Norwich City maintained their four point lead at the top of League One last night when second-placed Leeds suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat at the hands of mid-table Walsall. Leeds' poor run of form continued as defender Clayton McDonald netted an 81st-minute winner for the visitors.

Norwich City maintained their four point lead at the top of League One last night when second-placed Leeds suffered a shock 2-1 home defeat at the hands of mid-table Walsall.

Leeds' poor run of form continued as defender Clayton McDonald netted an 81st-minute winner for the visitors.

After a goalless first half Walsall took the lead in the first minute of the second period through Dwayne Mattis, only for on-loan GaryMcSheffrey to quickly level the scores.

But Walsall had the final say to leave Leeds still playing catch up, with only one game in hand on the Canaries.

Since their famous FA Cup win at Manchester United Leeds have now taken just six points from a possible 21, with three defeats, three draws and only one win.

Colchester took advantage of the slip to move within three points of Leeds - and seven of Norwich - with a hard-fought 1-0 win at Yeovil.Striker Kayode Odejayi scored the all important goal on 38 minutes.

Meanwhile Charlton boss Phil Parkinson has warned Norwich and Leeds not to rule the Addicks out of the automatic promotion race.

Parkinson remains upbeat ahead of Yeovil's weekend visit to The Valley despite watching his side stretch their winless run to five matches with a below par 2-1 defeat at Bristol Rovers on Monday.

Charlton's reverse left Parkinson's side nine points adrift of City with a clutch of play-off contenders ready to pounce on more slip- ups.

“We've said to be successful this season we are going to need to have a strong mentality and a winning mentality,” he said. “We've got some strong characters in the team. When you are standing on the side and think of the characters we've got, then you think you have always got a chance.”

Parkinson admitted Charlton must defend better to stand any chance of staging a late season push for the top two after Rovers cashed in from a corner and hopeful punt forward at the Memorial.

“We gave Bristol Rovers two goals and we're disappointed with our defending,” he said. “Defeats are never a good thing but we need to respond to this and we'll work hard to do that against Yeovil.”

Parkinson did receive some positive injury news yesterday with confirmation defender Grant Basey had not suffered a broken leg after being stretchered off seconds into the game against Rovers.

The Charlton boss was left fuming home midfielder Dominic Blizzard was only yellow carded for the challenge but Addicks physio Steve Allen revealed Basey escaped with ankle ligament damage.

“We can't put a timescale on the injury, but it could have been a lot worse considering the seriousness of the tackle,” he said.