Leeds United 2
Howson (58), Beckford (62)

Bristol Rovers 1
Duffy (47)

Rovers went down by the odd goal in three this afternoon, against a Leeds United side reduced to ten men following the first half dismissal of Max Gradel.

Rovers took the lead two minutes into the second half, through Darryl Duffy, but goals from substitute Jonathan Howson and Jermaine Beckford sealed victory, and promotion, for Simon Grayson's side.

Manager Paul Trollope made two changes to his starting lineup for this afternoon's match against Leeds United at Elland Road.

Danny Coles, suspended for last Saturday's game against Champions Norwich City, returned to partner Byron Anthony at the heart of defence, while Jo Kuffour returned after injury and played alongside Darryl Duffy up front.

The two players to make way were Andy Williams and Ben Swallow, who were both on the bench. Daniel Jones took up his favoured position at left back, while Jeff Hughes reverted to his usual position on the left of midfield.

The atmosphere at Elland Road was electric as the teams kicked off but a furious and frantic opening ten minutes brought nothing in the way of goalmouth incidents.

Max Gradel, operating on the right of midfield for the home side, was seeing a great deal of the ball, but always looked nervous in possession and his crosses lacked the quality required by his strikers.

Charlie Reece saw a long range effort blocked on 20 minutes, while Bradley Johnson just failed to get a decent connection on a cross from the left and could only touch a header into the arms of Mikkel Andersen.

With Rovers comfortably containing any threats from the home side, Daniel Jones appeared to be felled by Gradel in an off the ball incident. Almost immediately both were surrounded by players from both sides and after the ensuing melee had settled down, Gradel received a red card from referee Graham Salisbury.

Amazingly, the Leeds player refused to leave the pitch and struck out at his colleagues as they tried to persuade him to go quietly.

Once he had departed, Jones received a yellow card presumably for retaliation. However he was seen, by the home fans, to be the perpetrator of the incident and from then on was booed every time he touched the ball.

The incident seemed to make Leeds, and their fans, even more nervous and although Johnson did fire a shot straight at Andersen, they ended the half without having really tested the keeper.

Rovers started the second half strongly and took the lead after just two minutes with a well worked goal. Jones broke down the left and crossed to the far post where Jo Kuffour hooked the ball back into the box and Duffy slid the ball home from six yards.

With Rovers seemingly on top, the introduction of Howson for Shane Lowry swung the balance back in favour of the home side.

Within four minutes of his arrival, he had swept a 20 yard shot past Mikkel Andersen to put his side on level terms and, with the crowd baying for a second, it arrived four minutes later.

Unfortunately it came following a mistake by Andersen. His throw out was intercepted by Bradley Johnson who played the ball into the box where Beckford slotted home from close range.

Jeff Hughes hit an ambitious long range effort over the bar and Shane Higgs dived at the feet of Kuffour to deny the striker a shot on goal, while Leeds almost added a third when a header from Neill Collins came back into play off the post.

However Leeds were content to see out time and often got everyone behind the ball and saw out a nervous few minutes before finally realising their dream of returning to the Championship as runners up to Norwich City.

Bristol Rovers: Mikkel Andersen, Carl Regan, Byron Anthony, Danny Coles, Daniel Jones, Charlie Reece (Andy Williams 72), Chris Lines, Stuart Campbell, Jeff Hughes, Darryl Duffy (Eliot Richards 80), Jo Kuffour

Substitutes: Mark Wright, Dominic Blizzard, Charlie Clough, Ben Swallow, Rhys Evans

Yellow cards - Jones, Duffy

Leeds United: Shane Higgs, Andrew Hughes, Leigh Bromby, Neill Collins, Shane Lowry (Jonathan Howson 54), Max Gradel, Michael Doyle, Neil Kilkenny, Bradley Johnson, Luciano Becchio (Sanchez Watt 88), Jermaine Beckford (Robert Snodgrass 90)

Substitutes: Casper Ankergren, Mike Grella, Gary McSheffrey, Lubomir Michalik

Red card - Gradel

Yellow cards - Doyle, Becchio
Referee: Mr G Salisbury
Attendance: 38,334