JERMAINE BECKFORD’S double eased Leeds to a 2-0 win over fourth-placed Colchester at Elland Road as Simon Grayson’s men took a break from their FA Cup heroics to keep the pressure on League I leaders Norwich.

Michael Doyle and Robert Snodgrass both came close for the home side before Beckford struck the opener from the penalty spot in the 38th minute after Matt Heath fouled Luciano Becchio.

Beckford bundled home a messy second in the 55th minute, and that proved enough to see off the visitors and keep Leeds, who host Tottenham in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday, three points off the Canaries but with two games in hand.

The leaders survived an early scare to claim a 2-1 home win over Hartlepool.

Neil Austin stunned the home fans when he put the visitors in front in the 26th minute, but they only had to wait a minute before Cody McDonald steered home the equaliser.

Michael Rose put Norwich ahead in the 32nd minute and although they were never able to kill off their plucky opponents completely, it proved enough to earn them a club record 11th straight home league win.

Still smarting from their midweek home loss to Leyton Orient, Charlton must have feared the same thing was happening again when Sam Sodje’s 50th-minute own goal gave Tranmere the lead at The Valley.

Nicky Bailey equalised in the 57th minute to avoid another defeat but a point was not really enough for the third-placed Addicks, who lost more valuable ground on the top two.

Fifth-placed Swindon also tossed away their hopes of moving up the table despite a lightning start at Southend.

Billy Paynter gave the visitors a first-minute lead and Charlie Austin hit his 10th goal in 11 games to open up a 2-0 advantage with 10 minutes on the clock.

But Southend fought back at the death with Scott Spencer reducing the deficit in the 85th minute and debutant Pat Baldwin then equalising.

Millwall stayed above Town in the play-off positions by edging a 1-0 win over Brighton, whose appalling home form continued when Steve Morison snatched the only goal of the game in the 49th minute.

Southampton continued to climb the table with a 2-0 home win over rock-bottom Stockport, Ricky Lambert opening the scoring after 63 minutes and Papa Waigo securing Saints’ seventh successive home win six minutes later.

MK Dons looked set to continue their play-off push after Sam Baldock gave them a 50th-minute led at home to Exeter. But Barry Corr’s equaliser in the last minute helped ease the Grecians’ relegation worries.

Wycombe gave their survival hopes a huge boost with an exciting 3-2 win at Bristol City with Stuart Beavon striking a dramatic 80th-minute winner.

Matt Harrold put the visitors ahead from the spot on 15 minutes but a quick double from Chris Lines just before the break had the home side back in control.

But another penalty in the 48th minute, this time converted by Alex Revell, set up the grandstand finish and Beavon’s strike which moved Wanderers three points off safety.

Leyton Orient battled back from 2-0 down to claim a point at Carlisle, with a second-half strike by Matt Jarvis and an own goal by Danny Livesey cancelling out first-half efforts from Joe Anyinsah and Ian Harte.