Jack Whatmough’s stoppage-time own goal gave Leeds United a point at Preston North End as the Whites kept pace at the top of the Championship.
A blistering first-half counter-attack started and finished by Brad Potts, allied to stubborn second-half resistance, looked to have given Preston victory and Leeds a third defeat on the road in four.
But the home side succumbed to relentless pressure from Daniel Farke’s outfit and in the 93rd minute, Dan James provided the cross that flicked in off the unfortunate Whatmough.
A point saw Leeds go above Sheffield United at the top of the table on goal difference, but the Blades can open up a three-point gap if they beat lowly Plymouth later on Saturday.
Despite the disappointment Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom can take comfort in the improvement being shown by his side with this result making it a six match unbeaten streak.
Even though they avoided just a fourth league loss of the season, a draw means they have won only one of their past eight games away from Elland Road.
It was, therefore, with a degree of resignation that the 5,656 fans in the away end, boisterously ‘marching on together’ with their team before kick off, watched Preston take the lead.
The opener was a work of art. A perfectly executed counter-attack was started on the edge of his own box and finished at Illan Meslier’s near post by Potts.
In between, Milutin Osmajic had spun a Leeds defender before sprinting down the right flank and whipping in a perfect cross behind a back-pedalling defence.
Leeds had chances in the first half to equalise, the best falling to Brenden Aaronson who fluffed his lines horribly when presented with an opportunity 10 yards out.
They were also furious that Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman remained on the pitch on 36 minutes. After being booked earlier for clipping Aaronson, his robust challenge on Jayden Bogle, taking ball then man, could have seen another yellow produced.
Farke received a booking from referee John Busby for his protests.
Leeds were much improved in the second half and loaded pressure on hosts who were tormented by the pace from Wilfried Gnonto and James from the left and right sides.
Ao Tanaka had an effort blocked after one such burst down the left from Gnonto, Freddie Woodman getting his positioning right to block.
With Leeds pouring forward, Preston remained dangerous on the break and Emil Riis went close on the hour mark, heading straight at Meslier when a yard either side could have sealed the points.
It proved to be a turning point.
Patrick Bamford replaced Aaronson on 65 minutes as Farke rolled the dice and the striker went close to levelling five minutes later only to see a backheel from three yards out slice wide after James flashed the ball across goal.
Welsh forward James hit the crossbar with a 20-yard effort before Largie Ramazani had a shot pushed around the post by Woodman, but the direction of travel was one way as the final whistle approached.
A minute before the end, the outstanding James delivered another dangerous cross into the box and, with Leeds striker Mateo Joseph lurking, the ball took a decisive touch off Whatmough.
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom speaking to Sky Sports:
“The effort from the players deserved more but I don’t feel as bad as I have done with a lot of the other draws we have had over recent weeks.
“Our goal was an area of Leeds’ play which we felt we could exploit. We felt it was a good way to create chances and it proved that way and with a bit more quality on the final pass in the second half and we would maybe have got more.
“But with the effort and concentration required in keeping Leeds out at the other end, it takes its toll.
“In terms of us and how we play, the top 10 before today no one has beat us. No one. So that shows what type of team we can be but we also know we haven’t got the rewards when we have been the best team.
“Another pleasing day for me. We got a lot of things right but just the timing of the goal makes it feel worse.”
Leeds manager Daniel Farke speaking to Sky Sports:
“If you give one chance away and they score the goal it is always going to be difficult especially against such a well-defending side like Preston in a home game on a difficult pitch.
“But the longer the game went the better we were and I think would have fully deserved also to win the game but to draw it was a good point.
“I wanted to talk to the fourth official why he was not showing a [second] yellow card [to Ben Whiteman]. In my thought was it was an important foul just outside the box with the straight leg.
“I wanted to ask why it wasn’t a yellow or red card and I wasn’t allowed to talk to the fourth official.”
