CRYSTAL PALACE 1 (Martin 6), UNITED 1 (Snodgrass 62)

Palace: Speroni, Wright, Parr, McCarthy, Gardner.Ambrose, Dikagcoi, Scannell, Easter (Murray 83), Martin (Zaha 71), Dumbuya (McShane 67). Subs: Price, Jedinak.

United: Lonergan, Thompson, Lees, O'Dea, White (Snodgrass 56), Clayton, Pugh, Brown, Townsend, McCormack, Becchio (Forssell 79). Subs: M Taylor, Bruce, Nunez.

Referee: D Coote

Booked: Scannell (Palace)

Sent-off: Scannell (Palace)

Att: 17,796 (4004 Leeds)

United manager Simon Grayson recalled Ross McCormack and Michael Brown to his starting line-up and also welcomed Robert Snodgrass back to the substitutes bench for the clash with Crystal Palace.

Andy Lonergan was again the United captain and he was called upon inside the first two minutes to save from Chris Martin after Jonathan Parr crossed from the Palace left. From the resultant corner, he also saved from Jermaine Easter.

But it was 1-0 in the sixth minute when Chris Martin latched on to a ball in the middle of the park and advanced before drilling it low past Lonergan.

United responded by winning a corner which was dealt with and followed that a McCormack free-kick from distance which flew over the top.

But when Palace threatened again, Darren Ambrose cut in from the right and delivered a thundering strike which flew just over the bar.

It wasn't the most entertaining start to a game, particularly from a Leeds perspective, but McCormack almost profited on a defence-splitting pass on 20 minutes when he was denied by the quick thinking of Julian Speroni.

Andros Townsend was next to send a shot wide as United started to see more of the ball and were more constructive in possession.

At the other end, Tom Lees made a good block to deny Sean Scannell with a shot that was turned into the hands of Lonergan.

Danny Pugh came within a whisker on 32 minutes when he drilled a shot just wide after a passage of play that was brought back following a foul on Adam Clayton on the edge of the box. McCormack took the free-kick and his effort was deflected wide by the Palace wall.

And it took two good saves from Speroni to deny Leeds moments later. First he clawed away a Clayton effort then he reacted superbly to smother a Tom Lees shot from close range.

But Palace fashioned out another chance moments before half-time when Martn should have done better than blasting over thye bar with only Lonergan to beat.

For the second game in succession, the opposition were reduced to 10 men, this time it was Scannell who was sent-off for a second yellow card, following a foul on Pugh.

From the free-kick, Luciano Becchio got up well, but Speroni proved equal to his header.

United started the second half positively and Lees had an early header saved by Speroni. At the other end, Darren O'Dea did well to deny Easter, who was looking to force an opening.

Eleven minutes into the half, Grayson made his first change when he introduced Snodgrass in place of Aidy White.

Michael Brown won successive free-kicks, following clashes with Martin, but Leeds were unable to make headway, Clayton having a shot blocked from the second set-play.

United were back on level terms on 63 minutes though when McCormack fed Snodgrass, and the Scot swept the ball home to make it 1-1.

Moments later, Townsend whipped in a powerful cross from the Leeds left which Palace had to clear, and United were starting to make all the running.

Snodgrass threatened again on 75 minutes after Leeds won the ball in midfield, but his left foot strike was over the bar. Pugh was next to try his luck with a shot from distance which flew just wide.

Grayson replaced Becchio with Mikael Forssell for the final 10 minutes as United looked to win the game, but it was Palace substitute Wilfred Zaha who almost made an impact as he weaved his way through the defence before delivering a poor final ball.

Both sides were looking to win the game. United were  enjoying the better pressure going into the final moments while Palace looked to attack on the counter.

Speroni made another good save to deny Forssell as Leeds battled gamely into stoppage time, chasing the winning goal.

United applied all the presure and Palace threw everyone behind the ball, but there was to be no way through for Leeds during those final moments.