Fleetwood 2 Leeds United 2 (4-5 on pens): Leeds creep through to spare county's blushes

Garry Monk’s men needed penalties to see off League One Fleetwood Town after a dramatic tie that had featured more twists and turns than the Big Dipper a few miles down the coast in Blackpool.

Leeds looked to be joining the seven White Rose clubs who had crashed out the previous night only for Marcus Antonsson to spare the Championship side’s blushes with a last minute equaliser.

That sent the tie into extra-time and when Chris Wood coolly converted an early penalty that seemd to be that. Fleetwood, though, had other ideas and Ashley Hunter ensured penalties would be needed to separate the two sides with a late leveller.

Nine clinical spot-kicks followed before Robert Green emerged as United’s hero with a save low to his left that kept out Eggert Jonsson’s drilled effort.

After the huge disappointment of Sunday’s defeat at Queens Park Rangers, Leeds needed this win and there was no hiding the sense of relief as players and supporters celebrated at the end.

History may have already been set the previous night by seven Yorkshire clubs crashing out, beating the previous ‘best’ of five to fall at the first hurdle.

But had Leeds joined that far from magnificent seven then, by the very nature of a club that is never far from the headlines, the danger was the reaction could have been typically ‘OTT’.

That much was evident from the fractious atmosphere among the 1,325 travelling fans during a first half that saw Fleetwood dominate after taking an early lead through Aaron Holloway.

As one group chanted for Massimo Cellino to go, others responded angrily with the demand they “support the team, or f*** off home”.

That supporters should be at each other’s throats just two games into the season suggested that the problems of last season have far from gone away.

Still, all’s well that ends well and United can now look forward to joining Premier League duo Middlesbrough and Hull City by flying the flag for Yorkshire in the second round.

The incessant drizzle that began three or so hours before kick-off on the Lancashire coast made the choice of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Thunder only happens when it’s raining’ as the players ran out an apt one.

Mind, considering the travails Yorkshire football had suffered in this competition the previous night, the DJ must have been tempted to give Queen’s ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ an airing.

Certainly, Fleetwood, judging by their efforts in the opening half-hour, clearly fancied their chances of completing the set of Yorkshire KOs against Leeds.

Quicker to the ball throughout those opening 30 minutes, Uwe Rosler’s men could have gone ahead inside 51 seconds but former Bradford City striker Devante Cole fired just wide with just Green to beat following a miscued header by Liam Cooper.

It was a let-off for Leeds but not one that was heeded, as in the 11th minute the hosts took the lead. As with Cole’s early chance, United were all at sea at the back as David Ball’s cross was met by Amari’i Bell after his initial corner had been only returned to the midfielder on the right wing.

Lewie Coyle and a couple of team-mates were then barged out of the way as the ball looped up off Bell’s head and Aaron Holloway pounced to fire into the net.

For the next 20 minutes or so, Leeds wobbled and Kyle Bartley had to head a Holloway effort off the line. Cole also squandered a great opportunity, while the visitors were fortunate to see Eggert Johnsson’s header fly just past the post.

Finally, however, Leeds began to settle. Hernandez’s vision was a big factor in that, as was Roofe’s intelligence on the ball.

The £3m summer arrival from Oxford United brought a reflex save from Neal in first-half stoppage time that set the tone for much of what followed after the break as Leeds took control.

Roofe, first won and then fired narrowly over a free-kick before creating a wonderful chance that Hadi Sacko was unable to convert. He then curled a 20-yard effort just past the post before Wood did the same after Hernandez had squandered an excellent opening with a poor first touch.

The goal United craved finally arrived a minute from the end of normal time when Antonsson fired in from close range.

Antonsson followed that by winning a penalty that Wood coolly converted but there was to be a further twist when Hunter levelled for Fleetwood but it was Leeds who prevailed thanks to Green’s save and clinical spot-kicks from Wood, Antonsson, Alex Mowatt, Kalvin Phillips and Hernandez, that earned a second-round visit to Luton Town.

Fleetwood Town: Neal; McLaughlin, Bolger, Eastham, Bell; Ryan, Jonsson, Nirrenold; Cole (Pond 81), Holloway (Hunter 60), Ball (Grant 72). Unused substitutes: Cairns, Kip, Duckworth, Haughton.

Leeds United: Green; Coyle, Bartley, Cooper (Bamba 46), Taylor; Phillips, Vieira (Antonsson 76); Sacko (Mowatt 65), Hernandez, Roofe; Wood. Unused substitutes: Dallas, Grimes, Turnbull, Denton.

Referee: D Coote (West Yorkshire).