Gillingham 3 Leeds United 2: Second spot still up for grabs after another crazy weekend

After yet another round of games – the seventh out of eight, in fact – where the side occupying second place in League One failed to win, it seems a pertinent question.

Leeds United have been by far the biggest offenders in choking when handily placed with their last five defeats all coming when sitting immediately behind runaway leaders Norwich City.

But they have been by no means the only offenders with Millwall and Swindon Town also cracking under the pressure of the chasing pack breathing down their necks.

With just 270 minutes of football remaining, the game of musical chairs near the top of the division shows no signs of abating after a weekend that saw only Swindon of the four teams chasing second place avoid defeat.

And even then Danny Wilson's Robins – the last team to claim maximum points from second place with a 3-0 Easter Monday triumph over Tranmere – could only claim a point at home to mid-table Walsall.

The upshot was Leeds, despite sliding to an eighth league defeat of 2010, clinging grimly on to the final automatic promotion place.

Whether Simon Grayson's men will still be there come 5pm on May 8 is anyone's guess.

But one man who has doubts over whether United have the stomach to prevail is Gillingham midfielder Adam Miller.

Asked if he felt Leeds would get promoted, the scorer of the first goal in the 3-2 win for Mark Stimson's side said: "Honestly, no I don't. That is not because I don't rate them as a team.

"They have got quality players and I like the way they play. I don't know what it is, but it is just not happening for them."

United's latest slip-up from second place came courtesy of a first-half horror show in which their defence failed abysmally to deal with the aerial threat and physical power of Dennis Oli and Rene Howe.

Miller, Mark Bentley and an own goal by Richard Naylor may have been the strikes that condemned Leeds to defeat.

But it was the powerfully built attacking duo that laid the foundations for the win with a terrific display that saw Naylor and Neill Collins out-muscled and out-manoeuvred throughout the opening 45 minutes.

It was not only in defence, either, where Leeds were distinctly second best, with Neil Kilkenny unable to provide his usual passing spark in midfield and Jonny Howson joining Robert Snodgrass in being largely anonymous.

The first goal took just nine minutes to arrive, Naylor's poor attempted header only reaching Miller who calmly looped the ball beyond Shane Higgs from 15 yards.

Howe then struck the post with a low shot before the home side doubled their advantage on the half-hour as Leeds again failed to deal with an arrowed cross from the flank and an unmarked Bentley powered Miller's free-kick into the net.

Worse was to come just three minutes later as Naylor again got his angles all wrong, his header flying beyond the helpless Higgs – though there was a suspicion the final touch had come off Leigh Bromby.

By now, Grayson's men were in disarray and in real danger of slumping to the sort of costly defeat that leaves previously healthy goal differences looking decidedly unwell.

Thankfully for the 2,241 fans who had followed their team from Yorkshire, a lifeline came just seconds before the break courtesy of a smart turn and finish from Luciano Becchio.

Suddenly, belief was restored and the suspicion, as the visiting players left the field at the interval to an encouraging roar from the travelling support, was that the fightback could be on.

Ten minutes into the second half and with no further goals, Grayson thrust Jermaine Beckford into the fray and switched to an attack-minded 3-4-3 formation.

However, while Leeds continued to dominate both territorially and in terms of possession, Gillingham goalkeeper Alan Julian was still rarely called into action.

Instead, a succession of increasingly ambitious shots from distance sailed wide of the target as United huffed and puffed with little finesse.

They did pull a goal back five minutes from time courtesy of Beckford after the club's top scorer had been bundled to the floor by Bentley inside the penalty area and Alan Wiley pointed to the spot.

It was, though, a case of too little, too late – though fears that, on a weekend when much of Europe was brought to a standstill by volcanic ash, United's promotion hopes had gone up in smoke were soon eased when news filtered through of results from elsewhere.

Nevertheless, as a section of the Leeds fans became embroiled in an ugly clash with police and stewards after the final whistle, there was no denying it had been a black day for the club.

Gillingham: Julian; Fuller (Payne 4), Bentley, Dennehy, Nutter; Miller, Jackman, Weston (Jackson 72), Barcham; Howe, Oli. Unused substitutes: Royce, Maher, Dickson, Wynter, Essam.

Leeds United: Higgs; Bromby, Naylor, Collins, Hughes (Parker 55); Howson, Kilkenny, Doyle, Snodgrass (Beckford 56); Gradel, Becchio (Watt 77). Unused substitutes: Ankergren, Grella, McSheffrey, Lowry.

Referee: A Wiley (Staffordshire).

MATCH FOCUS

Hero: Dennis Oli

There were several contenders from the home ranks, however, Oli epitomised everything that was good about Gillingham.

Villain: Richard Naylor

Leeds United may run through the captain's DNA but there is no denying just how much of a struggle the opening 45 minutes were for a defender who has displayed erratic form during 2010.

His own-goal capped a poor opening half for the visitors when they were out-muscled and out-played by their hosts.

Key moment:

33rd minute: As Jack Payne swung over an aimless cross from the right, United's defence again succumbed as Naylor's header flew into his own net.

Ref watch:

Alan Wiley: The Premier League official incensed the visiting fans with a string of decisions they felt went against them.

Verdict

Results elsewhere meant Leeds held on to second place but any repeat of their first-half display and they will be playing more League One football next season.

Next game

Leeds United v Milton Keynes Dons; Saturday April 24, 2010; League One.

Quote of the day

It was stupid and not something I expect from my players – Simon Grayson's reaction to Max Gradel opting not to hand possession back to Gillingham after they had kicked the ball out for an injured Leeds player.

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