The final part of the season`s review of the 2008/09 season.
Leeds finished the normal season in May against relegation threatened Northampton Town at Elland Road, victory for Leeds could see them leapfrog fourth place Millwall and ensure home advantage in the second leg against Millwall.
The highest crowd in the Football League 34,214 turned out to see Leeds make in eleven home wins in a row and also send Northampton down at the same time.
After a cagey opening Luciano Becchio scored on the stroke of half time to break down the Northampton resistance.
Jermaine Beckford scored his 34th goal of the season on the hour and Robert Snodgrass rounded things off in the last minute with a spectacular finish.
Snodgrass`s finish was Leeds 100th goal in all competitions of the season.
Millwall`s defeat at Carlisle meant that Leeds would visit the Den first on Saturday with the home leg the following Thursday evening.
Leeds produced one of their worst performances in recent months in the first leg, they lost to the only goal of the game scored by Neil Harris with just under twenty minutes remaining to give them the advantage going into the second leg.
A sell out crowd at Elland Road on the Thursday turned out hoping to see Leeds overturn the one goal deficit, in a very cagey first half the sides went in goalless.
The game exploded into action early in the second half, Leeds won a penalty after referee Mark Halsey noticed a foul on Sam Sodje.
Leading scorer Jermaine Beckford took the kick but his poor effort was saved by Millwall keeper David Forde.
The agony was short lived when Luciano Becchio got on the end of an excellent run and cross from Ben Parker to bring the scores level on aggregate.
The Whites hearts were broken with just over fifteen minutes remaining when Jimmy Abdou scored the goal that condemned Leeds to another season in League One.
Leeds tried in vain in the closing moments but couldn`t find the goal that would take the tie to extra time.
A disappointing end to the season after an impressive last few months of the season under Simon Grayson who had taken over the reigns at Christmas.
Leeds will be getting ready for another assault on getting out of League One in the 2009/10 season under Grayson`s stewardship, hoping to build on the form that took them into the play off positions and helped them create a club record eleven straight home League wins.
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