Burnley keeper's time-wasting tactics drop a late seasonal gift Leeds' way.

Ross McCormack struck gold in the seventh minute of injury time in yet another late, late show.

However unlike the victory at Turf Moor by the same-scoreline in November, Leeds were deserved winners in this contest and put in a massively improved performance on the horror shows at Barnsley, Derby and on this ground against Reading in the last home game before Christmas.

Simon Grayson's team-selection suggested he was eager to put behind him the 4-1 defeat at Oakwell, as promised he rang in the changes. New loan signing, Spurs winger Andros Townsend started the game on the left wing and a shock inclusion was youngster Zac Thompson, who started in central midfield.

Becchio was the preferred choice up front with Nunez as the link-man. Clayton returned to midfield. Alex Bruce was named at right back, meaning Messers Connolly, Keogh and Vayrynen were out of the team and did not even make the bench, although Vayrynen appeared on the pitch to present an award to the Hull branch of the supporters club before kick-off.

Burnley brought the largest contingent of away fans yet since Ken Bates' decision to move the away fans into the West Stand southern section. A chant of "There's only one Simon Grayson" rang out from the Kop in support of the beleagured boss who's position is very much under the microscope.

As the form book suggested, Burnley brimming with confidence after seven wins in eight games started the brighter and Charlie Austin should have done far better when he latched on to a through ball and hammered his shot high and wide at the Geldered End.

Leeds were counting the cost of what clearly would be a physical encounter when Paddy Kisnorbo left the pitch on 15 and did not return after lengthy treatment. This forced a reshuffled, Lloyd Sam coming on and interchanging flanks with Townsend, who had livened up the crowd with some surging runs and trickery. Zac Thompson, who was ooozing confidence in midfield switched to right-back.

Burnley still posed a threat and Lonergan, so hesitant for Simon Church's winner against Reading raced off his line to clear a dangerous looking long-ball inviting Roderiguez to latch on to,

Leeds were dealt a massive advantage when Burnley's on-loan Manchester City full-back Trippier received his marching orders on 28 for a second yellow-card which was for a crunching tackle on Townsend. Burnley's response was to pack the defence and try and waste as much time as possible, particularly keeper Grant who much to the annoyance of the home fans wasted as much time as possible taking goal-kicks aas Leeds piled the pressure on but failed to make the breakthrough before the break.

A similar pattern continued after the re-start, Leeds won a stack of corners and both White and Townsend made surging runs down the left but their crosses seemed to evade Becchio - who once again was gettinbg very little joy amongst the giant defenders of Burnley.

Nunez, from a free-kick and Thompson with a long-range effort had the home fans "ooohing" with frustration.

However, Leeds went behind against the run of play, in a rare Burnley attack, Austin was given way too much time and space to fire the visitors into a 68th minute lead.

Simon Grayson made his second change on 68 with Forsell, not seen since the visit of Coventry nearly three-months ago, came on for Becchio. Forsell has apparently discussed a move in the January transfer-window with his agent and other than win a couple of headers did not really show much evidence to suggest keeping him against his wishes.

Five minutes later, Grayson rolled his last throw of the dice, Nunez the fall-guy for Ross McCormack. At the time, it looked harsh on the Honduran who made some useful probing runs and looked dangerous from free-kicks in "Snodgrass territory".

It proved to be an inspired move from Grayson, however when Forsell fired over on 85 when it would have been easier to score, the ongoing phone-in/online debate of whether or not he should be given until the season's end to attain promotion seemed likely to rage on again.

Leeds finally made a breakthrough on 88 minutes to silence the noisy visiting fans, and it was a Clarets player Brian Easton who had the misfortune to slide a poor corner from Clayton past Grant to make it 1-1.

The Leeds fans clammered for a winner as the temperature dropped and inspired by the five minutes of time-added on, Leeds probed for a winner. Yet more time-wasting from Grant clearly lengthened the  time-added on and his booking was long-overdue.

However it seemed the 10-men of Burnley would hold on to a point, particularly when Sam's sweet effort was pushed away from Grant and Leeds did not even get a corner from it..

However justice was finally served on Grant when, just 20 seconds from time, he fumbled a Townsend shot and McCormack nipped in behind him to slam home the winner and spark wild-celebrations in the stands.

A much improved performance by Leeds, Grayson bravely gambling with ringing in the changes when it could have backfired. Townsend on his first game caused Burnley lots of problems and imagining him on one flank with a fit Snograss on the other could be the stuff dreams were made of.

A special word for Zac Thompson, in from nowhere, into central-midfield and then right-back, a close runner to Townsend as man-of-the-match.

So Simon Grayson keeps his job for now and given his mounting injury list, Alex Bruce also picked up hamstring injury, surely Papa Smurf has no excuse not to back him in the January sales - although somewhat ominously Grayson told Yorkshire Radio afterwards that despite capturing Townsend, Leeds were unsuccessfully in bringing in one or two more targets in what has been a busy 48 hours for the Leeds boss.

Photo: Action Images

chrisdepcook added 23:03 - Jan 2 horror show at burnley? 4-1 defeat to derby?
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