Leeds United 1 Carlisle United 2: Poor defence means Leeds have to do it the hard way

Joe Anyinsah's 84th-minute winner means United are in an identical position to May, 2008, when the Cumbrians led 2-1 at the halfway stage of the League One play-off semi-finals.

Leeds went on to prevail at Brunton Park as two goals from Jonny Howson capped a masterful display and the West Yorkshire club will have to be equally resilient to reach the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

Certainly, Simon Grayson's side cannot afford a repeat of the often shambolic defensive efforts of last night as Carlisle were presented with a host of chances.

Graham Kavanagh and Anyinsah got the goals but, in truth, the visitors could have had at least double that tally against a worryingly porous Leeds back-line that badly missed Patrick Kisnorbo.

The hosts did create plenty of their own chances but only one was made to count courtesy of a far-post header from Jason Crowe 11 minutes into the second half.

Otherwise, it was a sorry tale of spurned opportunities with Jermaine Beckford, in particular, culpable.

The 26-year-old had the sort of night that adds weight to those who claim he does not have the predatory instinct to cut it in the Premier League.

If sources on Merseyside were yesterday to be believed, the 26-year-old is being lined up for a summer switch to Everton so he may soon have the chance to prove the critics wrong.

But if he is to prosper at Goodison Park then he cannot afford too many repeats of last night when he missed four eminently convertible chances.

Such was the profligacy shown by the home attack last night that Leeds' moves to bring Southend United's 17-goal striker Lee Barnard to Elland Road will surely be stepped up in the coming days.

The 25-year-old, who like Beckford is out of contract in the summer, was the subject of a 150,000 bid from Southampton on Monday but the Yorkshire Post understands United have been in touch with the Roots Hall club and intend pipping the Saints to his signature.

Whether Leeds prove to be successful remains to be seen but there can be little doubt the addition of a new face may be just the lift the team needs after a trio of disappointing results.

It was, in fact, difficult to believe this was the same Leeds side that just 17 days earlier had knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup.

Where against the Premier League champions United had been composed on the ball and resolute in defence, last night they looked nervy and hesitant.

Nowhere was this more evident than across the back four where time and time again the visitors were allowed far too much time and space.

Carlisle left-winger Matty Robson was the main beneficiary and it was no coincidence that he was at the heart of all the visitors' best work in the first half.

His intelligent running and fine delivery from the left flank created gilt-edged chances for Kevan Hurst and Scott Dobie inside the opening 16 minutes that only desperate clearances from Andrew Hughes and Leigh Bromby kept out.

Greg Abbott bore the look of a frustrated man as both opportunities went begging but, in 21 minutes, the Carlisle manager's frown had turned to a celebratory smile.

Once again, Robson was the instigator with a pacey break before he rolled the ball back for Evan Horwood to swing over a deep cross towards Richard Keogh. The former Huddersfield Town loanee then did his job admirably by heading the ball into the path of Kavanagh to smash the ball into the net.

At the other end, decent approach play was let down by some wasteful finishing until Crowe timed his run to perfection on 56 minutes to head a deep cross from Hughes into the net.

Chances then came and went at both ends before Anyinsah ensured it was advantage Carlisle at the halfway stage of the tie by flicking former Leeds full-back Ian Harte's inviting cross into the net.

Leeds United: Ankergren; Crowe, Naylor, Bromby, Hughes; Snodgrass, Howson, Kilkenny, Johnson; Grella (Becchio 83), Beckford. Unused substitutes: Jones, Doyle, Michalik, White.

Carlisle United: Pidgeley; Keogh, Livesey, Harte, Horwood; Hurst, Clayton, Taiwo, Kavanagh (Bridge-Wilkinson 83), Robson; Dobie (Anyinsah 68). Unused substitutes: Collin, Murphy, Offiong.

Referee: A Penn (West Midlands).