Leeds United boss Simon Grayson admitted that his side got what they deserved in the loss at Gillingham on Saturday.
Leeds went into the game having returned to second place after winning their previous three games and with third placed Millwall losing on Friday night had the chance to move four points clear with just three games remaining.
Unfortunately a poor defensive showing in the first thirty-three minutes almost ruled them out of the game before it had barely begun.
Grayson said, ‘You can’t start a game at 20 to four and that’s what we did,’ said Grayson. ‘We said to the players that this was going to be the hardest game of the season and it was because Gillingham have got such a good home record.
We didn’t do all the ugly side of the game that we needed to do because it’s such a hard place to come to with the crowd on top of you, and we got out of the game what our first 40-minute performance deserved.’
Leeds were shocked in the opening half when Adam Miller, Mark Bentley and an own goal by Leigh Bromby gave Gillingham a three goal lead.
The Whites gave themselves a glimmer of hope on the stroke of half time when Becchio pulled one back.
Despite enjoying plenty of possession in the second half and also bringing on leading goalscorer Jermaine Beckford on for the last thirty-five minutes, Leeds rarely looked like threatening the Gillingham goal.
Leeds were given a late lifeline when they was awarded a penalty, which was converted by Jermaine Beckford, but they couldn`t find another goal to salvage a point.
They still go into the final three games with a one point lead over Millwall and the teams in fourth and fifth also failed to capitalise so its still very much in their own hands.
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