LONDON // Jermaine Beckford scored a penalty with virtually the last kick of the game to earn battling League One Leeds a well-deserved replay. Roman Pavlyuchenko thought he had put Spurs through 15 minutes from time before referee Alan Wiley awarded a controversial penalty for a foul by Michael Dawson, which Beckford converted. The Premier League hosts should have taken the lead on eight minutes. Danny Rose, making his full debut for Spurs against his former club, was clumsily felled in the box by Michael Doyle. A definite penalty, but Casper Ankergen guessed correctly to keep out Jermain Defoe's tame spot-kick.
When Spurs did take the lead three minutes before the break, Ankergen should have done better. Gareth Bale skipped down the left and crossed to Niko Kranjcar, whose strike was spilled by the Leeds keeper and it fell kindly for Crouch to prod home. Simon Grayson would have used the half-time break to make his players believe that they were still in the game at a goal down and, in the 52nd minute, Beckford swivelled inside the box to equalise after Spurs failed to deal with Robert Snodgrass' corner.
Suddenly, Tottenham lost their swagger and looked uncomfortable in possession as the away side harried and hassled. Manager Harry Redknapp, looking for inspiration, brought on Pavlyuchenko 15 minutes from time and the Russian delivered, tucking into the net after a neat combination with Defoe. There was no drop in effort from Leeds, and they were rewarded with their injury-time equaliser. sports@thenational.ae
