leroy, Meniri, Rothen, Bradja, Gousse (Hamed 58), Amzine, Danjou, Loko (Djukic 85). Subs Not Used: Sekli, Tourenne. Sent Off: Meniri (49). Booked: Rothen, Djukic.Goals: Loko 31, 81.
Referee: F Mendez (Spain).
