Hull City 2 Leeds United 2: Tigers are denied by United's stunning fightback

There may have been no 50m strikers on show at Hull City's KC Stadium, nor any player whose monthly wage packet touches seven figures.

But what the sell-out crowd were treated to on a cold night by the Humber was a good, old-fashioned blood-and-guts tussle between two teams who gave everything in the pursuit of victory.

Come the final whistle, honours had ended even thanks to a stunning fightback from Leeds United that saw first-half goals by Matty Fryatt and James Chester cancelled out by equally clinical strikes from Robert Snodgrass and Davide Somma.

For the Tigers, a point must have felt like scant reward for their efforts on a night when they created the better chances.

But, nevertheless, Nigel Pearson's side can seek solace in playing such a full part in a contest that in so many ways was the perfect antidote to the madness of the previous day when Andy Carroll had somehow become a 35m striker.

To the rest of the country, Hull versus Leeds may not be the most obvious of rivalries due to the two clubs being 60-odd miles apart and having spent much of the past half century residing in different divisions.

A sense of antipathy does, however, run deep between East and West, with Hull's recent two-year stint in the Premier League as Leeds floundered in the third tier going down as well at Elland Road as any success involving Leeds had done in the East Riding during the days when Hull was the biggest conurbation in Europe never to host top-flight football.

The role-reversal in recent seasons meant a first meeting between the two clubs at the KC in four years was always going to be a big draw, as proved by Hull being last night watched by their first sell-out crowd since being relegated back to the Football League.

At kick-off, there was an unmistakeable sense in the air of an era having come to an end following Tigers stalwart Ian Ashbee's departure to Preston North End the previous day – leaving only Caleb Folan, courtesy of a solitary appearance when on loan from Leeds in 2001, as the last playing link to the club's days at Boothferry Park.

This new dawn in Hull's history almost enjoyed the dream start with it

taking just 30 seconds for the home side to create the game's first chance when Alex Bruce failed to cut out Fryatt's rolled pass from the right flank.

Aaron Mclean was the beneficiary but could not take advantage as the 1.3m signing from Peterborough United somehow shot wide despite being unmarked just three yards out.

The early carving open of the Leeds defence did, however, set the tone for much of what followed at breakneck speed during a hugely entertaining first half, at the end of which the visitors were just relieved to still be in the game at 2-1 down.

That United still sensed a way back at the halfway mark was down, largely, to the agility of Kasper Schmeichel.

He made three stunning saves to keep out the Tigers, the pick of which was arguably the one-handed effort that turned a dipping shot from Robert Koren over the crossbar.

Schmeichel was also on hand to keep out Anthony Gerrard's header and an attempted block by Andy O'Brien that was heading goalwards,

The Dane was, however, unable to do anything about the two stellar strikes that became City's reward for such an enterprising first half.

First, a slide-rule pass from Mclean on 33 minutes allowed Fryatt to

race clear and shoot past the Leeds goalkeeper.

Then, as the visitors' defence failed once again to deal with a set-piece, Chester was able to power a header in from close range after being picked out by Andy Dawson's corner.

A two-goal lead was just reward for Hull's display at that stage but Leeds snatched a lifeline just before the break when Snodgrass marked his Scotland call-up earlier in the day with an exquisite curled free-kick beyond the despairing dive of Brad Guzan.

Parity was restored 11 minutes into the second half when Somma's shot bounced down over the line off the underside of the crossbar to set up a thrilling finale.

Leeds threatened when a searching cross from Jonny Howson was bravely cut out by Guzan at the feet of the on-rushing Luciano Becchio.

Hull's response was equally impressive with it taking a clearance off the line by Lloyd Sam to deny Fryatt a second goal of the night.

Sam then repeated the trick to keep out a goalbound header from Anthony Gerrard to ensure honours ended even with the only blackspot on the night being the sight of Liam Rosenior being stretchered off in stoppage time.

Hull City: Guzan; Rosenior, Chester, Gerrard, Dawson; Stewart (Devitt 71), Evans, Koren, Harper (Barmby 63); Mclean (Belaid 78), Fryatt. Unused substitutes: Duke, McShane, Cairney, Simpson.

Leeds United: Schmeichel; Connolly, Bruce, O'Brien, McCartney; Snodgrass, Howson, Johnson, Gradel (McCormack 90); Somma (Sam 69), Becchio (Paynter 86).Unused substitutes: Higgs, Kilkenny, Parker, Bromby.

Referee: G Salisbury (Lancashire).