Leeds United 1 Brighton 1

Last updated : 22 February 2010 By Martin Jarred

Lacking energy, ideas and confidence, they are a shadow of the side which made a high-octane start to the campaign.

They have won just one league game since the turn of the year as the treadmill of playing twice a week since mid-January seems to have left little in their tank.

Perhaps they can plug into Robert Snodgrass' injury-time equaliser against Brighton on Saturday to recharge their batteries before returning to Elland Road against Oldham on Tuesday night.

The 1-1 draw with the Seagulls was marginally better than the debacle against Walsall earlier in the week but these are vital points that have slipped away.

From a position of strength, Leeds could find themselves sucked into a play-off scrap rather than ease towards automatic promotion.

They were never allowed to build up a head of steam by a Brighton side intent on disrupting the game at every opportunity.

Gus Poyet's men were happy to concede free-kicks if it meant stopping Leeds trying to play and on the odd occasion United fashioned an opening, they were denied by some outstanding defensive blocks.

Brighton snatched the lead on 76 minutes with a soft penalty award which Glenn Murray converted, but Leeds were given a lifeline two minutes later when referee Carl Boyeson sent off Adam Virgo for a bad challenge on substitute Max Gradel.

United belatedly stirred themselves for one last push and sub Snodgrass slammed in the equaliser from close range with seconds remaining.

Leeds: Ankergren, Hughes, Kisnorbo, Naylor, Lowry, Howson (Gradel 57), Kilkenny, Doyle, Johnson (Becchio 64), McSheffrey (Snodgrass 77), Beckford.

Brighton: Brezovan, Calderon, Virgo, Elphick, Painter, Bennett (Hart 55), Crofts, Navarro, Dicker, Lua Lua (Al Abd 82), Murray.

Referee: Carl Boyeson.

Attendance: 24,120.