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Ten-man Leeds seal playoff place after win over Yeovil

25/04/2008

Ten-man Leeds United have clinched a playoff place in League One after a 1-0 win over Yeovil Town.

Dougie Freedman's early goal gave the visitors the win they needed to keep their promotion hopes alive, despite having had 15 points deducted at the start of the season.

The visitors emerged victorious even after Alan Sheehan was sent off in the second half, which sparked a 20-man brawl.

The fallen giants were without striker Jermaine Beckford due to an ankle injury, while Jonathan Douglas returned from suspension to replace David Prutton in midfield.

Gary McAllister's side made the perfect start when Bradley Johnson lifted the ball over goalkeeper Steve Mildenhall, allowing striker Freedman to tap in his fifth goal for the club.

Buoyed by the early lead, the visitors pressed for a second goal with Douglas firing a shot inches wide while Johnson curled a free-kick off-target.

Yeovil created few chances but wasted a glorious opportunity to equalise when Marvin Williams was denied twice by fine saves by Casper Ankergren on 27 minutes.

In the closing stages of the half, Anthony Elding went close for Leeds with a dipping effort that Mildenhall tipped over the bar.

The home side improved in the second half and came agonisingly close to equalising when Anthony Barry's shot was deflected wide on 51 minutes.

But Leeds soon wrestled control again with Johnson unleashing a pile-driver from 30 yards that scraped the bar.

The moment of controversy came when Sheehan was given a straight red for a wild lunge on Lee Peltier on 65 minutes, sparking the mass brawl.

But Leeds continued to dominate despite having ten men with Lubo Michalik and Freedman both denied by reflex saves by Mildenhall.

Ankergren kept the visitors ahead in the dying minutes with a stunning low save to keep out Aidan Downes' strike, as Leeds held on for a crucial victory in their bid to return to the Championship.