Colchester 1 Leeds 2

JERMAINE BECKFORD can quit Elland Road for nothing at the end of the season - but Leeds fans won't care if he fires them into the Championship.

The red-hot striker netted his fifth goal of the campaign as United made it seven straight wins in all competitions - equalling the club's best start to a season, set in 1973.

And they will need to keep their talisman firing on all cylinders if the club are to gain promotion at the third time of asking.

Beckford, 25, has been linked with a move to the Premier League with Bolton rumoured to be interested.

Leeds insist he is not for sale but their fans will certainly breathe a sigh of relief when the transfer window finally slams shut.

Beckford proved a handful all afternoon and scored a deserved winner on 64 minutes to leave boss Simon Grayson delighted.

He said: "Jermaine scored a real poacher's goal but it's not by luck he gets into the positions he does and scores the goals he does.

"He is a joy to work with and just has a natural talent for scoring goals.

"He's unpredictable in training and on a matchday but he has a unique talent. We're delighted to have him.

"He knows he's got aspects of his game to work on to get to the top and is trying to develop that.

"You can coach certain players but Jermaine's not that easy because of his natural ability. He's an instinctive player and if he goes to the top, let's hope it's at Leeds."

But for two marginal offside decisions, Beckford could even have walked away with the match ball after a blistering start to the game.

With no shortage of pace and a touch of arrogance, the flat-footed Colchester defence found the livewire Londoner hard to contain in an opening half dominated by the visitors.

There was just seven minutes on the clock when he first had the ball in the net after latching on to a slide rule Jonathan Howson pass.

Unfortunately, the linesman's reactions were equally sharp and the goal was chalked off.

The hawk-eyed official was at it again eight minutes later, this time ruling another excellent finish following good work from Luciano Becchio.

But Leeds got the breakthrough two minutes after the break.

Bradley Johnson rose unmarked to head home a Robert Snodgrass free-kick.

Yet, 10 minutes later, the U's hit back when striker Kevin Lisbie was fouled by Rui Marques. Ref Dave Phillips pointed to the spot and Lisbie tucked home the penalty.

But Beckford was not to be denied and he got his goal in the 64th minute when he took advantage of a mix-up in the Colchester defence to fire in from close range.

Colchester are set to announce a new manager on Tuesday with Torquay's Paul Buckle linked with the job.

Stand-in boss Joe Dunne said : "I can't fault our effort but it's time for a new face to shake things up."

Hartlepool 0 Norwich 2

NORWICH defender Micky Nelson took just 27 minutes to score against his old club.

Nelson, who spent six seasons at Victoria Park before a free in the summer, put the Canaries ahead with a spectacular volley.

Boss Paul Lambert said: "It was Nelson's first game since the first day of the season and he was great. Micky's general defensive display was excellent, too. His goal was a real bonus."

The home side never proved a threat, but it took until the 63rd minute for the Canaries to double their lead.

A Pool corner was cleared by Jens Berthel-Askou. Paul McVeigh fed Grant Holt and, when Stephen Hughes burst into space, he took the pass to roll home from 16 yards.

Hartlepool boss Chris Turner said: "It was a poor game from start to finish.

"They took advantage of a mistake for Nelson to score and the second came from our own set-piece.

"Our back four and keeper kept up their standards, but the midfield and forwards didn't."

Huddersfield 2 Yeovil 1

HUDDERSFIELD boss Lee Clark praised his side's "character, desire and guts" after they came from behind to grab victory.

The Terriers were subdued after the midweek, energy-sapping 4-3 Carling Cup defeat at Newcastle and Clark said: "The intensity and pace of that game took its toll.

"We looked mentally and physically drained but we didn't throw the towel in and ground out a result. We showed great character, desire and guts."

Yeovil went ahead in the sixth minute from Kieran Murtagh stunning 30-yard volley.

Eight minutes later former Yeovil defender Lee Peltier tripped Nathan Smith in the area but Alex Smithies saved Gavin Tomlin's spot-kick.

That was the turning point. Huddersfield levelled before half-time through Theo Robinson Michael Collins headed the winner from Lionel Ainsworth's cross.

Yeovil boss Terry Skiverton said: "We have to be more ruthless and take our chances.

"Maybe I need to find out what the SAS do to instil that ruthless streak."

Brentford 1 Gillingham 1

ANDY SCOTT'S promoted Bees maintained their unbeaten start but were held by a super equaliser.

Nick Blackman levelled with a magic curler on 51 minutes.

Kevin O'Connor put the Bees ahead from the spot after a push by Andy Holdsworth on Sam Saunders.

Oldham boss Dave Penney said: "It was a harsh."

Bees manager Scott said: "They defended for their lives."

LEYTON ORIENT 2 CARLISLE 2

CARLISLE captain Paul Thirlwell scored in injury time to earn his side a deserved point.

The Cumbrians took the lead in the 42nd minute through Matt Robson and were in control until Scott McGleish struck twice.

McGleish's first was a controversial penalty but he scored again with a fine shot with five minutes left.

Orient boss Geraint Williams said: "It was a soft penalty but we should have had another later on."

SWINDON 2 SOUTHEND 1

STEVE TILSON was fuming after two dodgy decisions by referee Mike Russell.

Jean-Francois Christophe got a second yellow for a dive in the 35th minute.

Then Russell denied Franck Moussa a penalty that even surprised Robins' boss Danny Wilson, who said: "We got away with it."

Tilson said: "The two decisions cost us."

Scott Cuthbert and Tope Obadeyi scored for Swindon before Damian Scannell's consolation goal.

WALSALL 0 GILLINGHAM 0

MARK STIMSON reckoned the Gills were robbed after Mark McCammon had a fourth-minute effort ruled out for handling.

McCammon forced the ball home in a goalmouth melee and boss Stimson said: "We were hard done by from where I was sitting."

Simeon Jackson and McCammon had chances to win it for the Gills.

Walsall had only one shot on target and boss Chris Hutchings said: "We have a lot to work on in training."

EXETER CITY 1 MK DONS 1

JERMAINE EASTER made sure the Dons continued their unbeaten start with a deadly double inside the opening six minutes.

Barry Corr pulled a goal back early in the second half but the visitors held on for their third successive win.

Dons boss Paul Ince said: "Jermaine latches on to anything inside the 18-yard box and that is why his goal record is so good."

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale said: "We lost to a very good side."

STOCKPORT 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1

SOUTHAMPTON boss Alan Pardew blasted referee Carl Boyeson after Stockport's last-minute penalty.

Saints led through Richard Lambert's penalty in first-half stoppage time.

But Pardew was incensed when the ref ruled Neal Trottman handled and Carl Baker hit home the spot-kick.

Pardew said: "I'm struggling to remember a ref who has been as bad as him.''

County boss Gary Ablett said: "We deserved a point."

TRANMERE ROVERS 0 CHARLTON ATHLETIC 4

TWO goals from Lloyd Sam swept Charlton to their fifth successive win and their best-ever start to a season.

Sam scored after 25 and 49 minutes, Jose Semedo struck on 26 minutes before Nicky Bailey wrapped it up with an outrageous 45-yard shot.

Addicks boss Phil Parkinson: "It was a good performance. But we must not get carried away."

Tranmere chief John Barnes moaned: "Too many players were hiding.''

WYCOMBE 2 BRISTOL ROVERS 1

WYCOMBE grabbed their first win of the season with two wonder goals.

Matt Phillips smashed in a 30-yard rocket to cancel out Chris Lines' close-range headed opener.

Then, on 80 minutes, sub Jon-Paul Pittman unleashed a 20-yard left-footed curler.

Wycombe boss Peter Taylor said: "They were two wonderful goals. This was a very important win for us."

Rovers chief Paul Trollope said: "We're disappointed with our defending."

• LEEDS 2,STOCKPORT 0

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