Grayson attempts to see the positives

SIMON GRAYSON admits Leeds United's destiny still being in their own hands was the only positive to take from an otherwise grim trip to Gillingham.

The Elland Road club had travelled to Kent buoyed by the previous night's result from the Galpharm Stadium where Millwall had lost to Huddersfield Town.

It meant a win at the Priestfield Stadium could, depending on results elsewhere, have opened up a four-point gap in the race for automatic promotion.

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Such hopes were, however, blown away by a desperate first half defensive effort as relegation-threatened Gillingham raced into a three-goal lead en route to a 3-2 win.

The only saving grace for Leeds was that neither Charlton nor Swindon were able to claim maximum points, meaning Grayson's side will go into the final trio of games knowing nine points will guarantee promotion.

The United manager said: "Our destiny is still in our own hands and that is probably the only positive we can take. We still have a great chance of automatic promotion, even if for 40 minutes we did not look like a team in such a position.

"Results went for us but I don't want us to be relying on other teams losing for the next three games.

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"I want to win the next three games as that will mean we are up."

Leeds host Milton Keynes Dons and Bristol Rovers either side of a daunting trip to The Valley on May 1.

With Millwall, who are a point behind United but boast a better goal difference, also having two home games – against Leyton Orient and Swindon – the Yorkshire club clearly have little margin for error.

And Grayson, who withdrew Luciano Becchio with 10 minutes remaining due to a tight calf, had a firm message for his team.

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He said: "You can't start a game at 3.40pm, which is what we did. We said before the game to the players that this would be the hardest game of the season because Gillingham have a really good home record.

"But we made so many bad decisions that contributed to our own downfall. We played as individuals and that meant we were not hard to beat.

"We did not do the ugly side of the game. That was the whole team, not just the defence. Instead, they got the momentum going and, in the end, we got out of the game what our performance in the first 40 minutes deserved."