Managerless Derby ground out a second successive goalless draw under caretaker-boss Terry Westley and put the brakes on Leeds' drive for promotion at Pride Park.

Derby halted a run of three successive defeats with a 0-0 draw at Southampton in Westley's first match in charge and turned in another much-improved all-round display to frustrate Leeds in a game of limited chances.

On-loan Derby striker Danny Graham came closest to breaking the deadlock but his close-range second-half snapshot was tipped acrobatically over the crossbar by Leeds goalkeeper Neil Sullivan.

Derby were without the suspended Inigo Idiakez, while Westley handed Mounir El Hamdaoui his first start since the Moroccan injured a shoulder at Molineux in November.

El Hamdaoui partnered fellow loan signing Graham up front, with Morten Bisgaard preferred to Lee Holmes in midfield and Richard Jackson standing in for Michael Johnson.

Defender Johnson underwent knee surgery this week, as did namesake and former Leeds midfielder Seth.

David Healy was suspended so Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake were paired up front, with Ian Moore on the bench and Richard Cresswell missing out altogether.

Both goalkeepers were forced into early action with Lee Camp holding Blake's close-range effort and Neil Sullivan equally alert to snaffle Giles Barnes' 25-yard volley.

Bisgaard's volley and Graham's header caused alarm in the Leeds defence before visiting captain Paul Butler forced a comfortable save from Camp with a header from Eddie Lewis' corner.

Otherwise chances were few and far between. Tommy Johnson and Bisgaard fired successive free-kicks against the wall, while the latter dragged another shot from Tomasz Hajto's free-kick wide.

Lewis curled a 25-yard free-kick around the wall just before the break that Camp saved comfortably but both defences finished the first half on top.

Both sides were committed to attack after the restart. Leeds midfielder Liam Miller's 25-yard volley was held by Camp and El Hamdaoui fired just wide with a left-footed drive from similar distance.

Hulse then headed over from Lewis' free-kick before Sullivan denied Derby's Graham the opening goal.

The young Middlesbrough striker's goalbound snap-shot from close range was turned away at full stretch by Sullivan, who then saw his opposite number Camp thwart Miller again after the Irishman unleash another shot from the edge of the area.

Kevin Blackwell handed Moore his first taste of action since defeat at Wolves in December, the former Burnley forward replacing Blake with 20 minutes to go.

Westley responded by replacing Bisgaard and Graham with Holmes and Paul Peschisolido, but Leeds almost broke the deadlock when Jonathan Douglas connected with Miller's cross only for the ball to sail over the crossbar.

Holmes then curled a shot from 25 yards just over at the other end as the game ended in stalemate.

Derby Camp, Edworthy, Hajto, Moore, Jackson (Doyle 61),Bisgaard (Holmes 74), Bolder, Barnes, Smith, El Hamdaoui,Graham (Peschisolido 74).

Subs Not Used: Poole, Nyatanga.

Booked: Hajto, El Hamdaoui.

Leeds Sullivan, Kelly, Butler, Gregan, Crainey, Miller,Douglas, Derry, Lewis (Pugh 89), Hulse, Blake (Moore 71).

Subs Not Used: Bennett, Einarsson, Walton.

Booked: Derry, Kelly.

Att: 27,000

Ref: P Dowd (Staffordshire).