LEEDS UNITED 1 (Beckford 30 pen), CARLISLE UNITED 1 (Dobie 75)
United: Ankergren, Bromby (Kilkenny 38), Naylor, Kisnorbo, Hughes, Snodgrass, Doyle, Howson (Prutton 66), Johnson, Beckford, Becchio (Showunmi 84). Subs: Grella, Michalik, Robinson, Fielding.
Carlisle: Pidgeley, Raven, Livesey, Keogh, Harte, Hurst, Kavanagh, Taiwo (Murphy 85), Bridge-Wilkinson (Dobie 70), Anyinsah, Robson. Subs: Collin, Horwood, Rothery, Offiong, Burns.
Referee: R Booth
Att: 19,673
Extended highlights on LUTV from Wednesday evening....
Simon Grayson welcomed back skipper Richard Naylor for his first appearance of the season as United looked to extend the winning league run at Elland Road to 16 games.
Luciano Becchio also returned to the starting line-up as a new dad, after missing the MK Dons victory due to the birth of baby daughter Bianca.
The manager had to re-shuffle his back-five due to injuries with Casper Ankergren replacing Shane Higgs in goal and Leigh Bromby moving from centre-back to right-back in the absence of Jason Crowe.
And it was United who started brightly, Becchio heading over the top inside the first minute. Robert Snodgrass also headed across the face of goal, following a quick passing move instigated by Jermaine Beckford.
There was a short stoppage just 10 minutes into proceedings while Carlisle skipper Danny Livesey received treatment for a knock and United threatened from the re-start when a Bromby free-kick forced the visitors on the back foot.
Under the guidance of former United Academy coach Greg Abbott, Carlisle operated with a packed midfield, with veteran schemer Graham Kavanagh adding experience to the ranks.
The system saw Carlisle play some passing football in the middle, but also allowed them to defend in numbers, Snodgrass shooting wide on 20 minutes from distance as the visitors pulled men back.
Bromby got behind the visitors on 20 minutes, but his cross was weighted just too much for Beckford to meet in the middle.
As the game approached the half-hour stage it was clear that Leeds were going to have to break the red defensive wall, and on 30 minutes Grayson's men got the break their efforts deserved.
Micky Doyle forced his way through the defence and when he went to ground, referee Russell Booth pointed to the spot. Beckford stepped up to the spot-kick and after Lenny Pidgeley guessed right and made the save, the United striker followed up to smash the ball home.
It could have been 2-0 within 30 seconds as Leeds broke quickly from the re-start and Snodgrass saw a tremednous effort come back off the inside of the post.
Carlisle responded immediately, forcing Ankergren into making a save, but as play was brought back for a free-kick on the edge of the box, Carlisle boss Abbott had an altercation with the fourth official and was immediately sent to the stands.
Just as at the weekend, United were forced into making a change in the first half, this time on 38 minutes when an injured Bromby was replaced by Neil Kilkenny. Andrew Hughes moved across to right-back while Bradley Johnson reverted to left-back.
Shortly before half-time, Ankergren was called upon to punch clear an inswinging free-kick from Kavanagh after Kilkenny was adjudged to have committed a foul, but Leeds responded quickly by winning a corner at the other end.
United started the second half on the front foot, Johnson trying his luck with a shot from distance which only just went over the top, but Carlisle also adopted a positive approach and the visitors enjoyed a spell of pressure, Ankergren again punching clear.
At the other end, Howson smashed an effort just wide, following good work by Snodgrass, as Leeds looked for a second goal. And that proved to be Howson's last real taste of the action with David Prutton replacing him on the right side of midfield after 66 minutes.
Carlisle continued to be sprightly, though, and the visitors were making Leeds work to maintain the advantage, albeit without creating any real chances.
The arrival of Scott Dobie as an additional striker saw Carlisle continue to push, and the substitute levelled matters 15 minutes from time when he headed a corner past Ankergren.
United responded by looking to attack the visitors, but while Leeds exploited Carlisle time and again down the left, the final ball just wasn't quite there.
Substitute Prutton was unlucky with 11 minutes to go when the ball broke to him in the box, but Pidgeley was able to make the save.
And Pidgeley and Ian Harte both had to combine to clear the danger following a Snodgrass free-kick, which was whipped into the box at pace.
With just over six minutes left on the clock, Grayson turned to Enoch Showunmi, bringing the striker on in place of Becchio, and within 30 seconds Carlisle brought on big defender Peter Murphy for midfielder Taiwo.
But it was defender Livesey who was called upon to clear a Johnson cross when Leeds attacked again, and the skipper also blocked a Johnson header.
Moments later, after Carlisle should have made more of a quick break, Livesey was again called upon to clear a Beckford cross. From the resultant corner, Dobie headed over his own bar to avert the danger.
The fourth official held up the board for a minimum of three minutes stoppage time, but a delay ensued as Snodgrass received treatment before limping out of the action with injury, leaving United with 10 men for the final moments.
Still Grayson's men pushed, Beckford latching onto a Showunmi flick-on before firing over the top, and that proved to be the final half-chance for Leeds as the final whistle sounded.
The point may have ended the winning run at home, but it was still enough for Leeds to extend the advantage at the top with second-place Charlton losing at Colchester.
