Leeds United 2, Gillingham 1

Leeds United go into the home leg of their promotion play-off semi-final against Carlisle United next Monday on a high with manager Gary McAllister claiming they are the form horse.

Yet until Frenchman Seb Carole left the bench on the hour to give United much needed width, it seemed Gillingham would spoil the party and give themselves hope of Coca-Cola League One survival.

Cheltenham's victory over Doncaster meant the Gills were condemned to relegation anyway and Leeds moved up a place into fifth with goals by Bradley Johnson and Tresor Kandol.

Johnson's half-volley from just outside the penalty box was especially ironic for Gillingham manager Mark Stimson, who revealed: "We offered £250,000 for him soon after I took charge because he is a player I really admire but, unfortunately for us, Leeds stepped in and priced him out of our market.

"It's sod's law that he came up with a fantastic goal to make it 1-1. Then Tresor Kandol, who I have played against many times, scored Leeds' second and after that we were just playing for pride."

Leeds fans in a bumper crowd of 38,256 berated the Football League and chanted "We should be champions" in defiance of the 15-point deduction. True, if those points had been restored United would have gone up automatically but in second place, a point behind champions Swansea.

McAllister said: "It was a good win in the end but Gillingham gave their all.

"Their manager can be proud of his players. The first half was poor. It wasn't what I expected in front of a big crowd but in the second half there was a good reaction from the players."

United had already qualified for the play-offs before the game so McAllister took the opportunity to rest several key players and was still without leading scorer Jermaine Beckford who is due to return to training tomorrow.

The Leeds manager added: "The hard work starts now. I have a big and varied squad that will stand us in good stead.

"We go into the play-offs as the form horse and I applaud the effort, concentration and focus I have had from the players."

McAllister was encouraged by the performance at right back of 20-year-old Scott Gardner, who played the full game and made some good attacking runs.

Gardner spent a month on loan to Farsley Celtic earlier in the year, and McAllister said: "I was pleased with Scott.

"He can be an exciting player. He is not shy about going forward and shows great potential. He has a hunger to succeed, which is what we like."

Bradford-born Fabian Delph, 18, who made his debut at Derby in the final game of last season, left the bench in the 76th minute on Saturday, replacing captain Jonathan Douglas who had been booked.

McAllister said: "Fabian has been recognised by his country at youth level this year. He has a good left foot and I always think left-footed players look classier. He is a competitor and a fighter with an eye for a pass so we just have to coach him along."

Paul Huntington's mistake let in Simeon Jackson, who gave the Gills a 20th-minute lead but Johnson's excellent strike from Carole's measured cross got United back on track in the 69th minute.

Kandol beat the offside trap as he raced on to Andrew Hughes' through ball and supplied a clinical finish for the 89th-minute winner and, although Nicky Southall hit a post for the Gills, it wasn't their day.

Now next Monday's home leg of the play-off semi-final can't come quickly enough for Leeds' fans.

The second leg will be played at Brunton Park on Thursday May 15.

4:32pm Sunday 4th May 2008

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