That was, however, where the similarities with last month's four-goal romp against Crystal Palace ended with it taking a stoppage-time winner from Andy Robinson to finally see off gutsy Hartlepool United.

An enthralling tie seemed to be heading for extra time when the ball fell to the game's outstanding performer on the right wing, the former Swansea City man breaking the North East side's hearts with a shot that initially looked very much like a cross only to fly beyond Arran Lee-Barrett in the visitors' goal.

It was enough to ensure Leeds are this morning looking forward to a fourth-round draw for the first time since the days when David O'Leary's side led the Premier League.

And should they go on to land a lucrative money-spinning glamour tie in the next stage then Casper Ankergren will deserve special thanks at Elland Road because it was only his agility and awareness in the closing stages of the first half that prevented Hartlepool building what would have surely been an unassailable lead.

With Danny Wilson's men leading 2-1 thanks to strikes by Andy Monkhouse and Joel Porter either side of Robert Snodgrass's 14th-minute reply, the United goalkeeper pulled off two wonderful reflex saves to deny both Porter and Antony Sweeter.

Not only that, he also showed great awareness to race from his line and pip Ritchie Jones to a through ball after the Leeds backline had been slow to react to the danger.

In the end, Ankergren's heroics proved crucial with United hitting back in fine style after the break to progress.

It took the hosts 12 minutes of the second half to cancel out Hartlepool's advantage for a second time, Robinson and David Prutton combining well to pick out Jermaine Beckford eight yards from goal.

League One's top scorer then unleashed a fierce shot that took a deflection en route to Lee-Barrett blocking the ball away on the line only for Enoch Showunmi to gleefully smash it into the empty net.

The game was transformed with United pouring forward, Sam Collins having to be at his best to flick the ball away from Beckford as he prepared to shoot for goal on the hour.

Luciano Becchio, who impresses more and more with every passing game, then picked out his strike partner only for Beckford's control to unusually let him down, then Jonny Howson had a shot that was tipped over by Lee-Barnett.

The breakthrough finally came just seconds after the fourth official had indicated there would be three minutes of stoppage time after Howson had shown great tenacity to retain possession in the centre of midfield. He, in turn, spread the play to Robinson on the right where the former Swansea midfielder unleashed a fierce cross-cum-shot that flew over the despairing hand of the Hartlepool goalkeeper and into thethe net.

It ensured there would be a happy ending for the home fans in a 14,599 crowd to a night that had started in the worst possible fashion courtesy of Andy Monkhouse's firm second-minute header that had given Ankergren no chance.

The home side did draw level 12 minutes later when Snodgrass dispossessed Sam Collins 25 yards from goal before intelligently using Enoch Showunmi as a decoy and drilling a lot shot into the corner of the net.

It proved only a temporary respite, however, with Hartlepool going ahead for a second time on 34 minutes courtesy of a sublime finish from Porter, the frontman curling an exquisite shot beyond Ankergren.

At that stage, it seemed United's hopes of reaching the fourth round for the first time since the 2001-02 season would end in disappointment only for midfielder Robinson to cap an impressive second-half display with his late, late winner.

Leeds United: Ankergren; Hughes, Michalik, Huntington, Parker; Kilkenny, Prutton (Delph 83), Howson, Robinson; Showunmi (Becchio 70), Snodgrass (Beckford 36). Unused substitutes: Lucas, Webb, White, Elliott.

Hartlepool United: Lee-Barrett; McCunnie, Nelson, Collins, Humphreys; Porter, Liddle Mackay 90), Jones, Monkhouse (Robson 90), Brown, Sweeney (Barker 69); Porter. Unused substitutes: Budtz, Clark, Power, Rowell.

Referee: A Penn (West Midlands).