UNITED 3 (Gradel 7, Howson 10, Johnson 62), PORTSMOUTH 3 (Nugent 33, Hughes 63, O'Brien og 90+2)

United: Schmeichel, Connolly, O'Brien, Collins, McCartney, Snodgrass, Johnson, Howson, Gradel (Sam 81), Paynter (Becchio 65), McCormack. Subs: Higgs, Bruce, Kilkenny, Hughes, Somma.

Portsmouth: Ashdown, Rocha (Sonko 61), Halford, Mokoena, Dickinson, Ward (Kanu 59), Hughes, Utaka (Cifcti 88), Mullins, Kitson, Nugent  Subs: Flahavan, Hriedarsson.

Referee: D Webb

Booked: McCartney, Schmeichel (United), Mokoena, Kitson (Portsmouth)

Att: 31,556

Extended highlights plus reaction...

United manager Simon Grayson made two changes to his starting line-up with the Portsmouth game coming just 48 hours after the Boxing Day draw at Leicester.

Billy Paynter stepped in for Luciano Becchio and Ross McCormack came in for Neil Kilkenny with both players making their full debuts.

Max Gradel had come up trumps in the game at Leicester with an early goal two days previous, and he did the same again against Portsmouth.

The visitors had a half-chance at the Kop end, but Leeds broke quickly and when a cross was deflected into the box, Paynter made a nuisance of himself, getting an important touch, and Gradel was on hand to score from close range.

Moments later that advantage was doubled. Once again, Leeds went from one end to the other in one flowing move. McCormack did well on the left flank, Rob Snodgrass flicked on his cross, and Jonny Howson skipped past Carl Dickinson and Aaron Mokoena to work an opening before tucking the ball home. 

United were playing some good stuff, and Snodgrass went close to adding a third with an audacious strike from distance which went over the bar. The Scot was also involved when a great touch from McCormack gave Paynter a sight of goal, but his shot was over the top.

Portsmouth had offered little, but after Neill Collins made an important headed clearance for a corner, Dave Kitson fired wide from the resultant set-piece.

But United were a real threat with the ball and McCormack, playing in the same role that Howson has flourished in during recent weeks, tested Jamie Ashdown on the half-hour with a stinging strike from distance.

Within moments, McCormack made an important clearance at the other end, and Andy O'Brien was also called upon to clear after a Jon Utaka cross caused problems in the box.

Portsmouth were looking good going forward, and it was 2-1 on 33 minutes when Richard Hughes came from midfield and played in David Nugent who converted.

Moments before the break, the two-goal cushion was almost restored. Snodgrass cut in from the right and he bent in a shot which drifted narrowly wide of the upright.

Despite United holding the advantage at the start of the second period, the game was still finely poised with the visitors looking a useful outfit with the ball.

The opening 15 minutes of the second half brought little in the way of chances, but it wasn't for the lack of trying from either side.

But it was 3-1 to Leeds shortly after the hour, courtesy of a great finish from Bradley Johnson. A corner was headed clear b y the Pompey defence and Johnson volleyed home.

The lead lasted barely minute with Portsmouth scoring straight from the re-start when Kanu cut the ball back to Hughes, whose shot took a big deflection to beat Kasper Schmeichel.

The goal flurry looked like it was continuing on 67 minutes when McCormack stabbed the ball home after Portsmouth failed to clear a corner, but the effort was disallowed due to a foul on Ashdown.

With 18 minutes remaining, McCormack felt he had good claims for a penalty after he appeared to take a tumble under pressure from Ibrahima Sonko, but referee David Webb waved play on.

As the game headed into the final 10 minutes, Grayson brought on Lloyd Sam in place of Gradel he looked to secure the game.

The opportunity for a fourth came on 85 minutes when Snodgrass weaved his way into the box, and lifted his shot over the bar.

At the other end, Schmeichel was called upon to save well from Hughes, as both sides looked to press at every opportunity.

There was a heart in the mouth moment for United as stoppage time loomed, but Schmeichel reacted well to clear an under-hit back-pass from Johnson.

Five minutes of stoppage time added to the drama of the contest, and in the second of those Portsmouth grabbed an equaliser. Pompey sub Ciftci came from deep, but his cross was met by a misunderstanding involving Schmeichel and O'Brien, and the Leeds defender got the decisive touch.

The game stretched into 97 minutes, but there was to be no winner for United as honours ended even.