Luke Varney bagged a second half hat-trick as Leeds triumphed 3-0 at Stevenage.

After a dour first-half which the hosts edged, Brian McDermott threw on Rodolph Austin, Ross McCormack and Luke Varney.

However we had to wait until the 71st minute for Leeds to go in front, Varney heading home Austin's cross. He made it 2-0 on 75, responding quickly to a free-kick and shooting low past veteran keeper Chris Day.

And the former Portsmouth striker claimed his hat-trick in the 80th minute from the penalty spot.

Once again, have we written the much-maligned lanky forward off at our peril, his super sub performance earned him a standing ovation and with no new signings likely in the next 10 days surely he will be very much in Brian McDermott's thoughts for a significant part in the curtain-raiser against Brighton.

Photo: Action Images

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