Goals either side of half-time from former White Danny Graham and Marc Bridge-Wilkinson had put the visitors on course for an impressive victory at Elland Road on Monday night.

But Gary McAllister's men were given a ray of hope for the second leg at Brunton Park on Thursday night after Dougie Freedman bagged a late goal in the fifth minute of injury time.

The Blues were well worthy of their advantage after producing a top-drawer display which showed why they came just two points away from automatic promotion in League One.

But the visitors were also in debt to the superb goalkeeping of Keiran Westwood, who made a number of match-winning saves throughout the end-to-end clash to deny Leeds.

It was Carlisle who carved open the best early chance on goal as Bridge-Wilkinson saw his snap-shot come flying off the edge of the post following a dangerous cross from strike partner Graham.

Leeds replied, with efforts from Freedman and Beckford both superbly tipped around the post from Westwood, before the visitors went straight down the other end to open the scoring as Simon Hackney saw his volley wickedly deflected by Casper Ankergren off the back of Graham and in to the back of the net.

United kept pushing for the leveller after the break, but they made the worst possible start to the second half as Bridge-Wilkinson was well positioned to slot home an Evan Horwood cross to double Carlisle's advantage.

John Ward's men looked happy to sit back on their lead as Leeds threw all but the proverbial kitchen sink at the Carlisle defence, only to find Westwood thwarting all the hosts' threw at him.

And when Westwood wasn't on hand, Paul Arnison produced a goal-saving block from a Bradley Johnson free-kick after Neil Kilkenny was fouled on the edge of the box.

But Leeds didn't give up, and they were rewarded with their glimmer of hope five minutes in to the four minutes of stoppage time as Freedman produced a clinical finish from close range.

Gary McAllister now takes his troops to Brunton Park on Thursday night, as they look to overcome a Carlisle side who have the best home record in League One this season.

Leeds: Ankergren, Richardson, Michalik, Huntington, Johnson, Kilkenny, Howson (Hughes 89), Douglas, Prutton (Carole 78), Beckford (Kandol 58), Freedman. Subs not used: Lucas, Marques.

Carlisle: Westwood, Arnison, Livesey, Murphy, Horwood, Grant Smith (Thirlwell 80), Lumsdon, Bridge-Wilkinson, Hackney (Taylor 70), Dobie, Graham. Subs not used: Howarth, Campion, Madine.

Attendance: 36,291

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