Beckford the hero again for last-gasp Leeds

A stoppage time penalty from Jermaine Beckford earned League One Leeds United a 2-2 draw at Premier League Tottenham Hotspur and an Elland Road replay.

Roman Pavlyuchenko thought he had won it for the home side with a rare goal with 15 minutes remaining.

But Leeds, who had famously won at Manchester United in the third round through a Beckford goal, were not to be denied.

Peter Crouch had given Tottenham a first-half lead but that did not last long into the second period.

Beckford took advantage of a goal-mouth scramble to enhance his burgeoning reputation and set the tie up for an enthralling finish.

Tottenham made all the early running and Leeds had goalkeeper Caspar Ankergren to thank that they did not concede.

The Dane tipped a Jermain Defoe lob over before making a fine parry to deny Niko Kranjcar, the Croat.

Ankergren then made a penalty save to deny Defoe in the eighth minute after ex-Leeds man Danny Rose, making his full debut for the home side, was tripped by Michael Doyle.

The goalkeeper dived to his left to palm the ball round for a corner.

Ankergren made subsequent saves to deny Sebastien Bassong, Gareth Bale and Kranjcar again, with Leeds defender Patrick Kisnorbo making a vital block to stop Defoe pouncing on a rebound.

A decision went Leeds’ way when referee Alan Wiley, who was a long way behind play, ruled that last man Jason Crowe had not fouled Defoe as the striker raced into the box.

The League One side weathered that storm and began to cause the Premier League side problems.

Robert Snodgrass forced a diving save from Heurelho Gomes, the home side’s Brazilian goalkeeper, before Beckford twice came close.

He should have done better with the first, firing across goal and wide following an error from Michael Dawson.

But his next effort was on target and Gomes did well to save.

Indeed, Leeds were on top when Crouch broke the deadlock three minutes before half-time.

Kranjcar fired in another shot that Ankergren blocked and the England striker found himself perfectly placed to despatch the rebound first time.

Jermaine Jenas could have made it 2-0 before the break but, having carved out a chance with quick feet in the box, blazed over.

Beckford made the home side regret that miss with a 52nd-minute equaliser.

The home side failed to deal with a Snodgrass corner and the ball broke to the striker right in front of goal and although his connection was not the best Gomes was nonetheless beaten.

The lower league side sensed an upset was on the cards but were denied after Tottenham made a double substitution with 20 minutes remaining.

On came former Leeds man Robbie Keane and Pavlyuchenko for Crouch and Kranjcar and it was the Russian who put Tottenham ahead in the 76th minute.

Defoe was the man who created the opportunity with a well-placed pass and the substitute slipped the ball past Ankergren calmly for a rare goal.

Leeds did not give up and Beckford thrashed the ball past Gomes from the penalty spot in stoppage time after Michael Dawson had brought him down.