Jack Harrison scored a stunning 25-yard drive as Leeds United progressed into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2016 at the expense of League One Accrington Stanley.
Harrison, who has been linked with a £20m move to Leicester Cityexternal-link, fired left-footed into the bottom-right corner after Patrick Bamford's lay-off to break the deadlock halfway through the first half.
Leeds continued to press in a lively first half that saw 18 shots, with Luis Sinisterra having a curling effort tipped on to the post.
They got the second goal their excellent forward play deserved when Junior Firpo linked up brilliantly with Bamford, with the striker's dragged reverse pass allowing the left-back to slot home for his first Leeds goal.
Sinisterra then sealed Leeds' comfortable passage when he opened his body and guided home Harrison's cut-back from the penalty spot.
Accrington started brightly and eventually got their reward when 18-year-old substitute Leslie Adekoya scored his first senior goal with a clever dink over Illan Meslier, 38 seconds after coming off the bench.
Jesse Marsch's Leeds side have gone six Premier League games without victory but the FA Cup is providing solace and could add confidence that boosts their survival fight.
Marsch told BBC Sport he was most pleased with Leeds' mentality, adding: "We always have a group that are ready to work and run. The key is just that we perform clearly tactically and we get more towards the team we want to be and gather more and more results.
"This tournament will give us confidence. We know we have some tough games coming up in the Premier League but the group is feeling better and better about the progress."
Bamford and Harrison prove value
The first half was full of chances at both ends with only a brilliant block from Maximilian Wober denying Accrington's Shaun Whalley, before January signing Georginio Rutter dragged wide from the edge of the area for Leeds.
The moment of quality arrived through Harrison, whose effort was simply unstoppable.
Accrington had chances to equalise, with boyhood Leeds fan Harvey Rodgers dragging wide when unmarked at the back post in the opening stages of the second period.
Leeds pressed and Bamford's quality eventually told when he did superbly to hold up Firpo's pass and then turn and release the left-back.
The 29-year-old striker, who has one England cap, has only managed 581 minutes this season so far but a return to fitness and form will add undoubted quality to Leeds' relegation fight.
Marsch called the 75 minutes that Bamford played a "big step", adding: "We were both just really happy - he was exhausted. He hasn't had that feeling in quite some time. He will be important for us."
Harrison, who has also struggled to make an impact this season with the performances of Wilfried Gnonto seeing him start on the left wing, then showed more quality when his cut-back was perfectly weighted into the path of Sinisterra.
Accrington, who only booked their place in the fourth round with a replay win over non-league Boreham Wood on Tuesday, deserved their consolation goal and it was a moment that Adekoya will never forget, having previously made just seven appearances off the bench for the club.
At 18 years and 285 days, he became the youngest player to score in this season's FA Cup.
Line-ups
Accrington
Formation 3-5-2
40Savin
5Astley34Tharme16Rodgers
14Longelo6Coyle7Whalley4Hamilton11McConville
8Leigh20Pressley
40Savin5Astley34TharmeSubstituted forPicklesat 80'minutes16Rodgers14LongeloSubstituted forNolanat 80'minutes6CoyleBooked at 39mins7WhalleySubstituted forWoodsat 86'minutes4Hamilton11McConvilleSubstituted forQuirkat 80'minutes8Leigh20PressleySubstituted forAdekoyaat 80'minutesBooked at 90minsSubstitutes
1Jensen17Nolan21Perritt22Martin25Quirk39Woods42Adekoya43Pickles50FernandesLeeds
Formation 4-1-3-2
1Meslier
25Kristensen5Koch39Wöber3Firpo
8Roca
42Greenwood11Harrison23Sinisterra
24Rutter9Bamford
1Meslier25Kristensen5KochSubstituted forLlorenteat 76'minutes39Wöber3Firpo8Roca42GreenwoodBooked at 70mins11HarrisonSubstituted forFernándezat 89'minutes23SinisterraSubstituted forRodrigoat 69'minutes24RutterSubstituted forPerkinsat 76'minutes9BamfordSubstituted forAaronsonat 77'minutesSubstitutes
2Ayling7Aaronson14Llorente16Perkins18Gyabi19Rodrigo22Robles40van den Heuvel49FernándezReferee:Josh SmithAttendance:5,268Live Text
Match ends, Accrington Stanley 1, Leeds United 3.
Second Half ends, Accrington Stanley 1, Leeds United 3.
Leslie Adekoya (Accrington Stanley) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Rasmus Kristensen (Leeds United) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Leslie Adekoya (Accrington Stanley).
Attempt missed. Leslie Adekoya (Accrington Stanley) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Tommy Leigh with a cross.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Rasmus Kristensen.
Substitution, Leeds United. Mateo Joseph replaces Jack Harrison.
Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Tommy Leigh (Accrington Stanley).
Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Josh Woods replaces Shaun Whalley.
Foul by Brenden Aaronson (Leeds United).
Ethan Hamilton (Accrington Stanley) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt blocked. Rodrigo (Leeds United) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Brenden Aaronson.
Attempt saved. Rodrigo (Leeds United) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Brenden Aaronson.
Goal! Accrington Stanley 1, Leeds United 3. Leslie Adekoya (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from very close range to the top left corner. Assisted by Sebastian Quirk.
Attempt saved. Tommy Leigh (Accrington Stanley) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Harvey Rodgers.
Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Leslie Adekoya replaces Aaron Pressley.
Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Aaron Pickles replaces Doug Tharme.
Substitution, Accrington Stanley. Sebastian Quirk replaces Sean McConville.
