Leeds United 0, Millwall 2

Leeds United’s bid for automatic promotion suffered another blow as Millwall completed a deserved league double at Elland Road tonight.

Leeds’ disgruntled supporters booed their team at half-time and again at the end after they had looked distinctly second best against the team that knocked them out of the play-offs last season.

Millwall climbed into third place and are now just three points behind Leeds, who visit leaders Norwich on Saturday.

United were without their 27-goal top scorer Jermaine Beckford, who was ruled out with a hamstring injury, so Paul Dickov, 37, made his first start, partnering Luciano Becchio in the attack.

Neil Harris returned to the Millwall strike force, alongside Steve Morison.

United suffered a blow after only six minutes when Australian defender Patrick Kisnorbo was injured trying to stop Morison on the right edge of the penalty box and had to be carried off on a stretcher, Aidan White leaving the bench.

Kisnorbo’s injury left Morison in the clear but he shot hurriedly wide of the far post.

However, the former Stevenage Borough striker made amends by opening the scoring in the 11th minute. Danny Schofield’s through ball found Liam Trotter on the right. His low cross sped to Morison beyond the far post and he squeezed his shot between the upright and keeper Casper Ankergren, who failed to get across his goal line in time and finished up in the back of the net.

It was Morison’s 17th goal of the season and his sixth in his last four appearances. Leeds fans grew more restless when the same player volleyed fractionally wide from yet another chance.

Kirnorbo’s departure had caused a major reshuffle in Leeds’ defence, Andrew Hughes moving from left back to right back, Leigh Bromby switching from right back into central defence and White coming in at left back.

Leeds struggled to create openings and when Robert Snodgrass, playing a more central role, finally created enough space for a 27th minute shot his effort was woefully wide. Jonny Howson was much closer with a 25-yard drive but in first-half injury time Millwall defender Paul Robinson headed against the Leeds bar from Chris Hackett’s corner.

Millwall keeper David Forde, who had been untested in the first half, needed treatment just after the interval after saving from Dickov who was controversially flagged offside.

Dickov then cleverly cut inside two defenders to create an excellent chance for Snodgrass but he blazed high over the bar from 12 yards.

Millwall played the ball around with the assurance of a side beaten only once since Boxing Day and for long spells they looked more like the home team.

Grayson needed more midfield creativity and he replaced Micky Doyle with Neil Kilkenny on 63 minutes, but Darren Ward was outstanding in an uncompromising Lions’ defence.

The Lions’ second goal arrived in the 80th minute when substitute Sean Batt, on loan from Peterborough, beat Hughes and Bromby on the left before sprinting into the box and beating Ankergren on his near post.