Leeds United 1 Yeovil Town 0: Late shows keeping Leeds on course for last laugh

Not for the first time this season, Leeds managed to turn a moderate performance into victory by resorting to what is becoming a familiar formula, namely to score so late that the opposition has no time to reply.

Eight of the 19 goals they have scored in League One have come in the 87th minute or later, of which seven have been in the 90th minute or in stoppage time. Five times those goals have converted draws into wins. Had they not started 15 points behind everyone else, Leeds would now lead the table by nine points.

It might be enough for Dennis Wise to start thinking he is a lucky manager were it not for his first nine months in his current job, which could hardly be described in that way. Asked if he thought his team might somehow be predestined to re-emerge triumphant in the Championship next season, the colour almost drained from his face.

"Don't you dare say that," he implored the questioner. "I'm just waiting for the moment when it goes bad. You are always going to get a sticky spell. There will come a time when it is going to kick you in the teeth."

In any case, he does not entirely buy the idea that his team are simply enjoying the rub of the green.

"OK, we have won a few games with last-minute goals but maybe that's because our players believe they can win, right up to the last second," he said.

Also, perhaps, because Wise would rather go for broke. "When I made my substitutions I could have gone to five across midfield and told my players to settle for a point," he said. "But I like a gamble. So I chucked on two extra forwards."

It was one of those substitutes, Mark de Vries, who marked his second appearance on loan from Leicester by sending a looping header past Yeovil goalkeeper Romain Larrieu.

Goal: De Vries (89) 1-0.

Leeds United (4-4-2): Ankergren; Richardson, Marques, Heath, Clapham; Prutton (Flo, 76), Hughes (Westlake, 84), Douglas, Carole (De Vries, 76); Beckford, Kandol. Substitutes not used: Huntington, Da Costa.

Yeovil (4-1-4-1): Larrieu; Lynch, Forbes, Guyett, N Jones; Rose; Betsy, Barry, Stewart, Warne (Domoraud, 90); Owusu. Substitutes not used: R Jones, Gillett, Alcock, Ujah.

Referee: A Taylor (Greater Manchester). Booked: Leeds Heath, Hughes; Yeovil Lynch, N Jones.

Man of the match: Barry.

Attendance: 27,808.