THINGS are finally looking up at Leeds United – literally.

Manager Neil Redfearn wants his players to set their sights on teams above them in the Championship table after beating struggling Millwall 1-0 at Elland Road on Saturday.

A third win in four league games shot the Whites up to 12th spot, eight points clear of Ian Holloway’s side who occupy the third relegation place.

Leeds should have won by a bigger margin but they missed a stack of clear-cut chances and had to rely on a deflected free-kick for an important victory.

The winning strike came from the left boot of Alex Mowatt, a day after he celebrated his 20th birthday.

Redfearn said: “In my view Alex was our best player and his free-kick was excellent. He and Charlie Taylor worked so well together on the left.

“They and our other young players are developing all the time. They are so talented and at that age have the legs to run.”

Redfearn also backed misfiring striker Steve Morison to soon hit the goal trail.

“Steve will score. I genuinely believe that. I thought he was outstanding.

“He led the line well and worked so hard,” said the Leeds boss whose side have improved since Morison took on the lone striker’s role.

The Lions shaped up better after the introduction of Ricardo Fuller on the hour mark but their chance of snaffling a point vanished when former York City man Martyn Woolford blazed over after an error by Guiseppe Bellusci.

Anything less than a Leeds victory would have been criminal.

With Luke Murphy shining again in midfield, United opened up Millwall on several occasions but their failure to convert their chances into goals could have been costly.

Leeds can ill-afford to be so careless in front of goal in Saturday’s televised lunchtime clash at joint leaders Middlesbrough who boast the meanest defence in the division.

Leeds United: Silvestri, Wootton, Bamba, Bellusci, C Taylor, Austin (Antenucci 69), Cook, Murphy, Mowatt, Byram, Morison. Subs (not used): S Taylor, Sharp, Adyran, Cani, Beradi, Sloth. Cautions: Austin, Cook, Mowatt.

Millwall: Forde, Cummings, Dunne, Hooiveld, Harding, Martin, Williams, Martinez (Upson 60), Woolford, Fabbrini (Fuller 60), Maierhofer (Gregory HT). Subs (not used): Beevers, O’Brien, Adbou, Archer. Cautions: Maierhofer, Martinez.

Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).

Attendance: 24,000.