Leeds United 2 Millwall 0: Promotion would be best tribute to Speed, says Grayson

The Scottish international struck twice in four second half minutes to earn United a first home win in five attempts.

It also meant that the 27,161 crowd who had paid such a fitting and moving tribute to Speed both before and during the game were able to end what was always going to be an emotional day on a high.

United’s first came on 62 minutes courtesy of a free-kick awarded for a clumsy challenge on Adam Clayton by Lions captain Paul Robinson.

With Ross McCormack not in the 16, there was only one player who was ever going to take the free-kick and Snodgrass duly stepped up to curl a sublime shot beyond Steve Mildenhall in the visitors’ goal.

Three minutes later, the game was up for Millwall after Snodgrass had powered a Lloyd Sam cross into the net from close range.

Luiciano Becchio came closest to adding a third near the end with a deft flick to a Paul Connolly that goalkeeper Mildenhall did well to stop but at the final whistle it was Speed’s name that the fans sang.

“This week’s been difficult and it’s obviously dedicated to Gary,” said manager Simon Grayson.

“The biggest tribute we can do is, come April and May, we can get into the Premier League, where Gary spent a huge amount of his career and was very successful.”

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