Yeovil Town 0, Leeds United 1

Leeds United's ten men made history at Huish Park tonight by becoming the first side to overcome a 15-point penalty by qualifying for the promotion play-offs.

Left back Alan Sheehan was shown a red card for a two-footed tackle in the 65th minute but veteran Dougie Freedman's fourth-minute goal was enough to win a keenly-contested game.

Now United must wait to discover whether the arbitration panel reinstates the 15 points and paves the way for automatic promotion.

Gary McAllister's men made it five wins out of six and the pressure is now off for the sell-out game against Gillingham at Elland Road next Saturday.

Jonathan Douglas returned for United after a one-match suspension, David Prutton dropping to the bench.

Jermaine Beckford was again absent with an ankle injury as McAllister decided to take no risks with his leading scorer's fitness.

The game, watched by a record Yeovil crowd of 9,527, had an eventful start as Freedman, 34, pounced for his fifth goal since joining United on loan from Crystal Palace in March.

Frazer Richardson's cross from the right was lobbed by Bradley Johnson and cleared off the line but Freedman kept his composure to stab home the rebound with his left foot from six yards.

It needed a swooping save low to his right by Casper Ankergren to prevent a headed equaliser from Marvin Williams in the 27th minute.

Steve Mildenhall was equally alert when Freedman's shot deflected off defender Terry Skiverton and the Yeovil keeper tipped the ball over the bar.

Much-travelled Marcus Stewart should have levelled matters just before the break but the ball fell to his less favoured right foot and he shot straight at Ankergren.

Despite having the better of the first half, United would have liked the cushion of a second goal to calm their nerves and McAllister urged them to increase the tempo after the break. However, their strategy was spoiled when Sheehan's two-footed challenge left referee Keith Stroud no alternative but to show him a straight red card, leaving United to play out the remaining 25 minutes with ten men.

McAllister used substitutes Andrew Hughes, Prutton and Rui Marques in place of Anthony Elding, Johnson and Neil Kilkenny in a bid to shut Yeovil out, and Ankergren made another excellent save two minutes from the end, leaving United's ecstatic travelling fans to enjoy their celebrations.

McAllister was angry with Sheehan for the sending-off.

The Leeds manager said: "I can't defend Alan. It was a poor tackle. You can't take two feet off the ground and tackle. It was a terrible tackle and he knows it. He has already had a suspension for ten bookings.

"Everybody is pleased that we have qualified for the play-offs but there will be no over-celebrating.

"Part of the job has been done but there is a lot of hard work to do when we know who we meet in the play-offs.

"Next Saturday may give me a chance to bring in some youngsters who I rate and play them in front of a big crowd at Elland Road. It would be a nice little test of temperament for them."

9:50pm Friday 25th April 2008

Print   Email this   Comment