FOREST GREEN ROVERS 2 LEEDS UNITED 0

Manager Jim Harvey was missing as Forest Green Rovers beat League One title favourites Leeds United last night.

Harvey's absence in the dugout fuelled rumours that he had been sacked before the game – ending a reign of nearly three years at The New Lawn.

He missed out on a famous night for Rovers, who saw off the side from two divisions above them on a soggy Nailsworth night.

Although Leeds, the 2001 Champions League semi-finalists, also had a team on duty at Newcastle United on the same evening – leaving a young side to visit The New Lawn with only two first team regulars involved.

Leeds made the first telling attack when an early strike from 20 yards saw Rovers keeper Terry Burton collect at the second attempt after five minutes.

The home side's Steve Davies responded with a weak shot on the left after spinning away from his marker on 10 minutes which Leeds goalkeeper Ryan Jones gathered at his near post.

Conal Platt then chased down a seemingly lost cause in the corner with the ball holding up on the wet turf after 22 minutes.

He turned inside the defender and crossed with Jones parrying to Jon Else who controlled on his knee before skying over from eight yards.

Ben Pugh stung Jones' hands 10 minutes before half-time when his side-footed shot from 20 yards squirmed onto the top of the bar.

From the resulting corner Rovers took the lead a minute later.

Else took over set-piece duties from Platt and swung one to the back post which was sent back over to the other side by Pugh for Steve Davies to slot home.

Out of nothing Leeds striker David Somma struck the Rovers' bar two minutes before the break from 20 yards with Burton stranded.

Rovers had the best early chance of the second half with two minutes gone when Davies spun and shot leaving the keeper to only parry.

Substitute and new number nine Ross Stearn came hurtling in for the follow up with an open goal at his mercy but fired wide.

Both teams then had a series of good half chances to score throughout the second half but nothing which would trouble either goalkeepers.

Davies smashed over on 53 minutes before Somma tested Burton at the other end almost immediately.

Burton then pushed Tom Deane's free-kick wide on 56 minutes before Davies had a good chance to double the lead four minutes later but he put it wide.

With Leeds threatening to get back into the game, Rovers then got the second goal they desperately needed to confirm the victory with eight minutes remaining.

A corner on the right hand side was fired over low and centre back Mark Preece smashed it into the far bottom corner.

FOREST GREEN: T Burton, L Ayres, M Preece, P Stonehouse, D Brown, C Platt, J Else, B Pugh, J Baldwin, S Davies, M Fowler. Subs: P Casey, R Stearn, A Mann, T Pass, C Henry.

LEEDS UNITED: R Jones, L Darville, A Sheehan, J Falkingham, A Milne, P Huntington, T Deane, W Hatfield, D Somma, T Elliot, J McCann. Subs: M Whitwell, A Cairns, A Watson, S Payne, J Baxendale, J Booker, L Turner, N Turner.