Charlton Athletic 1 Leeds United 0: Nervous Leeds left to battle for promotion on crunch final day

"Just one goal," bellowed the expectant 3,200 visiting fans midway through the second half, "and Leeds are up."

The sentiment was, of course, sound enough. With Millwall trailing 2-0 at Tranmere Rovers, one goal would, indeed, have been enough to secure a return to the Championship for the Yorkshire club.

But in a division where fans of all-bar Norwich City in the upper echelons of the table have learned to expect the unexpected, there was always a chance another dramatic turn of events lay around the corner.

And so it proved with the goal the Leeds fans had been calling for coming at the opposite end at The Valley as Akpo Sodje turned what had, ahead of kick-off, seemed to be a two-team fight for runners-up spot into a four-way scrap.

Not only are Charlton back in the hunt courtesy of Sodje's sixth goal of the season, but also Swindon Town after a 3-2 win over Brentford at The County Ground that means just two points separate all four challengers going into the final weekend.

With Elland Road already sold out for the visit of Bristol Rovers, after the final few hundred tickets were snapped up within seven minutes of being put on sale last Friday afternoon, it now promises to be a nerve-jangling affair.

Simon Grayson admits the pressure will be on his side ahead of a game United are likely to have to win due to Millwall and Swindon going head-to-head at The Den.

But the Leeds manager is also adamant his players have what it takes to prevail on the final day.

Grayson said: "No-one said getting promoted was going to be easy but the key thing is that the club's destiny is in our own hands. What it boils down to now is that we have a one-game season. If we beat Bristol Rovers, we are promoted and there is a great determination and belief that we will do it.

"It will be some atmosphere next weekend, that is for sure. And, hopefully, we can finish off the job."

Grayson's faith in his players will have been strengthened by what was a largely impressive team display at The Valley.

With the recalled Michael Doyle bringing bite to the midfield alongside the renowned passing skills of Neil Kilkenny, Leeds controlled the first hour.

Such was their dominance that Shane Higgs had just one save of note to make in those opening 60 minutes, the United goalkeeper beating away a snapshot from Deon Burton during an otherwise one-sided first half.

In contrast, Darren Randolph had a much busier afternoon with it taking Grayson's men just two minutes to test the Charlton goalkeeper courtesy of a Max Gradel shot that was beaten away.

Randolph was then indebted to Burton for a terrific goal-line clearance that blocked a Neill Collins effort after Bradley Johnson's looping header had caught the Charlton goalkeeper out of position.

Robert Snodgrass was the next to bring the best out of Randolph with a low shot on 56 minutes after being picked out by Luciano Becchio.

At this stage – and with the Leeds fans by now willing their side on to claim the goal they believed would be enough to secure promotion – Charlton had hardly been in the game.

To their credit, though, the home side made amends in the final half-hour by taking the game to the visitors as play raced from one end to the other.

First, former Leeds defender Sam Sodje narrowly missed the target from eight yards out before his brother Akpo did the same when presented with a clear-cut opening by Nicky Bailey. Grayson's response was to bring three attackers off the bench, such a bold approach being rewarded when Gradel found Jermaine Beckford only for the 30-goal forward to shoot lamely into the side netting.

Then, just as it seemed both sides would have to settle for a point, Charlton made the breakthrough when Richard Naylor, standing on the line, was unable to keep out a bullet header from Akpo Sodje.

Such a dramatic late twist was cruel on Leeds, though scholars of this fixture will not have been unduly surprised with Charlton having once come from behind to beat the Yorkshire club in a play-off final courtesy of two goals very late in extra time.

Peter Shirtliff netted that double in 1987 to end any hopes of Leeds being promoted. Whether the same will be said about Sodje's late winner in future years, we will know come 5pm on Saturday.