Kevin Blackwell’s men deserved their win on Saturday, which they earned thanks to goals in either half from Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse.
Leeds’ triumph owed much to the performances of on-loan Manchester United player Liam Miller and former Palace man Shaun Derry in midfield.
Playing in front of a reliable back four, Derry broke up a number of Palace attacks, while Miller’s craft and creativity troubled Dowie’s side all afternoon.
Blackwell: ‘People thought the race for automatic promotion was finished a long time ago and that Reading and Sheffield United had booked their places in the Premiership – but we never agreed.
‘Sheffield United are still in the ascendancy, but we feel we have a chance of catching them. We have to keep chasing, and we are doing as much as we can.
‘We have had such dramatic changes since I took over as manager in the summer of 2004, and it takes time to build continuity and understanding.
‘It was very important for us to get Liam back here in the January transfer window, because three or four Premiership clubs wanted him.
‘That Liam decided to return proves the club is going in the right direction. He has that little bit of class and guile that you need.
‘Shaun was immense today. He has a great physical element to his game, but he is no mean ball player.’
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