By Paul Fletcher BBC Sport at Elland Road

Leeds came from behind to defeat Bristol Rovers and clinch the second automatic promotion spot in League One on a tense and, at times, confusing afternoon at Elland Road.

Darryl Duffy's hooked strike shortly after half-time had put Rovers in front, but 10-man Leeds scored twice in four minutes to earn the victory that ended their three-season spell in the third tier of English football.

Jonathan Howson equalised with a stunning 20-yard strike minutes after coming off the bench, before Jermaine Beckford pounced on a loose clearance to convert from six yards.

Beckford is out of contract in the summer and widely expected to join a Premier League side, but his 31st goal of the season ensured the campaign ended in victorious fashion for the Yorkshire club.

Leeds will play Championship football next season after a season that saw them falter after Christmas, but grind out enough points to seal second place behind Norwich and avoid a third straight play-off campaign.

PAUL FLETCHER'S BLOG Leeds fans were put through an emotional wringer on Saturday before finally seeing their team limp over the line

However, it was a far from straightforward afternoon for Leeds and their supporters - and at one point it looked to be heading towards disaster.

Max Gradel was sent off in the first half after an incident with Bristol Rovers defender Daniel Jones.

The Leeds player initially refused to leave the pitch and had to be restrained by his team-mates as he angrily pursued the referee.

Many supporters did not realise why Gradel had been dismissed and the atmosphere turned sour after Jones was only handed a yellow card.

There was an air of desperation after Duffy's goal for the visitors, but the 10 men of Leeds found the resolve to turn defeat into victory and secure the promotion their supporters so badly craved.

Before his dismissal Gradel played down the right and was allowed plenty of space, twice delivering dangerous balls across the face of the Rovers goal as Leeds started the match brightly.

The recalled Beckford was named as skipper in the absence of Richard Naylor, and posed a constant threat up front.

He could not quite connect with a ball over his shoulder, and also got into a dangerous position as Leeds looked to break on the counter-attack, but Bradley Johnson failed to pick him out.

Beckford had the ball in the net on 34 minutes, but the effort was ruled out for offside, and it was in the aftermath of this that Gradel was sent off.

Rovers left-back Jones, on loan from Wolves, went down holding his face after a clash with the Leeds forward.

Replays also seemed to suggest that Gradel had stamped on his foot. An irate Jones had to be pulled away and calmed down by goalkeeper Mikkel Andersen as a lengthy melee broke out in the Rovers penalty area.

It was then the turn of Gradel to be restrained by Beckford after he was shown red, and a scuffle followed between the pair, with Michael Doyle intervening to try to calm the situation.

Stewards had to come onto the field as Gradel reluctantly made his way towards the tunnel.

Jones was booed every time he touched the ball for the rest of the game, but it was from his cross shortly after the restart that Rovers took the lead.

Jo Kuffour, who looked dangerous every time he had the chance to run at the Leeds defence, guided the cross back across goal from an extremely tight angle, and Duffy finished superbly after taking a touch to control the ball.

Leeds needed a strong response and got one through substitute Howson, who connected superbly with Becchio's lay-off to put a curling right-foot effort beyond Andersen.

That gave momentum back to the home side, and just minutes later a poor clearance from Andersen led to their second goal.

The keeper's throw was intercepted by Beckford, who fed the ball to Johnson.

His low cross was only partially cleared and Beckford pounced to smash home the loose ball, his goal prompting several supporters to invade the pitch in celebration.

Rovers' substitute Andy Williams shot wide from a decent position as they occasionally threatened an equaliser, but it was Leeds who came closer to changing the scoreline when Neil Collins headed against the post.

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