League One - Millwall break Leeds hearts

Eurosport - Fri, 15 May 09:56:00 2009

Millwall reached the League One play-off final after a 1-1 draw against Leeds gave them a 2-1 aggregate win at a sold-out Elland Road.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 League One Millwall Leeds-Millwall Millwall keeper David Forde celebrates their play-off win against Leeds, having saved a penalty in the second half - 0

Argentine striker Luciano Becchio put the hosts ahead on 52 minutes but French midfielder Nadjim Abdou equalised on 73 to send the Lions into their first play-off final, where they will face either MK Dons or Scunthorpe at Wembley Stadium on May 24.

Millwall goalkeeper David Forde (pictured) saved a Jermaine Beckford penalty in a match the Whites dominated, but Kenny Jackett's side were resilient - and fortunate - enough to hold out for a famous overall victory.

Leeds made all the running from start to finish but they had to wait until the 24th minute for the first real chance, when Beckford's low drive was saved well by Forde.

Despite having all the possession and effectively camping in Millwall's half, it took until the second half for them to truly threaten again.

Substitute Andy Robinson - on for the injured Neil Kilkenny - sent a wicked free-kick that deflected off Alan Dunnne and went wide for a corner.

The set-piece that followed wreaked havoc in the Lions box, and eagled-eyed referee Mark Halsey - who had an excellent game - spotted Andrew Frampton's shirt-pull on Sam Sodje and awarded a spot-kick to the hosts.

Beckford is the top scorer in the division but he was left wanting under pressure, sending a weak spot-kick just to Forde's right that was easily saved by the Irishman.

Simon Grayson's men got their goal soon afterwards though, when a sweeping counter-attack down the left saw Robinson feed full-back Ben Parker on the overlap and Becchio tap home the low, drilled cross to send the home fans wild.

Forde was then hit by a coin thrown from the Leeds end - which will no doubt result in a police charge - while Millwall's American defender Zak Whitbread needed lengthy treatment after a nasty-looking fall left him unconscious.

Both were able to continue and to good effect, with Forde steady in goal and Whitbread making several timely interventions.

Against the run of play, Millwall got an equaliser when the impressive Abdou tapped in from close range after great wing-play by David Martin forced a goalmouth scramble and set up a frantic closing 25 minutes, that included eight minutes stoppage time.

Bradley Johnson, on as a sub for Leeds, sent one shot fizzing wide, while Scottish midfielder Robert Snodgrass sent a rising drive just over the top-left corner.

Lewis Grabban had a great chance to make it 2-1 to Millwall when, deep into injury-time, he was sent clean through by Gary Alexander's overhead pass, but he fired over.

Despite Leeds throwing the kitchen sink and keeper Casper Ankergren up front, they were unable to force the goal that would have taken it to extra-time and the South London side were left ecstatic in the knowledge that they are just one game away from the Championship.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 96 - 115 of 135

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  1. Leeds fans, does it tell you something that most­ neutrals are glad that millwall beat you ?
    Carry on­ spitting out your dummies in the "massive"­ league 1 next season, then the massive league 2 the­ season after that hahahaha LOL

    From TREVOR, on Fri 15 May 1:14PM

  2. WE FEAR FOE, WHERE EE'R WE GO.......LOYAL­ LIONHEARTS,,,WE WILL NEVER SURRENDER,,,,you done the­ men, woman and kids of South East London,­ Proud...COCKNEY PRIDE, HAS BEEN HANDED DOWN TO US...we­ will never turn our backs to the enemy.

    From dedge, on Fri 15 May 12:43PM

  3. Any of you Fans out there think its better Leeds stay­ in League one.You must be MENTAL.Because of the dam­ state of football and the crowds at some­ clubs.(Including Millwall.Would be better for the­ Championship if Leeds were in there.Like it or Not.Last­ thing the team were a disgrace to our 37.000 fans.Most­ of all that Beckford,Grayson just because your a Leeds­ fan does not make you a good manager.Learn the team to­ play has a unit and keep and pass the ball.Bit of­ Shooting Practice would help.LEEDS LEEDS LEEDS.shame we­ are so rubbish.Thats from a Leeds fan.

    From Dave RWB Yorkshire, on Fri 15 May 12:11PM

  4. Let's face it - Little Leeds lost 14 league games­ in the regular season (compare 4 losses - LCFC)and will­ NOT, for sure, feature in next years promotion chase­ particularly when their better players (and the­ manager) move on to bigger clubs.

    From michael, on Fri 15 May 11:31AM

  5. a good game, with the ref being quite good... for once,­ still think Leeds were the better team by a country­ mile (wolves fan!)

    From Martyn, on Fri 15 May 10:29AM

  6. for all of you who constantly think Leeds are @#$%..­ How come you all treat it as your Cup Final when you­ play us.. Manage to sell your away allocation for that­ game only and the Players who raise their game against­ us.. Leeds are massive and are where we are but several­ League One Chairmen want us to be where we are.. not­ because its Leeds.. its because we fill all their­ grounds at least once a season and thats when we come­ to play them.. funny that.. Norwich, southampton and­ Charlton will make it a massive league next year along­ with(Millwall)Come on the Dons!!

    From ANTHONY, on Fri 15 May 10:08AM

  7. Thoroughly enjoyed the game being a POSH supporter and­ already being promoted ;)
    But yet again the so called­ fans are spoiling the game by throwing things at­ opposition players which just makes them no worse than­ thugs. We have had a few idiots at London Road in the­ past but at least we learnt our lesson from it­ !!!
    Millwall are no better either and until they clean­ up their act aswell i hope they dont go up !!!

    From bugzyboy100, on Fri 15 May 10:00AM

  8. KENNY JACKETT AND THE BOYS IN BLUE DONE US PROUD SEE­ YOU AT WEMBLEY
    MILLWALL IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP NEXT­ SEASON NO DANAGER

    From richard k, on Fri 15 May 9:48AM

  9. See you at St James' Park next season.Ha Ha Ha.Up­ the Exeter!

    From grecianchris1972, on Fri 15 May 9:31AM

  10. The dons will completely @#$% milwall, you guys are­ gonna have to come out of you area and play a bit­ against them, ARE YOU CHELSEA IN DISGUISE?!!!!!!!­ boring boring Millwall!

    From marcharrison1979, on Fri 15 May 9:17AM

  11. Three H's to remember your season you fans of­ Little Leeds - Histon, Howard (Super, Super Steve,­ Super Stevie Howard) and HA-HA-Ha- HA- HA !!

    From michael, on Fri 15 May 9:07AM

  12. Three H's to remember your season you fans of­ Little Leeds - Histon, Howard (Super, Super Steve,­ Super Stevie Howard) and HA-bloody-HA !!

    From michael, on Fri 15 May 8:57AM

  13. Always good to see Leeds staying down, well done to the­ millwall boys!
    Maybe leeds would have gone up if they­ weren't arrogant smartarses who think they're­ better than everyone else in this division... and it­ seems over 4 years that still hasn't happened.­ Remember the barnsley boys last year in the FA?­ Don't understate teams, leeds, and maybe you'll­ have a hope in hell. Half-hope millwall go up, solid­ team, especially at the back. Beat us once!
    From an­ absolutely ecstatic Leicester city fan, STEVIE STEVIE­ HOWARD :)

    From franksoliver, on Fri 15 May 8:05AM

  14. I'm with you normsnebs. Either they're very­ dumb or have been written by a dyslexic moose. Hard­ luck Leeds but sadly you won't be missed.

    From doctorfeelgoodcanvey, on Fri 15 May 8:03AM

  15. Leeds should have gone up as an automatic qualifier,­ changed manager too late in season. Keep the faith and­ lets have a team good enough next year as every year in­ div 1 is going to make it harder, who is going to join­ the whites in this division. Well done millwall, see­ you next year as MK will win play off at a canter, best­ team by far.

    From Keith, on Fri 15 May 8:00AM

  16. Haaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaa looks so bloody stupid in a­ message.

    From doctorfeelgoodcanvey, on Fri 15 May 7:59AM

  17. michael b comment 49
    got news for you mate we are not­ all psychos at the den i even got a piece of paper­ saying i am sane. SANE do you hear SANE ok so i still­ slobber at the mouth most days well ok most hours then.­ But lets face it we bring a certain little tingle when­ we visit away grounds and whoever visits us we greet­ with open arms and a smile on pur faces or is it a grin­ of pleasure. Millwall till i die

    From demo mick, on Fri 15 May 7:48AM

  18. If leeds Players have any thoughts they would get­ out.....of the club low div.....buyers come in take­ your pick on the players this team will not be there­ next season.

    From Martin, on Fri 15 May 7:43AM

  19. leeds weel meet again dont no where dont no when but­ not in the champ-ship next year ha ha ha owls for ever­ !

    From jkshawkey, on Fri 15 May 7:30AM

  20. Hahahahahaha Exeter vs Leeds, "living the­ dream".

    From darryl s, on Fri 15 May 7:30AM
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