The Diamonds enjoyed a day to remember with a battling performance to earn a money-spinning replay at Elland Road.

BBC Radio 5 Live's Mike Ingham reports from Nene Park

A crowd of 6,431 packed into their £20m Nene Park stadium, financed by shoe manufacturer Max Griggs.

Leeds dominated possession for long periods but American goalkeeper Ian Feuer keopt them at bay and there were several anxious moments for opposite number Nigel Martyn.

The Premiership club had to play the last 16 minutes without defender Jonathan Woodgate, who was shown the red card for a second bookable offence but Rushden could not make their numerical advantage count.

"It was a good cup tie which gave me an enormous amount of satisfaction. But the players must take a lot of the credit. They did themselves proud," said Diamonds manager Brian Talbot.

"We had to bridge the gap between Conference and Premiership and we did it quite well and I'm pleased we're in the hat for the fourth round."

An early scare for Leeds

Adrian Foster had a chance to make a name for himself inside the opening minute but the 13-goal striker's header was inches wide after Michael McElhatton had flicked on a corner at the near post.

The home side were given a warning as Dutch striker Clyde Wijnhard fired a shot against the foot of a post, with David Hopkin and Danny Granville unable to convert the rebound.

Jonathan Woodgate, here shadowing Carl Heggs, took an early bath

Rushden were forced to back-pedal as Leeds broke in the 14th minute but Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink elected to pull the ball back for Lee Bowyer instead of shooting, and Rodwell cleared the danger.

The Premiership side gradually made their extra quality tell by forcing a series of corners and Las Vegas-born 'keeper Ian Feuer pulled off fine saves to deny Hasselbaink and Wijnhard.

Harry Kewell drove another effort the wrong side of the upright but Leeds were given a warning when Diamonds skipper Gary Butterworth forced Nigel Martyn to tip a 25-yard shot over the bar.

Foster was close with an acrobatic overhead and he almost opened the scoring early in the second half with a curling shot.

Rushden had a biting wind in their favour after the break but it took a timely block from the impressive Rodwell to prevent Hasselbaink's goalbound drive from putting Leeds in front.

Feuer excelled on the hour by swooping to his left to keep out Harry Kewell's low drive and Leeds continued to press with Hopkin hammering a shot past the post.

Leeds sent on Alan Smith in place of Wijnhard, but had to reshuffle again when Woodgate was sent off for bringing down Paul Underwood on the edge of the penalty area.

Rushden & Diamonds: Feuer, Wooding, Bradshaw, Hamsher, Rodwell, Heggs, McElhatton, Butterworth, Foster, De Souza, Underwood. Subs: Brady, Corry, Whyte, Wilson, Cooper.

Leeds: Martyn, Haaland, Wijnhard, Hasselbaink, Bowyer, Hopkin, Granville, Halle, Kewell, Harte, Woodgate. Subs: Ribeiro, Jackson, McPhail, Smith, Robinson.