LEEDS continued their chase for automatic promotion to the Premiership with a victory over Crystal Palace that extended their unbeaten run to eight games and took them to within six points of second-placed Sheffield United.

Goals by Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse ensured a win that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested. Palace scored a stoppage-time consolation goal through Jobi McAnuff but their pressure was too little too late.

The hosts were six points behind Leeds at the start of play and both clubs were encouraged by Sheffield United’s failure to beat Crewe on Friday night. Palace had been enjoying a rich vein of form and were unbeaten in 10 league games at Selhurst Park and Andy Johnson again led Palace’s attack, still hoping, at this late stage to play his way into Sven-Göran Eriksson’s reckoning for the World Cup.

Capped twice last year, Johnson’s season has been hampered by injury and his profile diminished by competing in the Championship rather than the Premiership.

Leeds welcomed back former Palace player Shaun Derry after suspension and they began confidently and after only five minutes Gabor Kiraly in the Palace goal was called upon to make two important saves. Firstly, he tipped a header by Jonathan Douglas over the bar and then from the corner he dived on his line to save brilliantly from an even better header by the same player.

Crystal Palace were struggling to create openings against the well-organised Leeds defence. Clinton Morrison twice got into promising positions but failed to test Neil Sullivan in the Leeds goal.

After 16 minutes Leeds again went close to opening the scoring when Eddie Lewis struck a left-foot volley that flashed narrowly wide of Kiraly’s right-hand post.

Palace’s first chance came after 19 minutes when McAnuff met a Ben Watson cross but his diving header went well wide. Johnson then won a free kick in a promising position 25 yards from goal but Watson’s drive was blocked.

Leeds had the greater possession and their adventure was rewarded when Blake gave them the lead in the 33rd minute. Liam Miller broke forward from midfield and fed the ball to Hulse who crossed from the byline.

Palace centre-back Fitz Hall failed to clear and Blake bundled the ball into the net from two yards for his 11th goal of the season.

Hall tried to make amends five minutes later but headed wide from a Watson corner.

Palace manager Iain Dowie was left flapping his arms in frustration on the touchline as his team failed to mount a serious threat to Sullivan’s goal.

In fact, Leeds might have gone further ahead before the interval when Kiraly completely misjudged a deep cross by Miller. But the Hungarian goalkeeper was relieved to see Lewis head wide.

The subdued Selhurst Park crowd was stunned by Leeds’ second goal in the 53rd minute. Miller, the midfielder on loan from Manchester United, crossed from the right and Hulse slid in to score off the underside of the bar from six yards.

It was the former West Brom striker’s 11th goal of the season, and no less than the visitors deserved.

Dowie responded by sending on Aki Riihilahti in place of Watson and Mikele Leigertwood in place of Tom Soares in an attempt to add some bite to his midfield.

Palace at last began to exert some pressure and when Leeds failed to clear a corner Leigertwood drove a powerful right-foot volley that Sullivan held on the line.

The home side then forced a series of corners.

From one of them Sullivan punched the ball away but only to Riihilahti, whose shot was deflected away.

Then a scramble in the Leeds goalmouth ended in Johnson heading on to Emmerson Boyce whose header was grabbed by Sullivan on his line.

When McAnuff was fouled, Michael Hughes took the free-kick quickly to Johnson, whose shot rebounded to Leigertwood and his drive was again deflected for another corner. From the kick, the ball fell to Morrison who tried to hook it in at the far post but Sullivan was well positioned to save.

After 82 minutes McAnuff hit a left-foot shot from the edge of the Leeds area but Sullivan dived to save on the six-yard line. He then held another long-range drive from Hughes.

Dowie pushed Hall forward as an extra attacker but as Palace intensified the pressure Johnson blazed over the bar with three minutes left.

Then, in stoppage time, McAnuff cut in from the right and scored brilliantly with a drive from the edge of the area. But the goal, spectacular as it was, could not save Palace from defeat.

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