Mail 7/5/10
Leeds 2 Bristol Rovers 1: Beckford the hero as Grayson's men seal promotion
By Mark Ryan
Jermaine Beckford created a moment that will live long in the memory of anyone who was lucky enough to be at Elland Road.
Down to 10 men, a goal behind, and seemingly confined to the anonymity of League One again, Simon Grayson's Leeds refused to let their promotion dream die.
Darryl Duffy's 48th-minute goal looked to have sunk Leeds until substitute Jonathan Howson struck as sweet a finish as he will ever manage 11 minutes later.
Then came Bradley Johnson's raid down the left, and his cross was only partially cleared. The ball fell to Beckford six yards out and he smashed in the loose ball. The ear-splitting roar from 38,000 fans that greeted the promotion-winning goal was almost seismic.
A small child was thrown into the air in front of the press box. The infant seemed to land safely enough to raise a triumphant fist. Finally, the future of Leeds United is beginning to look almost as bright as the past.
Yet half an hour earlier it seemed all was lost. Pressure can do strange things. Leeds winger Max Gradel lost his head so completely, having been sent off in the 35th minute, that it took two big security guards to persuade him to leave the pitch.
Even then he went reluctantly. When his captain, Beckford, had tried to persuade him, the pair had almost ended up fighting each other.
Another team-mate. Michael Doyle, had picked up Gradel and tried to carry him off. He just came back on again.
Leeds fans had been in raptures seconds earlier because Beckford had finally netted after a series of missed chances.
But referee Graham Salisbury had given offside. And in the aftermath it appeared a score was settled off the ball. Bristol Rovers defender Daniel Jones had felled Gradel minutes earlier, and the Leeds man apparently sought retribution with what looked like a stamp on the foot and an attempted butt. Chaos ensued, with Jones no calmer than Gradel, though he escaped with just a yellow card.
At half time Leeds keeping coach Andy Beasley appeared to clash with Rovers boss Paul Trollope as the crowd vented their fury.
The tension merely contributed to the drama of the denouement, and at least one Leeds legend could breathe a sigh of relief.
Eddie Gray had explained the significance of the occasion as kick-off drew near. Now 62 but still a classy ambassador for the club, Gray said: 'It's a big day for everyone and the first step towards getting back into the Premier League. There is no reason why this club cannot be as big as it once was.'
Hero Beckford received a standing ovation as he was substituted in the last minute. What a way to go if he is indeed off to Everton.Fans poured on to the pitch before the final whistle. When it did blow, the eardrums took a fresh battering and the green turf disappeared beneath a sea of delirious white. You had to smile at the extraordinary way, against all odds, Leeds at last headed back in the right direction.
Sky 8/5/10
Grayson hails players
Whites boss praises players after clinching second
Simon Grayson was full of praise for his Leeds United players after they won promotion to the Championship on Saturday.
The Whites needed to simply win their last League One game of the season against Bristol Rovers to clinch second spot in the table.
It looked like being another missed opportunity early in the second half with Darryl Duffy opening the scoring and compounding Max Gradel's dismissal.
However, the introduction of Jonny Howson swung the game Leeds' way with his goal levelling matters before Jermaine Beckford's close-range goal settled the contest.
Grayson was not dwelling on Leeds' poor second half of the campaign and is just pleased they are finally back in the Championship after three long seasons in England's third tier.
The ex-Blackpool boss is expecting big celebrations from his players on Saturday, although he insists the hard work planning for next season begins now.
Fantastic
"Fantastic achievement. We didn't do it the easy way after going down to 10 men and a goal behind early in the second half," he told Sky Sports News.
"Credit to the players. It was a fantastic effort from everybody. We're back were we deserve and hopefully we can kick on.
"We'll enjoy tonight, but it's a fantastic achievement what the players have managed to do, today and for the whole of the season.
"It's never easy when you've got ten men to play with, but we've got belief and determination that we could do it.
"They kept going right until the end. Full credit to them. They are a fantastic bunch of players to work with."
"You've got to make decisions sometimes and sometimes it works," he added on Howson's introduction.
"We're back in the next level of football were we deserve to be I think. We'll take stock and get ready for next year."
Leeds 2 Bristol Rovers 1: Beckford the hero as Grayson's men seal promotion
By Mark Ryan
Jermaine Beckford created a moment that will live long in the memory of anyone who was lucky enough to be at Elland Road.
Down to 10 men, a goal behind, and seemingly confined to the anonymity of League One again, Simon Grayson's Leeds refused to let their promotion dream die.
Darryl Duffy's 48th-minute goal looked to have sunk Leeds until substitute Jonathan Howson struck as sweet a finish as he will ever manage 11 minutes later.
Then came Bradley Johnson's raid down the left, and his cross was only partially cleared. The ball fell to Beckford six yards out and he smashed in the loose ball. The ear-splitting roar from 38,000 fans that greeted the promotion-winning goal was almost seismic.
A small child was thrown into the air in front of the press box. The infant seemed to land safely enough to raise a triumphant fist. Finally, the future of Leeds United is beginning to look almost as bright as the past.
Yet half an hour earlier it seemed all was lost. Pressure can do strange things. Leeds winger Max Gradel lost his head so completely, having been sent off in the 35th minute, that it took two big security guards to persuade him to leave the pitch.
Even then he went reluctantly. When his captain, Beckford, had tried to persuade him, the pair had almost ended up fighting each other.
Another team-mate. Michael Doyle, had picked up Gradel and tried to carry him off. He just came back on again.
Leeds fans had been in raptures seconds earlier because Beckford had finally netted after a series of missed chances.
But referee Graham Salisbury had given offside. And in the aftermath it appeared a score was settled off the ball. Bristol Rovers defender Daniel Jones had felled Gradel minutes earlier, and the Leeds man apparently sought retribution with what looked like a stamp on the foot and an attempted butt. Chaos ensued, with Jones no calmer than Gradel, though he escaped with just a yellow card.
At half time Leeds keeping coach Andy Beasley appeared to clash with Rovers boss Paul Trollope as the crowd vented their fury.
The tension merely contributed to the drama of the denouement, and at least one Leeds legend could breathe a sigh of relief.
Eddie Gray had explained the significance of the occasion as kick-off drew near. Now 62 but still a classy ambassador for the club, Gray said: 'It's a big day for everyone and the first step towards getting back into the Premier League. There is no reason why this club cannot be as big as it once was.'
Hero Beckford received a standing ovation as he was substituted in the last minute. What a way to go if he is indeed off to Everton.Fans poured on to the pitch before the final whistle. When it did blow, the eardrums took a fresh battering and the green turf disappeared beneath a sea of delirious white. You had to smile at the extraordinary way, against all odds, Leeds at last headed back in the right direction.
Sky 8/5/10
Grayson hails players
Whites boss praises players after clinching second
Simon Grayson was full of praise for his Leeds United players after they won promotion to the Championship on Saturday.
The Whites needed to simply win their last League One game of the season against Bristol Rovers to clinch second spot in the table.
It looked like being another missed opportunity early in the second half with Darryl Duffy opening the scoring and compounding Max Gradel's dismissal.
However, the introduction of Jonny Howson swung the game Leeds' way with his goal levelling matters before Jermaine Beckford's close-range goal settled the contest.
Grayson was not dwelling on Leeds' poor second half of the campaign and is just pleased they are finally back in the Championship after three long seasons in England's third tier.
The ex-Blackpool boss is expecting big celebrations from his players on Saturday, although he insists the hard work planning for next season begins now.
Fantastic
"Fantastic achievement. We didn't do it the easy way after going down to 10 men and a goal behind early in the second half," he told Sky Sports News.
"Credit to the players. It was a fantastic effort from everybody. We're back were we deserve and hopefully we can kick on.
"We'll enjoy tonight, but it's a fantastic achievement what the players have managed to do, today and for the whole of the season.
"It's never easy when you've got ten men to play with, but we've got belief and determination that we could do it.
"They kept going right until the end. Full credit to them. They are a fantastic bunch of players to work with."
"You've got to make decisions sometimes and sometimes it works," he added on Howson's introduction.
"We're back in the next level of football were we deserve to be I think. We'll take stock and get ready for next year."