Town recorded only their second 0-0 draw of the season as they left high-flying Leeds with a deserved point. Both sides could have been in front at the break after an end-to-end first period, Tamás Priskin and Lee Martin missing the Blues’ best opportunities. In the second half Town rarely threatened but their backline held firm.

Paul Jewell made three changes to the side which lost 3-1 at home to Reading on Tuesday. New loan signing Kieron Dyer came in for his debut in midfield in place of skipper David Norris, who is banned for two games, while Jimmy Bullard returned from his hamstring injury to return to the midfield in place of Andy Drury.

Up front, Tamás Priskin took the lone striker’s role from Jason Scotland, while former Blues Richard Naylor and Alex Bruce were on the Leeds bench.

The Blues kicked off and within seconds Priskin was sent away towards the right of goal but sent his shot across the face when he probably should have done better. Dyer was into the action early, sending in a dangerous early cross.

Referee Darren Deadman’s yellow card got an early outing, Leeds striker Billy Paynter going into the book when a stray elbow caught Gareth McAuley, the former Swindon man perhaps fortunate that it was only yellow. The Northern Irishman required a change of shirt having received a cut to the head.

The Blues had the better of the early stages with Priskin turning a 10th minute shot to Whites keeper Kasper Schmeichel. Kieron Dyer had taken up a role more advanced than the one usually occupied by David Norris, playing in the hole behind Priskin.

On 12 Max Gradel struck the home side’s first shot of the game, forcing Márton Fülöp to push the ball out for a corner to his left.

Four minutes later, after a strong run forward by one-time Roy Keane target Andy O’Brien, Eric Lichaj crossed from the right, the ball reached Gradel at the far post, but his shot was blocked Edwards.

Soon after, Priskin had an even better chance when fed in on the left, but his shot through a crowd of players was well wide.

As the game reached the 20-minute mark, Paynter stabbed wide for Leeds, then Martin broke away on goal for the Blues but Schmeichel was equal to his shot. The ex-Manchester United man should have done better. From the corner, the Danish keeper tipped McAuley’s bouncing header over.

Gradel’s 30-yard strike only just flew over Fülöp’s crossbar in the 23rd minute of a lively half in which either side might already have scored.

Leeds midfielder Robert Snodgrass and Town’s Damien Delaney were spoken to by the referee in the 27th minute after going head to head, the Whites player perhaps lucky to have got away without a card having kicked out at the Irish central defender.

A minute later O’Brien picked up a yellow card for tripping Priskin as he chased a ball into the corner, probably accidentally. The home crowd, already on referee Deadman’s back for an earlier incident where they claimed a freekick for a backpass, were less than impressed.

Paynter headed wide for Leeds on 34 with the home side by now looking the more dangerous with Town, Martin and Wickham having by now swapped flanks, having less of the ball, although more than a few freekicks.

Gradel went within a whisker of putting his side in front with 10 minutes of the half remaining, cutting inside Edwards and unleashing a 30-yarder which flew just wide of Fülöp’s left post. For Town, Martin shot over from a tight angle when he was probably trying to cross.

The Leeds bench had continued a lively dialogue with the referee and fourth official for much of the half and in the 41st minute, after O’Dea had, in their opinion, blocked off Lichaj, manager Simon Grayson was spoken to by Mr Deadman.

Moments later, Gradel laid a cross from the right off to Paynter but his shot from the edge of the box was deflected wide.

Leeds claimed a penalty as the game moved into injury time, an O’Brien shot after a corner having stuck McAuley. Referee Deadman again failed to impress the home crowd by awarding a corner.

The half ended with boos from the home fans aimed towards the referee, who they somewhat harshly felt had spent the first period conspiring against them.

Town had started an entertaining half the stronger but the home team had come more into it as the game had progressed. Debutant Dyer had shown flashes of his ability here and there but had drifted out of the game a touch towards half-time with the Blues not passing it was well as they had earlier in the game

The Blues had probably had the better chances via Priskin and Martin but hadn’t tested Schmeiechel as much as they should have. Leeds had also had opportunities but again Fülöp hadn’t been overly tested.

The first chance of the second half fell to the home side in the 51st minute, Paynter crossing from the right and Jonathan Howson volleying wide at the far post.

Three minutes later Snodgrass came closer to opening the scoring when his shot just wide of Fülöp’s post from the edge of the box.

Leeds had begun the half very much on top and Fülöp did well to get down to his left to save from Paynter in the 56th minute.

On the hour, McAuley got his name in the book for a foul on Paynter, protesting to referee Deadman and a number of Leeds players about the home striker’s use of his elbow.

A minute later, Howson laid the ball back to O’Brien on the edge of the area but the veteran Irish defender shot well wide.

Town were still to really impose themselves on the second half with neither Bullard nor Dyer having seen much of the ball.

Luciano Civelli replaced Lee Martin on 67 with the home side still having the better of it but continuing to test Fülöp too rarely.

Andy Drury took over from Kieron Dyer on 74, the loanee from West Ham having had a largely quiet game after a bright start, perhaps unsurprisingly given his lack of games in recent months.

Leeds swapped Howson and Paynter for Barry Bannan and Luciano Becchio for the final 14 minutes, then for Town Scotland took over from Priskin on 80.

Fülöp stopped Gradel’s shot from a tight angle with Leeds still looking the more likely scorers with Town having failed to test Schmeichel since the break, but a 0-0 looked very much on the cards.

Lichaj cut in from the right but couldn’t beat Fülöp as the game moved into the final four minutes of normal time. Town had the better of injury time, but again without overly testing Schmeichel. Wickham picked up a late yellow card for timewasting at a throw.

A point was probably fair with Leeds not really having done enough to win it during the second half despite having most of the ball. Town will rue their first half misses, although Leeds will also felt they could have scored during the opening 45 minutes.

The Blues were by no means as bad as they were against Reading but only really showed the fluency of the recent games against Portsmouth and QPR in the early stages.

New signing Dyer had a quiet game despite a bright start and looks like he needs a game or two before getting to the top of his game.

Manager Paul Jewell will probably be pleased with the clean sheet — Gareth McAuley and Damien Delaney again stood out — and a point against one of the division’s leading lights.

Town: Fulop, Edwards, O'Dea, McAuley, Delaney, Leadbitter, Bullard, Dyer (Drury 74), Wickham, Martin (Civelli 67), Priskin (Scotland 80). Unused:, Peters, Lee-Barrett, Smith, Hyam.

Leeds: Schmeichel, Lichaj, O'Brien, Bromby, McCartney, Johnson, Kilkenny, Snodgrass, Howson (Bannan 76), Gradel, Paynter (Becchio 76). Unused: Higgs, Bruce, Naylor, Watt, Somma. Referee: Darren Deadman (Cheshunt). Att: 27,432.

Photo: Action Images

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