UNITED 1 (Carole 55), LEYTON ORIENT 1 (Thornton 9)
United: Ankergren, Richardson, Heath, Marques, Clapham (De Vries 77), Prutton (Da Costa 77), Hughes, Thompson (Westlake 58), Carole, Beckford, Kandol. Subs: Huntington, Andrews.
Leyton O: Nelson, Purches, Daniels, Thelwell, Mkandawire, Terry, Chambers (Ibehre 67), Gray, Thornton, Boyd, Demetriou. Subs: Corden, Saah, Melligan, Palmer.
Referee: Nigel Miller
Booked: Heath (United)
Sent-off: Thornton 32 (Orient)
Att: 29,177
You can see Dennis Wise's reaction only on LUTV...
Dennis Wise welcomed skipper Alan Thompson back to the fray in the league, in place of Jonathan Douglas, who is on international duty, as United looked to narrow the gap further in League One.
The boss had predicted an open contest, and the early exchanges were fast and frenetic. Wise had also expressed his concerns about the refereeing appointment of Nigel Miller, following events at Southend last season, and the visitors were awarded two free-kicks in the opening 10 minutes.
It was from the second of those that Sean Thornton curled the ball in from the left hand side - his shot evaded everyone including United goalkeeper Casper Ankergren - and gave Leyton Orient the lead.
It was the first time since the opening day of the season that United had trailed in a league game and was only the second goal conceded in the league since August.
Both Jermaine Beckford and Tresor Kandol had shots on goal as a rattled Leeds, backed by a partisan Elland Road crowd, looked to get back on level terms quickly.
Beckford almost pulled one back on 15 minutes, following a lovely ball from Seb Carole, but after rounding the goalkeeper he was unable to get his shot on target. The striker was also adjudged to have pushed an Orient defender on his way through.
But it was the visitors who came within a whisker of snatching a second goal in the 25th minute when Jason Demetriou curled a shot in from a similar position to Thornton. This time it hit the inside of the post.
It was certainly an eventful opening half-hour and United skipper Thompson was next to try his luck when he sent a dipping shot over the bar from distance.
The referee was back on centre stage on 32 minutes, though, when Orient were reduced to 10 men after Thornton was handed a straight card following an apparent elbow in Carole's face.
That was the cue for United to take a grip on proceedings as Orient threw men behind the ball. But the visitors defended stoutly in the period leading up to half-time, and Tamika Mkandawire headed a Carole effort off the line as Leeds pushed for an equaliser.
Just three minutes into the second half, Orient goalkeeper Stuart Nelson pulled off a terrific save to palm away a Jamie Clapham effort, following a Kandol knock-down.
The opening exchanges resembled a game of shots-in as United poured forward, and the equaliser came on 55 minutes when Carole picked his spot from just inside the box to curl one home.
Moments later, Wise made an enforced change when Thompson limped out of the action and Ian Westlake was introduced.
United continued to press and Kandol headed over after good work by Clapham on the left. David Prutton also screwed an effort wide when he latched onto an Andrew Hughes ball into the box.
On 62 minutes, Orient goalkeeper Nelson got down well to deny Carole again as United dominated proceedings.
The pressure was intense - Orient had all 10 men in their own half - and Beckford was next to go close when he curled a shot wide.
With 13 minutes remaining, Wise introduced Filipe Da Costa for his first league apperarance, and added Mark De Vries to his front-line as United sought for the winner.
And, within three minutes, United had a chance when Paul Terry was adjudged to have fouled Carole inside the penalty box, and Nigel Miller awarded Leeds a spot-kick. But Kandol's penalty attempt was over the top.
That gave Orient a lift and when they broke quickly, Adam Boyd felt his shot had crossed the line after it crept under Ankregren's body, and moments later Hughes made a decisive block when the visitors had another great chance.
Orient protested about Boyd's attempt, but they continued their late rally and Ankergren made a great save to turn a Charlie Daniels free-kick over the top.
It was a dramatic finish that spoke volumes as both teams made desperate attempts to win the game.
In stoppage time, Jabo Ibehre had a shot deflected wide, but there was to be no late winner, and honours ended even as Orient became the first team to take any points from Elland Road this season.
