Leeds again flattered to deceive as they warmed up for the restart of their Champions League campaign with another afternoon of frustration at Elland Road.

While Derby might still be searching for their first victory at Leeds since 1974, they will have left Yorkshire the more content with a point to aid their on-going battle against relegation.

Leeds have now scored just seven goals in the last 10 games on their own ground, but remarkably the draw was still enough to lift them into fifth place in the Premiership - their highest league position since mid-October.

As a prelude to Tuesday's visit of Anderlecht, however, United's shot-shy failure in front of their own supporters yet again will have done little to infuse confidence.

It comes to something when the chairman of a football club is forced to plead for patience from the fans in his programme notes, but that is what Peter Ridsdale chose to implore.

Usually such a call is the preserve of a manager, but given Leeds' form at Elland Road over the last few months, Ridsdale decided to voice his opinion as he has come to realise the supporters have been less than happy.

Since Mark Viduka scored all four goals in the 4-3 win over Liverpool on November 4, Leeds have consistently struggled to break down the opposition.

Ridsdale highlighted the fact that against Derby, his side would face a similar scenario, and so it proved as the Rams often had nine, 10 and 11 men behind the ball whenever Leeds pushed forward.

But United must take their share of the blame as far too often, particularly in a sterile first half, the midfield sat far too deep which left Robbie Keane and Mark Viduka isolated up front.

Chances were few and far between, with the only highlight of the opening 45 minutes coming from man-of-the-moment Keane, who collected his Carling player-of-the-month award for January before kick-off.

The second such prize of his career had stemmed from his five goals in five games during the month, and his undoubted talent almost unlocked Derby's defence in the 13th minute.

Two Rams defenders were left trailing in his wake, but keeper Andy Oakes produced a point-blank block to deny Keane what would have been his seventh goal since arriving on loan from Inter Milan in December.

Oakes, continuing to stand in for the injured Mart Poom, also coolly scooped up a low Olivier Dacourt free-kick after just 50 seconds as the Frenchman had been fouled by Horacio Carbonari.

But that was the sum total of United's industry for although they had plenty of possession, their failure to again make it count was sorely underlined.

Nigel Martyn never had a save to make, although the only time he was forced into a notable contribution, he bundled the ball into his own net while under pressure from Deon Burton.

But referee Jeff Winter, having replaced Paul Taylor following the Cheshunt official's decision to 'take a break' for a few weeks after being cleared of an FA misconduct charge, let Martyn off the hook believing Burton had fouled the Leeds keeper.

It was opposite number Oakes who then proved the difference between the sides at the start of the second half as Leeds finally stepped up a gear, pinning Derby back in and around their own area.

After Taribo West had handled 10 yards outside the box in the 50th minute, Oakes was forced into a full-stretch save to his right, although the ball was at a comfortable height for the 24-year-old.

But Oakes then followed that with an acrobatic stop less than two minutes later, tipping away Dacourt's raking 30-yard left-foot drive which was heading for the top right-hand corner.

With the game opening up, Derby then forced Martyn into his first save of the game in the 57th minute with Darryl Powell picking out Malcolm Christie for a close-range shot which the 34-year-old initially spilled before claiming at the second attempt.

Despite Leeds' dominance, the end product was still lacking and it sparked O'Leary into making three substitutions in the space of six minutes midway through the half.

The loudest cheer of the afternoon was reserved for Harry Kewell's 63rd-minute arrival for Jason Wilcox, while Eirik Bakke and Alan Smith replaced Lee Bowyer and Viduka.

Bakke's first touch, a foul on Burton, earned him a yellow card which was also shown to Smith in the 77th minute as he went straight Danny Higginbottom.

They were among seven in the game as Derby's Carbonari, Powell, Burton, Stefanio and Chris Riggott were also cautioned as Winter showed a pedantic streak which did nothing to aid a mediocre match.

Kewell's introduction did raise spirits and it was the Australia winger, who had spent another seven weeks on the sidelines after taking a kick on the scar tissue from an Achilles operation earlier in the season, who almost stole the show.

But a rasping drive from 18 yards flashed across goal in the third minute of injury time at the end of which Leeds left the field unconvincingly unbeaten in their last five matches.

Man of the match: Olivier Dacourt

Teams:

Leeds: Martyn, Ferdinand, Radebe, Matteo, Bowyer (Bakke 69), Dacourt, Batty, Wilcox (Kewell 63), Harte, Keane, Viduka (Smith 69).

Subs Not Used: Robinson, Burns.

Booked: Bakke, Smith.

Derby: Oakes, Riggott, West, O'Neil (Higginbotham 11), Carbonari, Strupar, Burley, Eranio (Bragstad 46), Powell, Burton, Christie (Morris 90).

Subs Not Used: Boertien, Grant.

Booked: Burton, Eranio, Carbonari, Riggott, Powell.

Att: 38,789

Ref: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees).