Leeds United's hopes of a playoff charge have been dented by Huddersfield Town after they claimed all three points in this afternoon's Yorkshire derby at Elland Road.

© PA Photos

Neil Warnock's side pressed the action early on and forced Alex Smithies to make a good save from El Hadji Diouf after 10 minutes.

Luke Varney also hit the bar with a header before firing over, but Huddersfield grew in confidence soon after and came into a fiercely-contested match.

© PA Photos

Habib Habibou, Paul Dixon, Varney and Rudolph Austin were all booked as both sides showed commitment in a tight Yorkshire derby.

Huddersfield countered on 22 minutes and went agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock as James Vaughan's header crashed off the crossbar.

Stephen Warnock sent successive free kicks wide as Leeds finished the half on top without finding the crucial breakthrough.

In first-half stoppage time Danny Ward came within inches of handing Huddersfield the lead but was denied by a save at full stretch from Paddy Kenny.

Mark Robins's side took a surprise lead early in the second half when Neil Danns turned home from close range after Leeds failed to clear their lines.

Warnock sent on Aidy White and Ryan Hall soon after and his gamble paid off on 60 minutes when White's faint touch proved enough to beat Smithies at the far post.

Austin then struck the bar before Jermaine Beckford threatened on the counter for the visitors against his old club.

Huddersfield got the winner on the counter five minutes from time when Danns and Jack Hunt combined to find Vaughan, who made no mistake to hand the visitors all three points.