DARLINGTON gave Leeds United a shock to upset George Graham's home debut at Elland Road in the League Cup second round. Substitute Robbie Painter was the visitors' hero as the former Burnley man equalised with 18 minutes left on the clock to the give the third division side a draw to take into the second leg.
Leeds, humiliated by Aston Villa in last season's final, dominated the opening stages and looked to be in control when a revitalised Rod Wallace, playing through the middle in the absence of injured on-loan striker Mark Hateley, put the Premiership side ahead after a quarter of an hour.
Ian Rush had spurned a golden opportunity to equal Geoff Hurst's 49-goal record tally in the tournament after only three minutes, blasting Wallace's low cross over the bar inside the six-yard box. Put Wallace made no mistake when Rush nodded down and Lee Sharpe, returning to the side after missing Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Coventry, split the defence. The former Southampton striker hit a rising shot past Paul Newell.
Darlington's 2,500 travelling fans refused to let deeds's superior passing have its say and former Wolves striker Darren Roberts was their hero after a sustained spell of pressure was rewarded with his eighth goal in nine games. Leeds failed to clear their lines and Anthony Carss lotted the ball back into the area, where Roberts had all the time in the world to finish.
Graham received a rapturous welcome from the 15,711 crowd a. he emerged for the second half and Leeds were back in front five minutes after the break. Rush again was the provider as Wallace drove the ball low past Newell.
Leeds could and should have then taken a two-goal lead, when Rush saw his header flash past the target following Wallace's dash down the left and superb cross. The Welsh international thought he had equalled the record when he bumbled the ball across the line but the effort was disallowed.
Leeds were then made to pay for the missed opportunities when on 72 minutes substitute Painter, only on the field for four minutes, found himself unmarked in the area following Gary Twynham's slick through ball. With Nigel Martyn out of position Painter slid the bail home to the delight of the visiting tans behind the goal.
Afterwards, Graham admitted that his plans will take time. "I feel it was a patchy performance. There's a lot of work to be done," he said.
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