LEEDS 4, GILLINGHAM 1
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BRADLEY JOHNSON sent Leeds into seventh heaven and set them up to take on the might of Liverpool on Tuesday.
The midfielder's double put the Whites on their way to a seventh win out of eight games this season and to top of the table.
Jonathan Howson and Jermaine Beckford added further goals in the second period, sandwiched by an Andy Barcham strike for Gills.
And manager Simon Grayson reckons Leeds' unbeaten start to the season can continue in the Carling Cup against Liverpool at Elland Road.
He said: "Being top of the league gives us a fantastic platform to build on from now until the end of the season.
"With the size of our club we need to have a positive start because the pressure can build on you.
"We'll approach the Liverpool game with a lot of belief, we can go and enjoy ourselves. We're playing against one of the best teams in the world but we like to think we can give anyone a game here.
"You can't compare it with Liverpool but we drew with Blackburn here in pre-season and beat Burnley."
Leeds last welcomed the Merseysiders to Elland Road for a 2-2 Premier League draw in February 2004 and the Yorkshire club's fall from grace since has been spectacular.
Yet Liverpool would be wise not to underestimate a team playing with real confidence, especially at Fortress Elland Road, where they have recorded 15 straight league home wins.
Little wonder the home crowd were singing: "Bring on the Scousers."
Grayson added: "There is always an upset and why can't we be the team that shocks Liverpool? We'll be looking to try and cause a shock."
After Barcham had shot wide for Gillingham, Leeds seized control with Johnson's 14th-minute opener.
Robert Snodgrass swung over a corner and Johnson powered home a header.
Gills had a penalty appeal turned down when winger Barcham went down under Jason Crowe's challenge.
But Leeds were two up in the 28th minute. Johnson burst into the box on a one-two with Jermaine Beckford, holding off a challenge from Barry Fuller, before shooting past keeper Simon Royce at the near post.
Grayson said of the goalscorer: "He is big, strong and powerful aerially. He is technically good, has a great strike and is only 22."
Skipper Howson then made it three with a superbly-worked goal just moments after the restart.
Snodgrass chipped the ball upfield to Beckford and he headed it on to Howson, who swept the ball home.
Beckford then thumped a shot against the bar.
But Barcham pulled one back when he buried a first-time shot high past keeper Shane Higgs.
Leeds wrapped up the points in the 80th minute when Michael Doyle's deflected shot came off the crossbar and Beckford nodded home the rebound for his sixth goal of the season.
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NORWICH 2, CHARLTON 2
GRANT HOLT grabbed an added-time equaliser to complete a stirring Norwich fightback and knock Charlton off top spot.
Sub Chris Martin delivered a deflected cross for the City captain to rise above Addicks' keeper Rob Elliot and apply a looping header that just crept over the line.
It was Holt's sixth goal of the season and fully deserved after he, more than anyone, dragged the Canaries back into the match.
Norwich boss Paul Lambert said: "Grant was a handful all game - robust as anything. He might not be the greatest player finesse-wise, but for hunger, work-rate and desire, I would rather have him in my side than not."
But the equaliser wasn't without controversy as Charlton boss Phil Parkinson felt there was an infringement on Elliot.
Parky said: "The goal shouldn't have stood. He has certainly stopped Robbie coming out and getting good contact on the ball."
But Parkinson didn't disagree that the hosts were value for a share of the spoils after falling two behind inside 40 minutes.
Deon Burton put Charlton ahead in the 18th minute with a bullet header and five minutes before half-time Jonjo Shelvey added the second.
Norwich pulled one back in the 44th minute through Wes Hoolahan's 12-yarder, his first league goal of the season.
That gave Norwich a lifeline and they dominated the second half, gaining their reward with Holt's late leveller.
Lambert added: "I thought the performance was colossal."
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BRENTFORD 1, BRISTOL ROVERS 3
BOSS Paul Trollope celebrated signing a new contract at Rovers with this easy win.
Debutant Chris Dickson, on loan from Charlton, struck twice with Aaron Lescott getting the other as Rovers raced into a three goal lead before the break.
Dickson said: "I thrive on scoring goals. I know where the back of the net is."
Charlie MacDonald pulled one back for Bees but boss Andy Scott moaned: "We were all over the place."
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BRIGHTON 2, SOUTHEND 3
BRIGHTON manager Russell Slade is planning a defensive shake-up after their stoppage time defeat.
A goal two minutes into added time by substitute Francis Laurent gave Southend victory after Nicky Forster had twice cancelled out first-half goals from Lee Barnard and Roy O'Donovan.
Slade said: "We can't concede three goals at home and expect to win."
Shrimpers chief Steve Tilson hailed Laurent: "He's got pace and trickery and it was a great finish."
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EXETER 2, TRANMERE 1
JOHN BARNES is fighting to save his job after Adam Stansfield hit a double to pile more misery on the Tranmere boss.
Stansfield netted in the 25th and 54th minutes before Michael Ricketts pulled one back.
Rovers crashed to their sixth successive defeat and Barnes said: "You can't keep losing but my job is up to the club and the chairman."
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale said: "We are delighted with all three points."
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OLDHAM 2, CARLISLE 0
OLDHAM picked up their first home victory since February to finally lift the gloom at Boundary Park.
On-loan left-back Alan Sheehan created both goals - scored by Pawel Abbott and Keigan Parker.
Latics boss Dave Penney said: "I'm delighted that we've got rid of the home stigma."
Carlisle manager Greg Abbott bemoaned missed chances: "We had two great openings at 0-0 and it could have been a different story."
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STOCKPORT 2, LEYTON ORIENT 1
STOCKPORT boss Gary Ablett was relieved after his side got their first home win of the season.
Nicholas Bignall and Greg Tansey powered Stockport into a two-goal lead after the break before Tamika Mkandawire hit back with a late consolation.
Ablett said: "If we keep on improving like we are doing, we can go places."
O's boss Geraint Williams said: "We conceded a poor goal after the break. Our use of the ball was poor."
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WYCOMBE O, MK DONS 1
DONS defender Mathias Doumbe hit a 45th-minute winner - and left Wycombe fans booing their side.
Doumbe struck with a left-foot, 20-yard shot.
Wycombe chief Peter Taylor said: "It was a one- sided first-half. We were booed off by our fans and I couldn't blame them."
Stuart Green saw a shot cleared off the line late on for the hosts.
Dons boss Paul Ince said: "We should've killed the game off earlier."
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COLCHESTER 2, HARTLEPOOL 0
AIDY BOOTHROYD was unveiled to the home fans and went on to record his first win as new U's boss.
Winger Kevin Lisbie grabbed a brace of penalties one either side of half-time - he also missed another - to sink Pool.
Boothroyd said: "Ben Williams kept us in the game with some fine saves.''
Pool boss Chris Turner moaned: "We need to start playing like Colchester in the final third. If you're playing there you create chances.''
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MILLWALL 3, HUDDERSFIELD 1
THE Lions ended their three-match drought after two strikes in two minutes by Chris Hackett and Neil Harris stunned Huddersfield.
Boss Kenny Jackett said: "That's much better. This is something to build on."
Millwall were cruising as Harris set up Hackett for a 12th-minute opener then headed in at the near post.
Steve Morison added a third before Jordan Rhodes' consolation goal.
Terriers boss Lee Clark groaned: "We were poor."
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SOUTHAMPTON 2, YEOVIL 0
ALAN PARDEW thanked an overdue slice of luck for helping his Saints to their first league win.
Star striker Rickie Lambert scored penalties in each half.
Marek Saganowski was brought down by Terrell Forbes, then ref Tony Bates ruled Nathan Jones handled.
Manager Pardew said: "We were undoubtedly lucky with the second penalty."
Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton said: "If I was a certain Mr Warnock I might have had the ref's guts for garters."
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WALSALL 1, SWINDON 1
BILLY PAYNTER made up for two bad misses to earn Swindon a point.
Paynter missed an open goal and a penalty, but fired his second spot-kick home with 10 minutes left. Walsall led through an early goal from Troy Deeney.
Robins boss Danny Wilson said: "Walsall should have been out of sight at half-time."
Walsall manager Chris Hutchings added: "The first half was our best 45 minutes this season."
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