CARDIFF 1 (Mason 42), UNITED 1 (Becchio 74)

Cardiff: Marshall, Taylor, McNaughton (Blake 90), Turner, Hudson, Lawrence, Whittingham, Gunnarsson, McPhail (Kiss 64), Miller (Earnshaw 90), Mason.  Subs: Heaton, Ralls.

United: Lonergan, Lees, Bruce, Bromby (Connolly 33), Robinson, Pugh, Snodgrass, Clayton (Nunez 60), Thompson, McCormack (Webber 59), Becchio. Subs, Forssell, Taylor.

Referee: M Halsey

Att 25,109 (1453 Leeds)

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United boss Neil Warnock again tinkered with his starting line-up with Darren O'Dea suspended, Billy Paynter injured, and Danny Webber being rested. Returning to the starting line-up came Alex Bruce, Luciano Becchio, and Zac Thompson was handed another opportunity to impress after his red card at Reading.

The game had more significance for the home side who still needed to secure their place in the Play-Offs and it was Liam Lawrence who had the first shot of the match when he sent a low effort wide of Andy Lonergan's upright.

But the hosts were on the back foot when Robert Snodgrass showed some trickery to weave his way down the right and Ross MCormack headed the resultant corner kick wide.

When the hosts came forward, Joe Mason was foiled with a header and Kenny Miller had a shot blocked. Mason also sent an effort wide after a good ball in from Peter Whittingham.

But Cardiff keeper David Marshall was called upon before the quarter-hour mark to punch clear a free-kick from McCormack.

As the game reached the half-hour mark, there was a scare when Leigh Bromby appeared to slip unchallenged and needed immediate medical attention that saw a stretcher brought on.

Paul Connolly replaced Bromby and the substitute was involved immediately when Cardiff came forward again and Tom Lees made a terrific headed clearance to avert the danger after a Whittingham cross.

But the home side got their noses in front three minutes before the break when Mason latched on to a long ball over the top and lifted the ball past the advancing Lonergan to make it 1-0.

Six minutes of stoppage time were added and it would have been 2-0 to the hosts, but Lonergan made a terrific block to deny Miller what looked a certain goal.

United started the second half on the front foot, and it took some good defending to prevent McCormack from meeting a Snodgrass cross inside the opening couple of minutes. Luciano Becchio also headed over at the start of the second period.

It was a positive start by Leeds and Connolly had another cross cleared as Leeds looked to attack, but the hosts were always a threat and Mark Hudson headed over the bar when presented with a decent chance.

As the game headed into the final half-hour, Warnock took the chance to introduce Webber and Ramon Nunez to the action.

But it was the quick reactions of Lonergan which kept the score at 1-0 when he made a terrific save to deny Andrew Taylor. When Leeds came forward, Danny Pugh sent a shot from distance just wide while Nunez had an effort blocked.

But Leeds were level on 74 minutes when a cross came in from the right and Becchio's deft header glanced the ball into the far corner. The goal was no less than the magnificent 1462 travelling supporters deserved and was credit to United for a determined second half effort.

The equaliser knocked the wind out of Cardiff's sails and as the clock ticked down the game was finely poised. The home side did look to press, but they couldn't find the final delivery to seriously test Leeds.