If Beckford's wish is granted and he is officially credited with the opening goal against hard-grafting Bristol Rovers, his impressive tally will read seven from six matches.

There was no disputing his second goal – expertly chipped into the net for the 78th-minute equaliser. Yet McAllister rightly wants to see Beckford add more to his game than supremely gifted finishing.

The Leeds manager said:
"As much as we want Jermaine to get more involved in the game, it only takes a split second for him to produce a wee bit of magic. His finishing was top drawer.

"I am trying to emphasise to him where he can go with his game and what he can achieve. Sometimes he can drift a little bit, but we are working with him and trying to improve certain aspects of his game.

"We know if we can get any decent ball through to him – one on one or across the face of the goal – he is capable of all sorts of different finishes."

Beckford's powerful shot in the fifth minute was deflected into the net off defender Steve Elliott's hand and it was Elliott's own-goal that handed Leeds their win against Rovers at Elland Road last season.

Rovers, 6-1 victors against Hereford United a week earlier, recovered from their early shock, strikers Ricky Lambert and Darryl Duffy punishing defensive lapses to send their side in at the break with an unlikely 2-1 advantage.

Leeds enjoyed overwhelming second-half possession but Rovers defended in depth and it was left to Beckford to latch on to a through pass from substitute Enoch Showunmi and finish with aplomb to save a point.

Leeds United: Lucas; Richardson, Michalik, Huntington, Johnson (Showunmi 66); A Hughes (Howson 66), Kilkenny, Douglas, Delph; Beckford, Becchio (Snodgrass 75). Unused substitutes: Ankergren, Prutton.

Bristol Rovers: Phillips; Pipe, Anthony, Elliott, Lescott; Lines, Disley, Campbell, J Hughes (Rigg 88); Lambert (Hinton 81), Duffy (Williams 69). Unused substitutes: Green, Hunt.

Referee: Kevin Wright (Cambs).

Man of the match: Ricky Lambert.