Leeds blew the chance to go fourth in Coca-Cola League One when they let slip a two-goal lead and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at 10-man Leyton Orient.
Robert Snodgrass' two goals, in the ninth and 60th minutes, appeared to have put United in control at Brisbane Road - especially after Jason Demetriou was sent off for the handball which led to the penalty for the visitors' second.
But Sean Thornton (65) kept hope alive, and then Simon Church answered Orient's prayers to salvage a point - leaving Leeds level with MK Dons but just behind their play-off rivals on goal difference.
At the bottom of the table, struggling Brighton earned three precious points at Hereford to stretch six clear of their hosts - who remain deep in relegation trouble.
Tommy Fraser (nine) and Lloyd Owusu (75) did the trick for Brighton, and Kris Taylor's 90th-minute effort for the hosts was too little too late in a 2-1 defeat.
Copyright (c) PA Sport 2009, All Rights Reserved.
