Leeds United's hopes of redemption to bring the curtain down on a traumatic two years at Elland Road floundered on 10 minutes of defensive suicide as Leicester stole a dramatic point.

Leeds were coasting with goals from Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka and looked set to return to second place in the Premier League against Dave Bassett's relegation-haunted side.

But former Leeds star Brian Deane, on his full debut for the Foxes, first pulled one back in the 78th minute prior to James Scowcroft netting the equaliser two minutes from time.

This was a match designed to herald the start of Leeds' redemption period following nearly two years of devastating drama in which United's name has been dragged through the mud by Lee Bowyer and Jonathan Woodgate.

Despite kick-off coming 48 hours after Bowyer was cleared on charges ofgrievous bodily harm with intent and affray in relation to an assault on Asian student Sarfraz Najeib, and with Woodgate ordered to serve 100 hours of community service after being found guilty of affray, the repurcussions were still reverberating around the club.

Neither player was at the ground today, apparently ordered to stay away due to the undoubted spotlight which would have been focused upon them and which would ultimately have deflected the attention needed to matters on the field rather than off it.

Leeds needed a display to start to right the wrongs of a troubled past.

For 78 minutes all was going according to plan, only for two goals in 10minutes to leave Leeds hanging their heads in shame.

Leicester certainly started as if they were still suffering from post-party hangovers, while Leeds appeared to have fresh heads and hearts as they dominated, seemingly intent on repeating the 6-0 Worthington Cup romp at Filbert Street in October.

Leeds served notice of their intent after just 45 seconds when Seth Johnson, after completing a one-match ban and in the side for Olivier Dacourt who is out for the next two months with a dislocated shoulder, fed a back on-song Viduka.

The 25-year-old then struck a first-time right-foot shot which Ian Walker pushed on to the crossbar which was the prelude to a siege as City found themselves penned in and around their own box.

Incisive passing led to Ian Harte feeding Viduka inside the box, a cheeky back heel finding fellow Australia international Kewell to drive home his 10th goal of the season - and his fourth in the last three games - from 15 yards in the seventh minute.

The linesman's flag denied Viduka - TV replays suggested he was onside - a stunning second for Leeds after being set up by Kewell and Fowler, the latter then spurning a home debut strike by dwelling on a clear sight of goal in the 27th minute which allowed Callum Davidson to brilliantly block.

By the end of the half, though, O'Leary had lost another two players toinjury with Robbie Keane turning his ankle in warm up and Johnson limping off in the 17th minute, seemingly nursing his right ankle.

The duo now join the casualty list of Dacourt, Stephen McPhail, Michael Bridges, Lucas Radebe and Jacob Burns, with Alan Smith suspended for onemore match out of three.

The irony will not be lost on O'Leary that in welcoming back Dominic Matteo to the starting line-up after recovering from an Achilles injury, and with Eirik Bakke fit again after a knee ligament injury - both players outfor three weeks - he then loses Keane and Johnson, the latter replaced by the Norway international.

The three points should have been wrapped up long before half time, butit took a 58th minute wake-up call - Brian Deane's header from a Davidson corner ruled out for a push in the area - for Leeds to open up clear daylight between themselves and their opponents.

A swift counter-attack led to Gary Kelly turning in a low cross for Viduka to hook home his seventh goal of the season, and his first since returning from World Cup duty with Australia, and all seemed right with the world again.

But Leeds, as has so often happened this season, seem incapable of killing teams off and from the 79th minute they duly fell asleep to allow the Foxes a precious point in their battle against the drop.

Ade Akinbiyi, a 72nd-minute substitute for Andy Impey, played his part by nodding a long ball down the left wing into the path of Davidson, who then drove in a low cross along the edge of the six-yard box for former Leeds star Deane, on his full City debut after his recent move from Middlesbrough, to sidefoot home at the far post.

Still Leeds did not heed the warning and so paid the price with just two minutes remaining when a four-man move ended with James Scowcroft driving home his second of the season and pile the agony on O'Leary as Leeds missed the chance to return to second in the table.

Teams

Leeds (1) 2 Leicester (0) 2

Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Kelly, Batty, Johnson (Bakke 18), Kewell, Viduka, Fowler.

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Wilcox, Duberry.

Booked: Bakke.

Goals: Kewell 7, Viduka 59.

Leicester: Walker, Sinclair, Elliott, Marshall, Davidson, Savage, Oakes, Izzet, Impey (Akinbiyi 72), Scowcroft, Deane.

Subs Not Used: Flowers, Jones, Benjamin, Stewart.

Booked: Savage, Elliott, Marshall.

Goals: Deane 78, Scowcroft 89.

Att: 38,337

Ref: R Styles (Waterlooville).