CHAMPIONSHIP promotion jitters have switched from Sheffield United to Leeds United, Watford and Crystal Palace.

While the Blades ended their potentially catastrophic free-fall with a 3-0 victory against Southampton at Bramall Lane, Leeds were held to a goalless draw by mid-table Stoke, while Watford lost at home to Millwall, and Palace went down at Derby.

Leeds have now gone four matches without a win and have failed to score in their last two games

After winning at Palace at the beginning of the month - a result which gave them a chance of automatic promotion - they have managed just three points from their last 12.

Adainst Stoke they failed to produce a shot on target until David Healy's speculative 25-yard effort was saved by Steve Simonsen in the 50th minute.

Manager Kevin Blackwell made a tactical change by switching from the 4-3-3 formation he employed against Crystal Palace to 4-4-2 against Stoke, but there was no improvement and his team are now six points behind second-placed Sheffield United, with Reading, under the captaincy of former York City man Graeme Murty, already promoted.

Just when Leeds did appear to be getting up a head of steam around the hour mark, Blackwell made changes which first saw sub Robbie Blake on the right - then on the left - as United struggled to breakdown an uncompromising Stoke defence in which Leeds old boy Michael Duberry was immense.

The lightweight Liam Miller, for all his neat skills, failed to impose himself fully while Eddie Lewis played too deep on the left flank. When Lewis did belatedly get forward Leeds looked a better bet to score but just as the American appeared to be getting into his stride he was taken off.

Rob Hulse and Healy struggled to find room in attack and Healy made way for the inexperience Jermaine Beckford.

Blackwell confessed: " We had enough possession but Stoke made it difficult for us. I have to say we were not bright enough to unlock their defence. They couldn't get out of their box during the first half and we saw a lot of the ball in the second half, too, but that means nothing if you don't create chances.

"We were not assertive enough in the final third of the pitch for the second successive game. Sometimes you need the ball to break your way and it didn't happen for us."

Blackwell added: "I have four or five remarkably creative players and I am asking them to step up to the plate. I know we are a good side. It is up to me and the players to make sure we don't run out of steam at the business end of the season."

Leeds match facts

Coca-Cola Championship

Leeds United 0, Stoke City 0

(at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Miller, Douglas (Blake 68), Derry, Lewis (Griffiths 74), Hulse, Healy (Beckford 63) Subs (not used): Bennett, Kilgallon. Cautions: Gregan, Butler.

Stoke City: Simonsen, Haefkens, Duberry, Hull, Buxton, Junior (Brammer 61), Russell, Paterson, Gallagher (Sweeney 74), Sidibe, Bangoura (Sigurdsson HT). Subs (not used): de Goey, Broomes. Caution: Russell

Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire).

Attendance: 21,452

Updated: 10:47 Monday, March 27, 2006