Match Report

Leeds United are running into form at just the right time as they chalked-up another victory in front of a record crowd at Colchester.

Leeds are now unbeaten in their last nine games - with seven wins and two draws - and they look good bets for at least a play-off spot if not even the second automatic promotion place.

Leeds always shaded this contest and they could have won by more than the one goal, which came courtesy of a 29th minute strike from Luciano Becchio.

It was the Argentinian's 13th goal of the season and it proved enough to see off Colchester, whose play-off hopes are now over.

The U's defenders gave Becchio too much time and space to turn on to Robert Snodgrass' pass and he gave keeper Mark Cousins no chance with a rasping shot.

Colchester's best chance of the afternoon fell just a few minutes before Becchio's winner when winger Mark Yates raced on to a throughball by Karl Hawley and suddenly just had keeper Casper Ankergren to beat.

However, the big Dane came to his side's rescue by blocking the goalbound shot from Yates and that was the U's best opportunity.

Leeds had several chances to add to their tally. Becchio headed narrowly over from a free-kick from Snodgrass just before the break, while on another day leading scorer Jermaine Beckford could have scored a hat-trick.

Beckford was unable to add to his 31 goals for the season but he will wonder why.

The striker looked certain to score in the last minute of injury time to kill off the game when completely through on goal, but Cousins dived at his feet to bravely save.

But Beckford's series of misses did not prove costly as Leeds stay in touch with their promotion rivals.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides