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Tottenham 2-2 Leeds United. Beckford penalty drama gives Leeds replay.

Jermaine Beckford certainly knows how to grab the headlines in this FA Cup.

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Not content with scoring the first winning goal for a Leeds United team at Old Trafford in 29 years, he decides to get another two at White Hart Lane against Tottenham.

This match was everything a cup tie should be, and it ended in the most dramatic of fashion.

After another replica 50 yard ball from Howson to Beckford, Leeds' number showed some quick feet to confuse Michael Dawson into hacking him down in the area with 4 minutes gone of injury time.

The ground paused. Almost near silence from a 35,000 crowd waiting to see the referees reaction to the tackle. And after what seemed a lifetime, ref Alan Wiley blew his whistle and slowly stretched his arm towards the penalty spot. Penalty.

Tottenham fans grew nervous, Leeds fans even more so. When Leeds are awarded a penalty the majority of Leeds fans don't expect much as our penalty taking record is shocking. It's a record as bad as anything done by Duffy (come on, honestly, you listen and try and tell me it doesn't sound like she's giving birth to a hedgehog out of her arse).

This record includes Jermaine Beckford who last missed a penalty in the play off semi final last season, a big match, a big occasion.

So what does he go and do? Steps up cool as you like and scores the picture perfect penalty. Side footed right into the top left hand corner.

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Cue mass delirium a la Old Trafford from 4,500 travelling fans, described by ITV commentator with these words; "What a travelling army of fans."

After a torrential decade that the noughties was, the......erm.....tens? Teenies? has started like a house on fire, well in the F.A Cup anyway, and the fans deserve every single second of it.

Although early on it looked like it was going to be anything but a draw. Tottenham bombarded the Leeds third from the start, but as shown at Old Trafford, the visitors were resolute in defending, throwing anything and everyone in front of the ball.

Casper Ankergren was alert early on has Jermaine Defoe tried to lob the Danish keeper from outside of the area, but backtracked well to tip over.

He was also equal to the numerous direct free kicks flying his way in the opening 25 minutes but his crowning moment came on 8 minutes.

Micky Doyle punished for a foul on former Leeds trainee Danny Rose when they collided in the box and Tottenham were awarded a penalty.

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Defoe stepped up extremely casually and shot a weak penalty down to Ankergren's left and the big Dane made a relatively easy save to keep the hopes of an upset alive.

If that penalty had gone in, combined with the early Tottenham pressure, it could've been a long afternoon for Leeds.

Finally after about 25 minutes, Leeds decided to go into the Tottenham half for a bit, with Robert Snodgrass sitting just behind Beckford playing a pivotal role.

And it was the scot who had Leeds' first real chance following some neat build up play, the 22 year old opened up his body and curled a nice effort forcing an outstretched save from Spurs' keeper Gomes to tip wide of his left hand post.

All the while Leeds continued to defend resolutely, with Crowe, Hughes, Bromby and Kisnorbo all battling away like trojans to deny Defoe, Crouch and pretty much the whole Tottenham team.

Beckford screwed one effort past the post before a lobbed Snodgrass ball lead to a shot on the half volley which forced another save from Gomes, Leeds were starting to get some freedom in the midfield.

But just before half time, Peter Crouch gave the premiership side the lead, when a Bale ball lead to a shot from close range by Krancjar inside the box but was denied by Ankergren's legs, only for it to drop nicely for Crouch to smash home.

1-0 at half time.

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Second half and Leeds came out on fire, and got an equaliser on 52 minutes when a Snodgrass corner whipped in low into the six yard box caused chaos, and one Jermaine in Jermaine Jenas decided to commit harry carry and try and pass it back to the keeper, it bobbled around and Beckford slid in to hook the ball home.

Tottenham hardly had any of the ball and so made a double change with Leeds old boy Robbie Keane coming on and out of favour striker Roman Pavlyuchenko.

And it was the Russian who put Tottenham back in front after a lovely move. Defoe played the ball towards Pavlyuchenko who dummied nicely for Palacios who then fed it into the box for the Russian to slot home for 2-1.

It looked like game over as Tottenham continued to threaten forcing a goal line clearance from Hughes.

But as the injury time board showed 5 minutes to be added on, the Leeds fans started chanting 'Fergie Time' and pushed on.

In a number of games this season, the fitness of the Leeds players has got them through games scoring numerous injury time goals.

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And with just 30 seconds left in jury time Beckford won and converted the crucial penalty to set up the replay at Elland Road on February 2nd.

An unbelievable end to a match which again showed Leeds as a club on the up, on the way back and as ITV presenter Steve Ryder said at the end of the show;

"Today has shown why the premiership needs Leeds United back, and lets hope they get back as soon as they can."

Never in my time as a Leeds fan have I have ever known the press want us to do so well and get back, normally they like to kick us while we're down.

But with these two FA cup games and league form, we have shown that we have the fans, the great young manager, the hungry young team, the pride and passion that has been sorely lacking and that everyone admires.

We will be back.

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