Bristol Rovers 0 Leeds United 3

Last updated : 14 September 2007 By Footymad Previewer
Six wins in a row and Leeds United are already off the bottom of the League One table.

A ninth minute goal from Jermaine Beckford put them on the way with the 15-point penalty for going into administration now well behind them.

It was an almost cheeky flip past Steve Phillips in the home goal as Beckford moved on to a cross from Sebastien Carole.

It should have been the signal to press on for a convincing win, but that had to wait until much later.

Not for the first time, Leeds found themselves up against opponents geared up to play to the top of their game.

The speed of Beckford's strike was not allowed to upset the determination of a Rover's defence robustly controlled by Steve Elliott at centre-back.

So often first in the air against Beckford and Tresor Kandol, he gave Rovers breathing time to pull their hard-running style into shape.

Much of the first half was played out in the Leeds half, as Rovers pressed in with four corners, three of which produced good headers from Andy Williams, Byron Anthony and Craig Disley.

Rovers also felt badly done by when they were denied a free-kick when Casper Ankergren looked to have handled a lofted pass back from Jamie Clapham.

A muscular challenge on Disley by Jonathon Douglas brought the Leeds captain a yellow card and set up an uncomfortable spell around the box for his team.

The best chance fell to Lewis Haldane, a Leeds season-ticket holder since he was five, but he was overawed by the opportunity from Disley and failed to connect.

There was no such hesitation when Kandol had the chance to double Leeds' lead with 13 minutes left.

Defenders failed to react to a run by David Prutton, who chased a loose ball and got in a good cross for Kandol to thump in his season's fifth goal.

There was a second goal for Beckford in injury time with an overhead kick, leaving the margin of defeat for Rovers looking very harsh.