Saturday, 8 May 2010

TEN-MAN LEEDS UNITED CLINCH PROMOTION

From Football365.com

Ten-man Leeds United secured automatic promotion to the Coca-Cola Championship after a tense final afternoon in League One on Saturday.

They came from behind to beat Bristol Rovers 2-1 and clinch second spot in the table.

With Norwich already promoted as champions, the permutations for who could join them in winning automatic promotion were vast, with five teams in with a shout.

Three points separated second-placed Leeds and sixth-placed Huddersfield before kick-off, with Millwall, Swindon and Charlton the other sides guaranteed at least a play-off place.

Things looked bleak for Simon Grayson's side when they were reduced to 10 men on 34 minutes after Max Gradel was sent off for stamping on Daniel Jones in an off-the-ball incident.

An expectant Elland Road suffered yet more agonies three minutes into the second half when Darryl Duffy fired Bristol Rovers ahead.

But Leeds regrouped and sub Jonny Howson brought them level with a super finish on 59 minutes.

Four minutes later came the crucial winner as Jermaine Beckford fired home emphatically from close range after the visitors failed to clear a low near-post cross.

Millwall had looked like overhauling Leeds in the race for automatic promotion as they too came from behind to beat Swindon.

The visitors took a third-minute lead through Daniel Ward, but a Steve Morison penalty after 14 minutes and Gordon Greer's own goal after 62 minutes saw the Lions in control.

And Millwall netted a third when Morison struck his second after 73 minutes before Billy Paynter's strike five minutes from time set up a tense finale.

Swindon will meet Charlton in the play-offs after goals from Nicky Bailey and Miguel Angel Llera secured the Addicks a 2-0 win at Oldham.

Millwall will play Huddersfield after the Terriers lost 2-1 at Exeter, whose win made certain of their survival.

Gary Roberts gave Town a second-minute lead, but the Grecians responded through Matthew Taylor before Ryan Harley's winner eight minutes from time ensured it would be Tranmere, Gillingham and Hartlepool fighting it out to avoid the drop.

Tranmere, who were in the drop zone at the start of the day, claimed a 3-0 win at Stockport, with goals from Ian Goodison, Ian Thomas-Moore and Joss Labadie.

Hartlepool, who earlier this week were docked three points for fielding an ineligible player, survived after earning a point in the goalless draw at Brentford.

Defeat would have sent Pools down, but they clung on and Gillingham's woeful goal difference sent them down to League Two.

Gillingham lost 3-0 at already-relegated Wycombe, whose goals came through Matt Phillips, Alan Bennett and Kevin Betsy.

Elsewhere, champions Norwich waved goodbye to League One with a 2-0 loss at home to Carlisle.

Brighton beat Yeovil 1-0 and Colchester defeated Leyton Orient by the same scoreline after Kevin Lisbie converted a stoppage-time penalty following Luke Ashworth's dismissal.

Southampton defeated Southend 3-1 with two goals in the final five minutes securing victory and Walsall beat MK Dons 2-1.

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