Leeds United lost their 100% home record, but remain unbeaten in the league this season as ten-man Leyton Orient battled for a point at Elland Road this afternoon.

Dennis Wise's pre-match reservations over the abilities of referee Nigel Miller proved to be founded.

However, this time round it was Wise and his men who were probably beneficiaries of Miller's incompetence.

Wise had unsuccessfully petitioned to have Miller removed from this fixture following bad blood between the pair at Southend last season. At Roots Hall, Miller denied Leeds a stonewall late penalty and sent Wise to the stands. The administrators however saw fit to send the Durham official south to Elland Road for this afternoon's clash of fading early pacesetters Orient.

But it took just 9 minutes for the man in black to anger the Yorkshire element of the 29,000+ crowd inside Elland Road. Awarding the O's a soft-free kick on the edge of the area, Sean Thornton put the visitors in front.

But Thornton's joy would be short-lived, Mr Miller red-carded him in the 32nd minute for elbowing Seb Carole and maybe the referee would make Wise's Christmas Card list after all?

The inevitable bombardment followed and Leeds finally broke the O's resistance on 55 minutes when Carole smashed home a short corner worked with Alan Thompson.

But Leeds blew a gift wrapped opportunity to win the game on 81 minutes courtesy of another controversial decision. Paul Terry was adjudged to have brought down Seb Carole in the box, Tresor Kandol stepped up and blazed the spot-kick over the bar.

And Orient were further aggrieved on 85 minutes when Boyd shot past Ankengren amnd the Dane clawed the goal-bound ball back. The furious Londoners claimed it had crossed the line, but Mr Miller was having none-of-it.

Photo: Action Images

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