O'Leary defends book serialisation | Opta Index

Leeds United registered a Jekyll and Hyde display at Elland Road and allowed Leicester City to steal a point that they must have thought was a mission impossible.

Leeds resembled champions-elect for the best part of an hour and stormed into a two-goal advantage thanks to Australian duo Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka.

But they were made to look like chumps in the last 30 minutes as Leicester twice hit them on the break with well-taken strikes from the superb Brian Deane and James Scowcroft.

David O'Leary will be livid with his sloppy side as three points somehow escaped their grasp and the opportunity to go second in the Premiership fell through their fingers.

Dave Bassett, however, can take pleasure from a second half performance full of the Foxes spirit of old and a psychological shot in the arm that should be the catalyst to their season.

That they travel back to Midlands with any reward will be a mystery to O'Leary. Leeds were simply imperious in the first half and knocked the visitors off their feet.

With Lee Bowyer and Jonathon Woodgate both ordered to stay away from the ground after the climax to their traumatising court case, all eyes were on the football.

And a blistering start saw Viduka force Ian Walker to palm a shot onto the bar in the first minute.

Bakke and Viduka celebrate

He then shielded Ian Harte's pass and set-up Kewell to fire home six minutes later.

Viduka also had a spectacular volley disallowed in the 17th minute. Kewell and Fowler combined brilliantly to allow the skilfull frontman to pounce, but the linesman's flag put a stop to the celebrations.

The combination play between Leeds' attacking triumvirate delighted all at Elland Road. Fowler also impressed as he seemlessly slipped into place on his home debut.

The £11million striker was a menace in the opening period and tested Walker three times. He should have scored in the 28th minute, but his refusal to strike first time allowed Callum Davidson to block.

But Viduka, Fowler and Kewell all fell into the comfort zone and allowed the beleaguered Foxes to bite back - thanks mainly to the workrate and willingness of Deane.

After the former Leeds man was denied by a flying stop from Nigel Martyn, Andy Impey's instinctive flick over his shoulder was hooked clear by Rio Ferdinand at the second attempt.

However, a swift counter-attack led to Gary Kelly turning in a low cross for Viduka to hook home his seventh goal of the season, and all seemed right with Leeds' world again.

But as has so often happened this season, they failed to kill off a team. And from the 79th minute they duly fell asleep to allow the Foxes a precious point in their relegation battle.

Ade Akinbiyi, a 72nd-minute substitute for Impey, played his part by nodding a long ball down the left wing into the path of Davidson, who crossed for Deane to sidefoot home at the far post.

Still Leeds did not heed the warning and so paid the price. A four-man move ended with Scowcroft driving home his second of the season and piling on the agony for O'Leary.

MAN OF THE MATCH: BRIAN DEANE (LEICESTER)
Never accepted that the match was lost. The Foxes may have just found their saviour.

Fowler in the white of Leeds

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Batty, Johnson (Bakke 18), Kewell, Viduka, Fowler.
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Wilcox, Duberry.
Booked: Bakke.

Leicester: Walker, Sinclair, Elliott, Marshall, Davidson, Savage, Oakes, Izzet, Impey (Akinbiyi 72), Scowcroft, Deane.
Subs Not Used: Flowers, Jones, Benjamin, Stewart.
Booked: Savage, Elliott, Marshall.

Att: 38,337
Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).

Opta Index (Match Stats)

Leeds	Team	Leicester City
2	Goals	2
5	Shots On Target (inc Goals)	4
3	Shots Off Target	1
4	Blocked Shots	4
7	Corners	2
6	Fouls	19
4	Offsides	3
1	Yellow Cards	3
0	Red Cards	0