A brilliant free-kick from Alan Sheehan earned Leeds a 1-0 win at the Keepmoat Stadium last night and ensured United took advantage of a match which manager Gary McAllister had singled out as a must-win fixture.

* Click here to read match report from Leeds United's 1-0 win at Doncaster.

* Click here to enjoy a picture slideshow of match action from the game.

Leeds were four points adrift of the play-offs before yesterday's Yorkshire derby, but their resilient win made the most of one of two games in hand that the club held over sixth-placed Tranmere Rovers.

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United trail the Birkenhead club by a single point following Sheehan's sensational strike – a clinical free-kick scored in the 20th minute – and McAllister's players have six more games with which to guarantee their involvement in the play-off semi-finals.

Huntington, who produced an inspirational performance in the centre of defence last night, said: "This gives us a massive platform and something to build on. The pressure is on the players to carry it on now, and not to sit back and let the results slide again. You can't make excuses when you're in a position like this because the play-offs are there for the taking.

"I believed we could come to Doncaster and do a job, and a lot of the players felt that it was a bit of a make-or-break match. It was built up as a big game, and we felt we'd do it.

"These are three massive points, and the result will make a lot of teams sit up and take notice of us again."

Huntington stepped into McAllister's backline to replace the injured Rui Marques and make his first start for two months, but his assured display helped to repel a Doncaster side who are in strong contention for automatic promotion but were guilty of wasting a series of chances last night.

Huntington was among the Leeds players beaten 1-0 by Rovers at Elland Road in January, and the former Newcastle United apprentice admitted yesterday's performance had been driven by the poor standard of
United's display in the reverse fixture.

"A lot of the players felt we had a point to prove after our last game with Doncaster," he said.
"Personally, I thought we gave them too much respect at Elland Road but when we got in their faces it made all the difference.
"We rode our luck a little bit and we soaked up a lot of pressure. I wouldn't knock Doncaster because they're a good passing side, but we worked hard enough to deserve our win and hopefully there'll be no looking back from here.

"I've had a frustrating time recently because I've been out of the team, but I think I've taken my chance. It's difficult when you're kicking your heels, and I've moaned on and on to my family and friends. I've done my girlfriend's head in. But nights like this are special, and they makes the waiting worthwhile."

Doncaster manager Sean O'Driscoll saw his side dominate long periods of an intense derby, but their failure to finish several clear opportunities came at the cost of their fifth home defeat.

O'Driscoll said: "We could have won by a cricket score but it wasn't to be. The performance was excellent but the finishing was a bit wayward."