Leeds United 1 Cardiff City 1: Snodgrass ensures United get point from fightback

Instead, United had to settle for a point after Robert Snodgrass cancelled out Joe Mason’s first-half opener for Cardiff City.

It meant the air was filled with a tangible sense of frustration come the final whistle, not least because of the trip down memory lane the fans had been given at half-time when Howard Wilkinson led seven of his former players out on to the field to a rapturous reception.

Watching Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister et al walk out again on the turf they graced in such magnificent fashion two decades or so earlier brought home just how far United have fallen in recent years – even allowing for the clear signs that the club is again moving in the right direction.

Comparing the current crop to those title-winning heroes is, of course, distinctly unfair on Simon Grayson’s men.

Only the great Revie team achieved more than Sgt Wilko and his boys in the name of Leeds United.

But what the class of 2011-12 do have in common with the side that won the club’s third league title is a tremendous resilience and never-say-die attitude, even when things are not going their way.

The chips were certainly down for United on the field yesterday as Wilkinson and his players took the applause of the 20,270 crowd during the half-time interval.

Cardiff were a goal in front and looking a good bet to extend their winning run against Leeds to seven games due to looking by far the more accomplished side.

After the break, however, it was a very different story with the home side dominating thanks to a much improved midfield display and both full-backs bringing an extra dimension to the attack by bombing forward at every opportunity.

Their reward came 16 minutes from time when Snodgrass latched on to Tom Lees’s knock-down to bring Leeds level and ensure Cardiff’s winning run against the Yorkshire club was brought to an end.

Despite rescuing what come the end of the campaign could be a precious point, Grayson admitted to feeling frustrated at the final whistle due to being denied victory by four stunning saves from Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall.

He said: “When you look back at the chances we created and the number of top saves their goalkeeper made, we can consider ourselves unfortunate not to have won the game.

“We didn’t start as brightly as I wanted and I had to get them to up their tempo in the second half. But I thought from then on we were outstanding.

“Their goalkeeper was in inspired form and on another day we would have won the game.”

The first half had been played out in front of a strangely subdued atmosphere, which in part could be put down to the effects of a lunchtime kick-off and a large swathe of Cardiff fans choosing to boycott the game in protest at being asked to pay £36 each.

Leeds started brightly with Lees and Andy Keogh both going close after being picked out by Snodgrass’s trusty left boot.

The Scot also went close himself with a deft header midway through the half that Cardiff goalkeeper Marshall did brilliantly to turn round a post.

By that stage, Cardiff had already taken the lead courtesy of a mistake by Darren O’Dea, who allowed Mason to claim possession when he had no right to do so.

The Republic of Ireland defender left the field just after the half-hour complaining of blurred vision so that may explain his aberration.

Either way, what is not in doubt is the quality of Mason’s finish as the striker showed tremendous poise to skip past Rachubka before rolling the ball into an empty net just as Lees launched an attempted last-ditch tackle.

Going behind seemed to rock Leeds and for the next 20 or so minutes they rarely threatened.

Matters improved just before the break as Ross McCormack and Jonny Howson had efforts blocked in quick succession but, even so, the consensus of opinion at a half-full Elland Road during the interval was that the hosts would have to substantially up their efforts to avoid defeat.

Leeds did just that, Marshall having to be at his agile best to keep out a swerving shot from Snodgrass six minutes after the restart.

Three minutes later, it was McCormack’s turn to be frustrated by Marshall as the visitors’ goalkeeper dived full length to tip a goalbound effort round a post. It was a fine save and one that had McCormack looking to the heavens in exasperation, an act that Adam Clayton copied in the 65th minute after seeing Marshall acrobatically turn over his stinging drive.

As the game moved into the final quarter, Leeds continued to do all the pressing as Marshall again came to his side’s rescue to keep out Howson’s close-range header.

There was, however, nothing the Cardiff goalkeeper could do on 74 minutes as Snodgrass poked the ball into the net after Lees had diverted Paddy Kisnorbo’s cross into the Scot’s path.

Drawing level was no more than the home side deserved but they could not find the winner, Cardiff coming closest when Filip Kiss headed over from close range after Mark Hudson had returned Rachubka’s weak punched clearance into the six-yard box.

It was a let-off for Leeds, though one they probably deserved on the balance of play as the honours ended even.