Leeds United 2 Hull City 2: Johnson's error hits Leeds but Hull merit their point

With the home side 2-1 ahead against 10-man Hull City, the United midfielder committed the sort of mistake that would shame a schoolboy by slicing an innocuous-looking corner from Tom Cairney into his own net.

The almighty howler ensured United's shocking run under floodlights this season continued, Simon Grayson's side having now claimed just two points from six evening games in the Championship.

For Hull, however, Johnson's late blunder meant a happy return trip along the M62 and something for Nigel Pearson to build on in his attempts to drag the club away from the relegation zone.

Certainly, if the Tigers can maintain the battling spirit they showed once reduced to 10 men following John Bostock's dismissal with 12 minutes remaining then there is every chance the club from the East Riding can get out of trouble.

A draw was probably a fair result with Hull being the better side in the first half and creating the majority of chances.

After the break, it was a different story with Leeds taking charge and piling the pressure on the visitors.

However, despite going ahead through Andy O'Brien's first goal for the club, they could not hold on as the rotten record under floodlights that has brought embarrassing drubbings against Barnsley, Preston North End and Cardiff City continued.

With both sides packing midfield in the opening stages to leave Luciano Becchio and Richard Garcia to forage lone furrows up front, chances were at a premium in a cagey start.

The game was 14 minutes old before the first genuine opening was fashioned but for the 2,400 Tigers fans inside Elland Road the wait was worthwhile.

A scything foul by Bradley Johnson on Bostock 30 yards from goal gave Hull an initial sight of goal.

It was one that Bostock gleefully accepted, the midfielder stepping up to smash the resulting free-kick beyond Kasper Schmeichel and into the corner of the net.

Momentarily stunned, Leeds had Alex Bruce to thank for coming to their rescue and clearing after Liam Rosenior had raced clear down the right before looking up and drilling an attempted pass towards the unmarked James Harper. Bruce's intervention took on huge significance in the 33rd minute when a mistake by Anthony Gerrard presented Becchio with possession.

The Argentinian striker, in turn, rolled a pass for Johnson to drill past Matt Duke from the edge of the penalty area.

Despite having been pegged back, it was the visitors who ended the first half on top as Bruce again rescued Leeds with a clearance off the line after Bostock had rolled the ball beyond Schmeichel.

The United goalkeeper, back in the side after missing the weekend win at Coventry due to the birth of his first child, then saved smartly from Kamil Zayatte before Ian Ashbee headed wide from a corner when it seemed easier to hit the target.

Leeds were much improved after the break and twice went close in the opening stages when Jonny Howson fired into the side netting and Becchio curled a shot onto the crossbar.

With Hull retreating deeper and deeper into their own territory, it seemed just a matter of time before the breakthrough arrived – especially once Davide Somma, fresh from signing a new three-year contract earlier in the day, was brought off the bench.

It came on 71 minutes when Howson returned possession to Robert Snodgrass on the right flank after his initial corner had only been half-cleared. The Scot then raced to the by-line before cutting back and centring for O'Brien to head in off a post.

Johnson then came within a whisker of extending United's lead when he diverted Neil Kilkenny's corner just inches wide.

Hull's night took a further turn for the worse when Bostock was sent off after collecting his second booking of the night for a late challenge on George McCartney.

Any thoughts that the outcome was decided were dispelled on 82 minutes when Johnson diverted Cairney's corner into his own net with his wild attempted clearance.

Stung into action, Leeds launched a late onslaught on the visitors' goal. Bruce went the closest to finding the winner with a firm header that was heading in until Rosenior superbly cleared off the line.

Leeds United: Schmichel; Connolly, O'Brien, Bruce, McCartney; Kilkenny (Sam 88), Johnson; Snodgrass, Howson, Gradel (Somma 68); Becchio (Paynter 89). Unused substitutes: Brown, Collins, Hughes, Nunez.

Hull City: Duke; Rosenior, Ayala, Gerrard, Dawson; Harper, Ashbee, Zayatte (Cairney 69), Bostock, Kilbane (Cullen 81); Garcia. Unused substitutes: Mannone, Halmosi, Cooper, Simpson, Solano.

Referee: K Friend (Leicestershire).