Charlton 1-0 Leeds

By Marc Vesty

A late goal kept alive Charlton's chances of automatic promotion but dashed Leeds' hopes of securing a place in the Championship this weekend.

With Millwall losing 2-0 at Tranmere, a win would have seen Leeds promoted but missed chances from Max Gradel and Neill Collins cost the visitors.

Sam Sodje headed over the bar as Charlton created the better chances.

Leeds pushed men forward on the counter but Akpo Sodje's header crashed in off Leed' Richard Naylor to win the game.

Leeds will still be control of their own destiny in the final game of the season, knowing victory over Bristol Rovers at Elland Road will take them into the Championship.

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But victors Charlton are only two points behind Leeds and visit Oldham on the final day of the season, while Millwall and Swindon, both one point behind Leeds, face each other at the New Den.

The visitors almost took the lead after only three minutes when Gradel found space on the right and cut into the box but Darren Randolph came out to block the Ivorian's effort.

The frenetic opening period continued but failed to generate much in the way of clear-cut chances, the pick of the efforts being Bradley Johnson's powerful drive from 20 yards which stung the palms of Randolph.

Charlton's best chance in a fairly tame first half came on the half-hour mark when Nicky Forster's flick-on was met by Deon Burton's ferocious volley from a tight angle but Shane Higgs made a reflex save to turn it past the post.

As the match swung tit-for-tat, Leeds' Collins could have done better but was out-muscled by Burton as he stretched to reach a ball at the far post, only to smash his effort over the bar.

The hard-fought contest was being shaded possession-wise by Leeds who should have created more opportunities but for some poor decisions in the final third.

With news of Millwall faltering at Tranmere filtering through to the Leeds fans the atmosphere became a mixture of tension and optimism.

And it was Leeds who pressed as Luciano Becchio's cross took an awkward bounce which Robert Snodgrass swung a leg at but the effort, just inside the area, went comfortably into the body of Randolph.

Seconds later Therry Racon's effort was deflected by Forster, forcing a fine save by Higgs low to his left.

Charlton striker Akpo Sodje celebrates the winning goal against Leeds

Sam Sodje somehow failed to put the home side ahead when Leeds' defenders failed to clear a cross and the ball fell to the defender eight-yards out but he headed over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

The tension at the Valley was ratcheted up again when the Leeds fans celebrated United loanee Andy Robinson's goal for Tranmere which put the relegation-threatened side 2-0 up against Millwall.

However, it was Charlton who looked more likely to score, and substitute Akpo Sodje headed into the hands of Higgs before Lloyd Sam flashed an effort over the bar.

But with only three minutes to play Akpo Sodje rose highest to head Sam's cross beyond Higgs, taking a deflection off Naylor as it crossed the line.

And as the seconds ticked away Kyel Reid's free-kick crashed off the bar as Charlton threatened to double their lead to no avail.

Charlton manager Phil Parkinson told BBC London 94.9:

"We put in another good performance like we did against Norwich, but today we got the three points, which I felt were deserved."

"We wanted to be as positive as possible to keep us in the running for that second spot. We had to win - there was no point in sitting back and getting a draw, we had to go for it.

"The good thing from my point of view is when the big games have come the lads have produced performances and that bodes well if we have to go through the playoff route."

Leeds United manager Simon Grayson told BBC Radio Leeds:
"We're obviously disappointed because we should have won the game. To come here and control the game for large parts, and have the chances that we had shows how well we did.

"Unfortunately putting the ball in the back of the net is one of the hardest things to do and we couldn't do that, but we knew as the game went on and how the results were going that we only needed one goal.

"That was the reason we had five strikers on the pitch at one particular time. I'll take responsibility for losing the game because we had to go to try and get the result."

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