TWO-GOAL Jermaine Beckford turbo-charged Leeds’ drive for promotion to leave Gary McAllister purring: “That was the best performance since I’ve been manager.”

Goal-glutton Beckford took his season’s tally to 10 as Leeds slaughtered suicidal Swindon despite having only 10 men for 81 minutes.

Full-back Alan Sheehan was sent off for a two-footed tackle on Jon-Paul McGovern.

But it was McAllister’s men who pushed on and Neil Kilkenny got on the scoresheet. McAllister, who took over at Elland Road in January, said: “We had 10 men willing to fight and kick for each other.

“I’ve no complaints about the sending off — someone could have been hurt badly. Alan knows I’m not happy.”

Leeds extended their unbeaten run to six games having scored 16 goals in the last five matches.

Swindon on the other hand have lost their last three home games. And manager Maurice Malpas lashed the “playground defending” and vowed: “This team will not be playing in the next game. There will be changes.”

Mistakes

He added: “I’m lost for words — gobsmacked.

“We’ve got to eradicate the mistakes and sloppiness.

“One mistake you can handle but three is unforgiveable. To say it was a bad day at the office is an understatement.”

But Leeds prospects looked distinctly dismal early on. Central defender Rui Marques earned a yellow card after only four minutes then Sheehan saw red.

United keeper David Lucas also had to be lively to parry away Simon Cox’s volley.

Beckford then stood the game on its head when he hammered the ball home after an error from Jerel Ifil in the 21st-minute.

Cox equalised on half-time thanks to great work from Anthony McNamee.

Kilkenny restored Leeds lead after 50 minutes when hapless home keeper Phil Smith let his free-kick slip gently through his hands.

Lucas then defied Cox with a breathtaking save, before Beckford sealed the points six minutes from time.

SCUNTHORPE 2, CARLISLE 1

THE IRON showed a spine of steel to halt the Cumbrians unbeaten start to the season.

A double substitution by Nigel Adkins in the 58th minute provided the spark.

New arrivals Martyn Woolford and Matt Sparrow combined just three minutes later with Sparrow bagging the opener. And the lead was doubled seven minutes later when Paul Hayes pounced when Ben Williams could only parry a Woolford shot.

Suddenly the string of missed chances the visitors had seen go begging began to look very costly.

Danny Carlton gave the Cumbrians a 77th-minute lifeline when he thumped Scott Dobie’s cushioned pass into the bottom corner but it was too little too late.

Iron boss Adkins said: “Carlisle are a very good side but some of the football we played was breathtaking.”

BRISTOL R 1, WALSALL 3

WALSALL manager Jimmy Mullen heaped praise on Michael Ricketts and Jabo Iberhe after their first away win of the season.

Mullen said: “They’re the best striking pair in the division. Any club at this level would love to have them.”

Ricketts grabbed two while Marco Reich supplied inch-perfect corners for the opening goals. His first was nodded on by Anthony Gerrard for Ricketts to slot home on seven minutes.

Reich’s second was headed in by Stephen Roberts in the 24th minute.

Steve Elliott’s left-footer gave Rovers hope but it was all over when Ricketts netted a penalty after Troy Deeney had been upended by Byron Anthony, who was sent off in the 90th minute.

Rovers coach Paul Trollop said: “We only had ourselves to blame.”

CREWE 2, COLCHESTER 0

KEEPER Dean Gerken got in a right pickle as Colchester went from bad to worse.

Gerken misread Michael O’Connor’s 47th-minute free-kick and sub Tom Pope added to Gerken’s woes with No 2.

Steve Gillespie saw red in the 87th minute for a two-footed challenge on Crewe’s Danny Woodards.

Crewe went in front when Gerken flapped at O’Connor’s free-kick and Pope met Billy Jones’ pinpoint cross to make it two in the 69th minute.

HUDDERSFIELD 1, TRANMERE 2

RYAN SHOTTON’S second-half header sealed Tranmere’s first away win since February.

Rovers came from behind and were on top by the end.

Liam Dickinson bent a free-kick around the wall to put Huddersfield ahead in the 17th minute.

Keigan Parker, Nathan Clarke and Dickinson all had chances to clinch the points but Rovers levelled through Edrissa Sonko.

Rovers won it when Shotton headed home Andy Taylor’s free-kick.

LEICESTER 0, MILLWALL 1

GARY ALEXANDER was the hero goalscorer while his strike partner Tresor Kandol was the 90th-minute red card villain.

Kandol, who set up Alexander for the 20th-minute winner, was sent off for putting his hands into Michael Morrison’s face.

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett said: “It seems the Leicester player has taken a swing at him but you cannot react like that.”

Leicester chief Nigel Pearson admitted: “This was a reality check for us and there are lessons to be learned.”

L ORIENT 0, STOCKPORT 3

TOMMY ROWE’S sweet left-footer provided the gloss finish for a rampant Hatters side.

He drilled home from 12-yards after being teed-up by the brilliant Anthony Pilkington.

County flew out of the blocks and a corner bounced into the net off O’s Brian Saah on 13 minutes.

Then, on the stroke of half-time, Jim McNulty headed home No 2 from Pilkington’s fine free-kick.

NORTHAMPTON 1, PETERBORO 1

DEFENDER Jason Crowe was sent off in injury time in this fierce derby.

Crowe saw red for a second bookable offence after Colin Larkin had equalised for the Cobblers.

Posh were left to curse a string of second-half misses after George Boyd fired them in front on 15 minutes following a clever one-two with star man Craig Mackail-Smith.

Larkin latched on to a Luke Guttridge pass three minutes before the break to level things.

Orient thought they had grabbed a last-minute consolation but substitute Luke Ashworth’s effort was cleared off the line.

OLDHAM 2, MK DONS 0

KEEPER Mark Crossley had a blinder as Oldham stayed top.

Lee Hughes and Mark Allott got the goals for John Sheridan’s side but it was Crossley who stole the show, highlighted by a 15th-minute penalty save from Mark Wright.

Hughes’ fourth goal of the season on eight minutes was an audacious lob from 18 yards.

And Allott wrapped it up in stoppage time with a 30-yarder.

Aaron Wilbraham was the Dons’ main threat but Crossley stopped him scoring against his old club.

SOUTHEND 1, HEREFORD 0

LEE BARNARD’S first-half strike was enough to give Southend their first victory since the opening day of the season.

Barnard prodded home from five yards from Dougie Freedman’s cross to leave Hereford languishing in the bottom four.

Southend must thank keeper Steve Mildenhall for all three points.

YEOVIL 1, BRIGHTON 1

DARREN WAY spared Yeovil’s blushes as they came from behind to snatch a point against 10 men.

Nicky Forster thought he had done enough to give Brighton victory from the spot after debutant Joe Anyinsah had been sent off for a second bookable offence.

Forster’s penalty came in the 77th minute after Adam Virgo had been hacked down by Andre McCollin. But the lead lasted just three minutes as Way fired home an unstoppable effort.

He needed lengthy treatment after diving to block a shot from sub Matt Done on 72 minutes and he came to the rescue in added time, again foiling Done.