FANCIFUL deams of automatic promotion are fading for Leeds United unless they pick up the pace in Coca-Cola League One.

Barring an unexpected return of their 15 deducted points or a big upsurge in form, Dennis Wise's men look more like having to scrap for a play-off place.

The nature of their 1-0 home defeat by an upwardly mobile Doncaster places questions over the new-look United squad's ability to make the top two.

They are now seven points behind leaders Swansea, who will extend that gap to ten if they beat Crewe tomorrow night.

All the sides above fifth-placed Leeds have games in hand over the Whites, whose reshaped midfield were outplayed by their Doncaster counterparts.

Rather than gradually blood his new signings, Wise opted to stick four in against a Rovers side who stretched their unbeaten away run to ten games with some ease.

United's midfield lacked cohesion and width with one-time Rovers target Neil Kilkenny subbed, while Bradley Johnson and Peter Sweeney were anonymous on their home debuts.

Defender Darren Kenton, also making his first Elland Road start as a Leeds player, came off injured.

There was little for the home fans to cheer in the first clash between the sides for 52 years - a match which drew a bigger attendance than the Sheffield derby in the Championship - while the Rovers support had plenty to crow about. Their side were hungrier, sharper, better organised with a great work ethic, and could have won by more than Brian Stock's 21st-minute free-kick.

Forwards Jason Price and Mark McCammon set the tone by pulling wide when Leeds had possession, preventing full-backs Frazer Richardson and Ben Parker from getting forward.

With Leeds producing little, top scorer Jermaine Beckford had to feed off scraps, while Tore Andre Flo was way off the pace.

Kilkenny's booking means he is suspended for Saturday's trip to Luton, where David Prutton may get a recall. After three defeats in their last five games United can't afford another at Kenilworth Road.

Leeds United: Ankergren, Richardson, Kenton (Heath HT), Huntington, Parker, Hughes, Johnson, Kilkenny (Weston 72), Sweeney, Flo (Kandol 54), Beckford.

Subs (not used): Prutton, Thompson.

Doncaster: Sullivan, O'Connor, G Roberts, Lockwood, S Roberts, Green, Stock, Wellens Wilson 83), Coppinger (Hayter 87), McCammon, Price (Mills 81).

Subs (not used): Guy, Woods.

Referee: Steve Tanner (Somerset).

Attendance: 31,402.