Former Leeds favourite Nigel Martyn denied his relegation-threatened former club a full three points with a string of top-class saves in tonight's 1-1 draw at Elland Road.

Martyn was at his best on his return to the place where he enjoyed 11 good years - and had it not been for him Leeds would have been ahead at half-time and out of sight in the second half.

England striker Wayne Rooney's 12th-minute shot from 20 yards surprised Paul Robinson for the opening goal, but at the other end Martyn produced two top-class saves from James Milner and Alan Smith before the interval.

But even the former England international could do nothing to keep out Milner's coolly-taken 49th-minute equaliser following Mark Viduka's cushioned lay-off.

The draw made it five matches unbeaten at home - a run which has garnered 11 crucial points and kept alive hopes Leeds can beat the drop to Division One. It was also enough to keep second-from-bottom Leicester below them.

Seth Johnson failed to recover from the knee injury sustained in the win at Blackburn on Saturday - so Lucas Radebe, playing his first match since December 22, was brought in to play alongside fellow centre-half Dominic Matteo in midfield.

Rooney returned from suspension, meaning James McFadden dropped to the Everton bench.

Smith forced Tobias Linderoth to concede a second-minute corner. But with four white shirts heading for the six-yard box, Ian Harte's poor delivery was aimed at the edge of the penalty area - and the danger was cleared.

Tomasz Radzinski should have put Everton ahead in the seventh minute when Linderoth's slide-rule pass put him clean through, but his shot was turned around the post by Robinson.

Five minutes later Everton did take the lead with a goal from nowhere by Rooney. Leeds failed to clear a left-wing corner - and when Steve Watson squared a pass from left to right the England man drilled home from 20 yards.

Robinson would have been disappointed with that. But moments later Leeds were saved by the post as Thomas Gravesen released Radzinski on the right of the penalty area only for his shot across Robinson to bounce back off the upright and allow the grateful goalkeeper to clasp the ball to his chest.

Smith, ever the livewire, had a good chance from Jermaine Pennant's 26th-minute left-wing corner but he headed over unchallenged from 12 yards when he should have done better.

Martyn then rolled back the years with a superb one-handed save to deny Milner who had curled in a shot from wide on the left after spotting the goalkeeper out of position, having tried to clear a back-pass.

Martyn was at it again in the 37th minute, turning over a long-range Smith shot which was destined for the top corner.

Such was his form in the first half the Leeds fans behind his goal chanted 'Nigel, give us a goal' - but the goalkeeper was in no mood to be handing out favours.

It appeared Martyn would be Leeds' nemesis as he denied Viduka by parrying his 49th-minute close-range shot with the ball narrowly evading Smith.

But when it was immediately returned into the centre the Australian striker provided the lay-off and Milner coolly stroked home left-footed just inside Martyn's right-hand post.

The goal lifted the majority of the 39,385 crowd - and moments later a flowing move, instigated by the teenaged Milner and including Viduka and Smith, saw the youngster narrowly miss giving his side the lead from close range.

But almost as soon as Leeds found their spark they lost it again as the final ball into the penalty area was found wanting.

As a result Everton, who wanted to slow down the game at every opportunity, looked more dangerous on the counter-attack - and Rooney almost sprung the offside trap midway through the half.

Pennant should have done better when he cut inside Gary Naysmith in the 70th minute but failed to clear the first defender with his cross.

Martyn produced another good block from 10 yards to deny Smith after good interplay with Viduka and from the resulting corner the Australian hooked wide.

Leeds searched in vain for the winner their second-half domination deserved but in the end fell just short.

Teams

Leeds: Robinson, Kelly, Caldwell, Duberry, Harte, Pennant, Radebe, Matteo, Milner, Smith, Viduka.

Subs Not Used: Carson, Barmby, Olembe, Lennon, Simon Johnson.

Booked: Caldwell, Radebe.

Goals: Milner 50.

Everton: Martyn, Pistone, Yobo, Unsworth, Naysmith, Watson (McFadden 55), Gravesen (Carsley 80), Linderoth (Nyarko 55), Kilbane, Rooney, Radzinski.

Subs Not Used: Wright, Hibbert.

Booked: Nyarko.

Goals: Rooney 13.

Att: 39,835

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).