Stalemate at Elland Road

Sheffield United came from a goal down to earn a 1-1 draw with Yorkshire rivals Leeds United.

Frazer Richardson's fine second half strike was cancelled out by Steve Kabba for a share of the spoils on Friday evening.

The vocal Elland Road crowd saw a lively and competitive start to the match, with the visitors creating the first chance when Phil Jagielka struck a fierce right foot shot just wide from distance.

Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan had to be at the best to keep The Blades at bay, with the Scotland international making some key saves in the opening 45 minutes.

He was alert to block Alan Quinn's close range shot after the striker dispossessed fellow Irishman Gary Kelly in the Leeds box before stopping a shot from Kabba with a diving save after the striker latched on to Neil Shipperley's pass on the edge of the box.

The Leeds custodian then had to tip another Kabba strike over the bar after the Blades hit-man made a fine run in from the left flank before shooting from the edge of the box.

The Whites were not as potent with their first half opportunities, as Daniel Harding missed the target with a long-range strike and Richardson fired a shot right at Sheffield United goalkeeper Paddy Kenny.

The best chance of the half fell to Rob Hulse but the Leeds striker failed to hit the target with his far post header from Robbie Blake's deflected cross and both sides went in at the break goalless.

The second half saw Leeds start positively and their approach paid dividends on 53 minutes, as Blake found Richardson on the right before he eluded Alan Wright and struck an acute shot that beat Kenny for 1-0.

The goal, however, sparked the Championship leaders into action and after Quinn missed the target with a well-hit free kick, Kabba levelled matters on 69 minutes.

After taking a pass from substitute Danny Webber on the edge of Leeds' box, Kabba struck a shot low past Sullivan and into the far corner for 1-1.

Both sides kept pressing for a winner until the full time whistle, but a draw seemed the fairest result in the end for two of the division's promotion challengers.