Premiership: Leeds hold on for draw

Dominic Matteo became the sixth Leeds player to be sent off this season, but 10-man United drew 0-0 at Everton.

Matteo was dismissed for two yellow card offences at the end of the first half, compounding a defensive crisis for Leeds - Rio Ferdinand pulled out of the game with a back injury an hour before kick-off.

The match ended with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale taking an amazing trek around the pitch to talk to disgruntled fans who had been abusing their team, David O'Leary and his coach Brian Kidd for much of a shocking match.

Referee Andy D'Urso had booked Matteo for tripping Tomasz Radzinski as the little Everton man had scampered away down the right just 11 minutes before producing the red card as the centre-back went straight through Kevin Campbell from behind. Matteo had got away with a couple of previous heavy challenges on the Everton skipper.

Everton should have gone ahead a couple of minutes after the dismissal. Gemmill set up Radzinski 10 yards out with a neat pass, but he drilled his shot straight at an exposed Nigel Martyn.

Leeds then launched a lightning break seconds before half-time when Mark Viduka fed Harry Kewell, and Steve Simonsen was forced into a double save from the Aussie.

There had been a pretty unpleasant undertone anyway in the first half, and it got worse in the second. Alan Smith was soon booked for a foul on Lee Carsley and then lucky not to go off for clattering into Gemmill three minutes later.

D'Urso did nothing, and he struggled to keep control from this point on. David Batty flattened Gemmill and again there was no free-kick, with Everton raging. Seconds later Ian Harte clung onto Radzinski in the box but again there was no action, although there were plenty of verbals from Martyn and Duberry aimed at the grounded striker. The next booking was for Radzinski for diving, Batty having had minimal contact on the hour, with the striker flinging himself to the ground in the box.

There had been precious little football in all this mayhem but Tobias Linderoth should have scored when put away by Campbell.

David Ginola and Thomas Gravesen were hurled into the fray for Everton and instantly there was a double chance for Campbell, Bakke blocking the first and Martyn bravely at the striker's feet saved the second.

In the last seconds Batty clambered all over Radzinski once more. Again no penalty was awarded and a distasteful game ended with more argy-bargy from the players.

Leeds stretched their winless run to 10 matches, but still moved up one place in the Premiership.