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A fine, spring-like evening after a sunny day greeted our visitors from down the M62, Leeds United, a different picture from six weeks ago when a severe frost caused the postponement of the original game. A stiffish breeze was also in evidence but it shouldn't affect the match too much. The Rovers turned out an unchanged team and substitutes but Leeds made three changes from their home goalless draw against Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday. Frazer Richardson replaced Darren Kenton at right back, Paul Huntington came in for Rui Marques, who suffered a hamstring injury and Jonathan Douglas took over from David Prutton, out with a foot injury. Tonight's match is another six-pointer, with the Rovers needing the win to keep the pressure on Carlisle United, who play Nottingham Forest at Brunton Park tonight, for second place and Leeds needing the three points to force their way into the play-off places. With only half a dozen games to go every point is vital. Having won at Elland Road earlier in the season, a win tonight for the Rovers would give them a double over their rivals for the very first time. The Rovers defended the South Stand end in the first half.

Leeds United set the game in motion but it was the Rovers who troubled the Leeds defence first in the 3rd minute with a cross from O'Connor on the right that was just too long for Price in the middle. The Rovers continued to have the better possession for the ensuing five minutes before Leeds, in their first real foray into the Rovers half, won a corner. This was cleared and the Rovers set up an attack with Heffernan to Coppinger, to Price, whose shot was half blocked by Richardson giving the keeper an easy save. Minutes later, another good move initiated by Green, out to O'Connor on the right, inside to Coppinger and on to Heffernan but his shot was skewed past a post. Another sweeping move two minutes later from Green to O'Connor on the right, in to Coppinger and through for Heffernan inside the penalty area but challenged by two defenders, he overran the ball. He then had a shot well blocked by Ankergren, who had rushed out of goal to block him. Then, after dominating play for the first 20 minutes, came a shattering blow to the home team. Coppinger was penalised for a foot up just outside the Rovers penalty area to the left of the D. SHEEHAN took the kick left footed and placed his shot into the far top corner of the Rovers goal. The Rovers reply was to go straight down from the restart, with Coppinger cutting in from the left but Ankergren beat his shot out. Immediately Coppinger regained the ball, got into the penalty area again and forced a corner on the Rovers left. This came to nothing but a few minutes later they again won a corner, which was cleared. The Rovers suffered another blow just past the half hour when their captain, Lockwood, was carried off, with Steve Roberts replacing him. On 34 minutes, Price had a good shout for a penalty when he was pulled down in the penalty area but the referee didn't want to know and he got no help from his linesman on that side. As the last ten minutes came up Leeds began to have the better of the play and a good four man move saw Freedman put a ball from the right across the face of goal, with Stock getting a toe to it to put the ball out for a corner before Beckford got to it. After 38 minutes, a corner on the Rovers right was met with a fierce header by Price but Richardson was on the line to head away and keep the Leeds goal intact. The visitors continued to have the better of the play to the break and went in at half-time with a one-goal lead.

Within 20 seconds of the Rovers setting the second half in motion the ball was played into Price in the Leeds penalty area. He laid it back to Wellens, whose low drive flashed just past a post. Two minutes in and the Rovers were awarded a free kick on the right touchline. Gareth Roberts placed it into the Leeds six yard box, where it skimmed off the top of the head of a defender, hit the far post and went out for a corner on the Rovers left. This was cleared out to Green, who fired over the bar from 25 yards. Continuing in the attacking vein, the Rovers won another two minutes later. It was cleared out to Wellens in the middle of the pitch. He swept it out to Stock on the right and a great cross into the Leeds six yards box was missed by a diving Heffernan but Gareth Roberts collected and flashed a terrific shot across the face of goal. Leeds then went down their right where a cross came in but Beckford's weak header was easily saved. Five minutes later and Wellens finished a good move by the Rovers by firing wide from 20 yards. Then a free kick from the Rovers right by Gareth Roberts created mayhem in the Leeds penalty area before they managed to clear. Past the hour, a corner to the Rovers came to nought and Howson, for Leeds, fired high and wide from 25 yards. On 70 minutes, Heffernan received to the left of the Leeds area but his rasping drive was competently handled by Ankergren. At the Rovers end, Kilkenny had a shot tipped over by Sullivan to give Leeds successive corners from which nothing came. Then Beckford coming in from the right had a good shot saved by Sullivan. On 79 minutes, Gareth Roberts put a low pass into the Leeds area where Price won the race for the ball as Ankergren came out. Price tried to hit it past the keeper, who went down for the ball, it spun into the air and Hayter, under challenge, put over the bar. Fighting to the end, Green put a cross over from the right, Price chested down for Guy but he put his shot high and wide. The final whistle went on a hard earned win for Leeds United, which their defence had won for them. A good game of football in front of a capacity crowd, with the Rovers unable to capitalise on Nottingham Forest beating Carlisle United at Brunton Park by two clear goals.

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; James O'Connor, Matt Mills, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Brian Stock, Richie Wellens; Jason Price, Paul Heffernan

Subs used - Steve Roberts for Lockwood 32mins; Lewis Guy for Coppinger 78mins; James Hayter for Heffernan 78mins;

Subs not used - Gareth Taylor, Sean McDaid,

Leeds United - Casper Ankergren; Frazer Richardson, Paul Huntington, Lubomir Michalik, Alan Sheehan; Bradley Johnson, Jonny Howson, Jonathan Douglas, Neil Kilkenny; Jermaine Beckford, Dougie Freedman

Subs used - Andy Hughes for Johnson 73mins;

Subs not used - Sebastian Carole, Tresor Kandol, Dave Lucas, Antony Elding

Cautions - Howson, Kilkenny, Johnson, Sheehan, Michalik,