Leeds United's remarkable season continued with a tenth home win from 11 games against a spirited Bristol Rovers side at Elland Road yesterday. Just as a last gasp deflected goal had rescued the side at Walsall seven day earlier, the Whites received an early Christmas two points bonus, just when it seemed that the Pirates were about to steal a draw. As the game entered the final ten minutes, with neither side having broken the deadlock, the seemingly magical power United possess to conjure late goals again came to the fore.
With six minutes remaining a cross from skipper Alan Thompson was guided towards goal by the head of Seb Carole. There seemed to be no real danger, until the ball caught the shoulder of Rovers centre-back Steve Elliott and deflected past despairing goalkeeper Steve Phillips. It was another fortuitous effort but few inside the ground cared, as Dennis Wise's side snatched another priceless victory, powering themselves into a season-high third place - just one point behind joint-leaders Nottingham Forest and Swansea City.
For Pirates first team coach Paul Trollope it was a sadly familiar tale as his side's failure to take their chances once again proved their undoing. 'We're disappointed with the outcome,' he lamented. 'I could say I'm proud of the players and their commitment, but you have to take chances to win games and to take points from games. We didn't do that, and Leeds got the goal at the end, albeit through a lucky deflection. We're just above the relegation zone which we feel is a false position in terms of our general play, but it is exactly where we deserve to be in terms of goal scoring.'
