Naylor accepts Leeds United are doing things the hard way

The Elland Road club held on to second place in League One despite slipping to a ninth defeat of 2010 at Charlton Athletic.

United benefited from third-placed Millwall losing at Tranmere Rovers, a result that means Simon Grayson's side will be promoted if they beat Bristol Rovers at home on the final day of the season.

If Leeds lose or even draw, however, it could allow one of Millwall, Charlton and Swindon to claim runners-up spot behind champions Norwich City.

Huddersfield Town are three points behind their Yorkshire rivals in sixth but an inferior goal difference together with Millwall and Swindon, who are both a point behind Leeds, going head-to-head at The Den means Lee Clark's side are likely to have to be content with a place in the play-offs.

Captain Naylor said: "We do seem to be doing it the hard way. But the main thing is that promotion is still in our own hands going into the final game.

"We knew Millwall were getting beat and that is why we were trying to win the game and why the gaffer had every striker at the club on the pitch for the final few minutes.

"Normally, away from home we would probably have settled for a 0-0 draw and been happy with the point.

"But we decided to throw caution to the wind and that made it an open game. Unfortunately, it was just not meant to be.

"To lose like we did is disappointing and all we can do is take it on the chin and fight on. We certainly will not dwell on it as that could affect our performance next week against Bristol Rovers."

The meeting with Paul Trollope's Rovers side is already sold out and United fans will be hoping the ninth-placed visitors having nothing to play for will work in their team's favour.

Naylor, however, is quick to stress that what matters is how Leeds perform.

He said: "I am sure Bristol Rovers will come and try to spoil our day. They won't want to be part of our promotion party, not at all. It can work in different ways for a team with nothing left to play for. It can relax them.

"We beat Bristol Rovers (4-0) earlier in the season down there but that will not count for anything."

Akpo Sodje's dramatic late winner for Charlton spoiled what had, until then, been shaping up to be a memorable day for Leeds.

With news having filtered through that Millwall were trailing to goals from Ian Thomas-Moore and on-loan United winger Andy Robinson, the 3,200 travelling fans sensed promotion was within touching distance. All that changed when Sodje forced the ball past Naylor on the line, but the Leeds captain insists the impetus is with United.

He said: "We are confident and I believe in these lads. I think we showed against Charlton that we are a decent side and that we will do it.

"Millwall were not mentioned at half-time. Obviously, we had heard our fans cheering but sometimes rumours go round at the end of the season that turn out not to be true. So, we could not afford to listen to them. The key next week is that our destiny is in our hands. Our fans have been through it and they know how hard we are making it for ourselves. But I am sure we can still finish it off."