Bradford Telegraph and Argus 18/4/10
Grayson’s men grateful to still be second as rivals also slip
Gillingham 3, Leeds United 2
Leeds manager Simon Grayson described his side’s first-half performance at Priestfield as “a shambles and hugely disappointing”.
United remain in second place but after three successive wins they were cut down to size by Gillingham, whose victory aided their quest for League One survival.
Huddersfield’s win over third-placed Millwall on Friday night had offered Leeds a huge boost but Grayson’s men failed to take advantage.
Fortunately for United, Swindon drew at home to Walsall and Charlton lost to promoted Norwich, leaving the Whites still a point ahead of Millwall in second place.
Grayson said: “You can’t give teams a three-goal start and expect to win. We gave ourselves a lifeline with a goal just before half-time but we made too many bad decisions and didn’t compete enough.
“I said to the lads beforehand that this would be the most difficult of our remaining games because Gillingham have such a good home record. But at least our destiny is still in our own hands.”
Jermaine Beckford again started on the bench as Grayson kept the side that won at Carlisle.
After being called into the action in the 56th minute, the leading scorer made little impact until he was fouled by Mark Bentley inside the box and tucked away his 28th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
The 86th-minute goal raised Leeds’ hopes of rescuing a point but anything less than victory would have been harsh on the Gills, who lost right back and captain Barry Fuller after injuring his nose in a first-minute collision with team-mate Darren Dennehy, teenager Jack Payne leaving the bench.
Yet the Gills, who have an excellent home record, steam-rollered their way to a three-goal lead inside the opening 33 minutes.
With eight minutes gone, Leeds captain Richard Naylor tried to head clear a long throw but the ball bounced kindly for Adam Miller, who headed into the top corner.
Max Gradel should have equalised four minutes later but, after good work by Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio, he had his shot well saved by Alan Julian.
Dennis Oli and Renee Howe made it an uncomfortable afternoon for United central defenders Naylor and Neil Collins and Gillingham doubled their advantage on the half hour. Becchio conceded a free-kick, taken by Miller, and the unmarked Bentley scored.
It was a soft one to concede – and Leeds shot themselves in the foot again as Naylor’s header struck colleague Bromby in the face and rebounded into the net for an own goal.
Becchio’s fourth goal in three games offered United some hope as he produced a neat turn and shot into the bottom corner shortly before the break, which arrived with Leeds trailing 3-1 and needing a pep talk from their manager.
Beckford and Ben Parker replaced Snodgrass and Andrew Hughes early in the second half with United desperately trying to repair the damage.
Leeds gave away far too many free-kicks, with central defenders Naylor and Collins spending much of the match in danger of incurring a second yellow card and dismissal.
Gradel, who wasted possession with a procession of misdirected crosses, was also cautioned by referee Alan Wiley before Leeds made their third substitution, Sanchez Watt replacing Becchio 13 minutes from the end.
Watt provided some much-needed quality service and Beckford’s penalty, tucked confidently into the bottom corner, made it a nervous finale for the Gills, who stretched their unbeaten home record to seven matches.
Grayson’s men grateful to still be second as rivals also slip
Gillingham 3, Leeds United 2
Leeds manager Simon Grayson described his side’s first-half performance at Priestfield as “a shambles and hugely disappointing”.
United remain in second place but after three successive wins they were cut down to size by Gillingham, whose victory aided their quest for League One survival.
Huddersfield’s win over third-placed Millwall on Friday night had offered Leeds a huge boost but Grayson’s men failed to take advantage.
Fortunately for United, Swindon drew at home to Walsall and Charlton lost to promoted Norwich, leaving the Whites still a point ahead of Millwall in second place.
Grayson said: “You can’t give teams a three-goal start and expect to win. We gave ourselves a lifeline with a goal just before half-time but we made too many bad decisions and didn’t compete enough.
“I said to the lads beforehand that this would be the most difficult of our remaining games because Gillingham have such a good home record. But at least our destiny is still in our own hands.”
Jermaine Beckford again started on the bench as Grayson kept the side that won at Carlisle.
After being called into the action in the 56th minute, the leading scorer made little impact until he was fouled by Mark Bentley inside the box and tucked away his 28th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
The 86th-minute goal raised Leeds’ hopes of rescuing a point but anything less than victory would have been harsh on the Gills, who lost right back and captain Barry Fuller after injuring his nose in a first-minute collision with team-mate Darren Dennehy, teenager Jack Payne leaving the bench.
Yet the Gills, who have an excellent home record, steam-rollered their way to a three-goal lead inside the opening 33 minutes.
With eight minutes gone, Leeds captain Richard Naylor tried to head clear a long throw but the ball bounced kindly for Adam Miller, who headed into the top corner.
Max Gradel should have equalised four minutes later but, after good work by Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio, he had his shot well saved by Alan Julian.
Dennis Oli and Renee Howe made it an uncomfortable afternoon for United central defenders Naylor and Neil Collins and Gillingham doubled their advantage on the half hour. Becchio conceded a free-kick, taken by Miller, and the unmarked Bentley scored.
It was a soft one to concede – and Leeds shot themselves in the foot again as Naylor’s header struck colleague Bromby in the face and rebounded into the net for an own goal.
Becchio’s fourth goal in three games offered United some hope as he produced a neat turn and shot into the bottom corner shortly before the break, which arrived with Leeds trailing 3-1 and needing a pep talk from their manager.
Beckford and Ben Parker replaced Snodgrass and Andrew Hughes early in the second half with United desperately trying to repair the damage.
Leeds gave away far too many free-kicks, with central defenders Naylor and Collins spending much of the match in danger of incurring a second yellow card and dismissal.
Gradel, who wasted possession with a procession of misdirected crosses, was also cautioned by referee Alan Wiley before Leeds made their third substitution, Sanchez Watt replacing Becchio 13 minutes from the end.
Watt provided some much-needed quality service and Beckford’s penalty, tucked confidently into the bottom corner, made it a nervous finale for the Gills, who stretched their unbeaten home record to seven matches.
