Leeds 1-1 Derby: Chris Martin scores stoppage-time equaliser as Rams hold Whites

In the end, there was only heartbreak again for Leeds.

As Derby striker Chris Martin drove a low finish past Kiko Casilla in stoppage time, there was despair and a sense of utter disbelief.

They had somehow managed to drop two points to a side so outclassed they had failed to trouble the Leeds keeper in the previous 90 minutes.

An own goal from Max Lowe had put the hosts ahead in the 20th minute, but they spurned chances galore, including a penalty miss from Mateusz Klich, and paid a heavy price.

No one needed to remind Leeds of their agonising play-off semi-final loss in May against the same opponents.

Nor of spygate and binocular celebrations to the tune of ‘Stop Crying Your Heart Out’ as they failed to win promotion and Derby surprisingly booked a Wembley meeting with Aston Villa.

Four months on and this looked a case of ‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ for Marcelo Bielsa’s men as they make another tilt at a Premier League return.

This was not the match-up of May as, but for the nervy finale, they largely controlled a Derby side whose dismal run without a league win extended to seven games.

Without Frank Lampard at the helm and their loan rangers of last season - Mason Mount, Harry Wilson and Fikayo Tomori - it was like the Rams were armed with a pea shooter at Elland Road as Leeds came out all guns blazing to signal a message of intent.

With an expectant, hostile home crowd baying for their team to make amends for last season’s disappointing events, the game crackled into life from the outset.

Pablo Hernandez pounced on a weak clearance from Rams keeper Kelle Roos and only a vital interception from the backtracking Tom Huddlestone prevented Patrick Bamford from having a clear sight of goal.

Matthew Clarke was next to defend superbly to cut out a Jack Harrison cross after more Leeds pressure.

The first real opening came in the 19th minute when Hernandez found space on the right and his low cross was met by Harrison six yards out, but Roos made a fine block.

There was no respite for the Rams though as a minute later Leeds deservedly took the lead.

Bamford touched on a Kalvin Phillips free kick in the box and Stuart Dallas slammed in a shot that was saved by Roos, but struck Lowe and looped back into the net.

Derby were in disarray and Dallas had an effort tipped over before captain Richard Keogh made a timely clearance after right back poked a cross-shot past Roos. The visiting keeper then pushed away a fizzing 20-yard drive from Harrison.

It was breathless and, at times, brilliant from Bielsa’s side, dominant but just lacking ruthlessness.

Seven minutes before the break, Bamford effortlessly collected a long pass from Ezgjan Alioski, but his lob was too casual and too high.

The frontman, under pressure for his place with Arsenal loanee Eddie Nketiah still waiting for his first league start despite his matchwinning heroics off the bench, was desperate to score and blazed a drive wide after yet another flowing move.

There was more despair for Bamford within two minutes of the break when he was perfectly placed to meet a Dallas cross, but struck the post.

It seemed bizarre how Derby were only a goal down and it was from this very situation where they came back to beat Leeds 4-2 in that play-off victory.

Yet even their most ardent of followers could not envisage a repeat as struggled to get hold of the ball let alone test Kiko Casilla’s goal.

Martyn Waghorn finally had their first attempt in the 56th minute but it was wide.

Forlorn, feeble and lacking fight, this was a display that earmarked them as relegation candidates.

But it was as if Leeds took pity on them as they could not claim the decisive second goal.

They could not have had a better opportunity than in the 70th minute when Klich slotted his spot-kick wide after Bamford had been brought down under pressure from Clarke and Scott Malone as he danced his way into the box.

How they rued that miss when Martin fired past Casilla in the first minute of added time for his first Rams goal in two years.