Goals from Robbie Blake and Rob Hulse gave Leeds a crucial victory over their promotion rivals Crystal Palace.

Kevin Blackwell's men scored either side of half-time and controlled the game totally until the final 25 minutes, when Palace finally exerted a degree of pressure - but they had only Jobi McAnuff's injury time strike to show for it.

This win allowed Leeds - who have a game in hand on second-placed Sheffield United - to move within six points of an automatic promotion spot, while Palace might have to concede that the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs represent their sole chance of promotion.

It was Leeds who looked sharper at the very beginning, and in the fifth minute Jonathon Douglas met Gary Kelly's right-wing corner with a header that forced Gabor Kiraly to dive to his left and push away.

Palace could not break Leeds down, and it was the visitors who took the lead in the 33rd minute.

After a purposeful break from the impressive Liam Miller, Hulse got the better of Darren Ward on the right to send in a low cross that Fitz Hall - deceived by a deflection off Ward - failed to clear, allowing the grateful Blake to tap in from a yard.

Eddie Lewis should have doubled Leeds' lead in the 43rd minute, but he headed wide at the far post after Kiraly had flapped hopelessly at Miller's left-wing cross.

But that error did not affect an assured Leeds side, who deservedly made it 2-0 in the 53rd minute.

Kelly slid the ball to Miller on the right, and the unmarked Hulse stuck out his right foot to divert the on-loan Manchester United midfielder's cross in off the bar at the near post.

Palace had to do something, and the introduction of Aki Riihilahti for Ben Watson gave Michael Hughes more creative freedom and shook the home side from their lethargy.

Mikele Leigertwood - another substitute - tested Neil Sullivan, who had been untroubled until then, with a 30-yard volley in the 65th minute, and Riihilahti forced an alert stop from the Scottish goalkeeper with a 15-yard drive following McAnuff's corner.

Shortly afterwards Sullivan claimed the ball close to his line once more after Andrew Johnson and Emmerson Boyce had both headed goalwards.

Palace forced a succession of corners, but they could not make them count.

McAnuff did finally score with a curling 20-yard effort in stoppage time, but that only increased the home side's frustration.

Teams:

Crystal Palace Kiraly, Ward, Fitz Hall, Boyce, Borrowdale,McAnuff, Watson (Riihilahti 56), Hughes,Soares (Leigertwood 58), Johnson, Morrison.

Subs Not Used: Popovic, Andrews, Speroni.

Goals: McAnuff 90.

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Crainey, Butler, Gregan,Lewis (Pugh 87), Miller, Douglas, Derry, Hulse,Blake (Healy 87).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Bakke, Moore.

Goals: Blake 33, Hulse 53.

Att: 23,843

Ref: D Gallagher (Oxfordshire).