Leeds United jumped ahead of Charlton Athletic in the League One table after a convincing four one victory over Gillingham at Elland Road on Saturday. Leeds named an unchanged starting eleven with Patrick Kisnorbo and Leigh Bromby starting in central defence for the second game in a row and Jason Crowe being passed fit after an injury concern.

Gillingham were the brighter starters with Shane Higgs making a good save from a Fuller cross early on. Simeon Jackson then missed to the left of the goal on nine minutes and Andy Barcham placed a shot similarly wide after a good Gillingham break two minutes later. Leeds then settled down and started to attack, a couple of Luciano Becchio shots eventually lead to a corner. Rob Snodgrass took the corner and a thunderbolt header from Bradley Johnson beat the man at the near post to give Leeds a one nil lead.

Fifteen minutes later Bradley Johnson picked up the ball just over the half way line. He played the ball to Jermaine Beckford who held off the defender well before turning and playing a return ball back to Johnson. Johnson picked up the ball storming into the Gillingham box and placed a nice shot into the goal past the keepers near post. Two nil Leeds. Ex Leeds player Curtis Weston had a shot from far out on the right just before half time but Higgs saved well tipping the ball over the cross bar.

Leeds started brightly in the second half, Beckford played the ball out wide to Rob Snodgrass on the right hand side who found himself in acres of space. His return ball was flicked on by Beckford to Howson who had pushed forward to the edge of the box, he controlled with his knee before drilling the ball past the keeper into the left hand corner of the net. Three nil Leeds. Soon after the restart Beckford struck the bar from the edge of the area and two minutes later again missed after heading a Snodgrass cross wide.

Michael Doyle then fouled half way in the Leeds area, Kevin Maher took the resulting free kick which was brought down in the Leeds penalty area before Andy Barcham latched onto the loose ball and putting the ball in the top right hand corner of the net. Three one Leeds. Gillingham seemed to get more into the game after that and were having particular success down the left hand side. Astute as ever Simon Grayson made two substitutions brining on Kilkenny and Michalik for Crowe and Snodgrass. Leeds formation changed to 5-3-2 with Hughes and Johnson acting as wing backs and this change put an end to Gillingham period on top.

On 79 minutes Michael Doyle took a shot which was deflected off a Gillingham players foot and onto the crossbar. The rebound fell to an unmarked Jermaine Beckford who headed calmly into the net with the Gillingham keeper still floundering on the floor. For one Leeds. Mike Grella replaced Luciano Becchio for the final ten minutes.

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Teams

Leeds United 4 (Johnson 14, 28, Howson 46, Beckford 80)
Higgs, Crowe (Kilkenny 65), Kisnorbo, Bromby, Doyle, Howson, Johnson, Hughes, Beckford, Becchio (Grella 81), Snodgrass (Michalik 66)

Gillingham 1 (Barcham 50)
Royce, Gowling, Jackman, Fuller, Maher (Payne 83), Bentley, Palmer, Weston (Rooney 88), Jackson, Barcham, Oli (Erskine 46)

Attendance 21,026

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