16 May 2009

Leeds fail in play-off bid

11:48 am on 16 May 2009

One of English football's fallen giants, Leeds United, have been condemned to another season in the third tier after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Millwall in the League One play-offs.

Millwall's French midfielder Jimmy Abdou stunned the 37,000-strong crowd at Elland Road when he scored in the 73rd minute, 20 minutes after Leeds United's Argentine striker Luciano Becchio had put the Yorkshire side in the lead.

The London club won the first leg 1-0, and now face either MK Dons or Scunthorpe at Wembley for a place in the Championship.

Leeds were Champions League semi-finalists in 2001 and their manager Simon Grayson says they'll come back stronger next year.