Battling Rams hold Leeds

Keane and Carbonari battle for the ball

Leeds 0-0 Derby

Derby earned a precious point with a determined rearguard action at Elland Road.

Rams keeper Andy Oakes produced several fine saves to deny Leeds, who failed to capitalise on their territorial advantage.

And perhaps his most crucial stop came with 10 minutes left as he somehow diverted Robbie Keane's close-range effort over the bar.

Harry Kewell, on as a substitute in his first appearance for seven weeks after being sidelined with Achilles trouble, offered home supporters some cheer with a lively display.

But the game was a fairly scrappy affair, and six players were booked.

With Danny Mills missing through illness and Gary Kelly out after a groin operation, Leeds boss David O'Leary used left-back Ian Harte on the right.

  Key moments

1: Oakes stops a low Dacourt free-kick

13: Close-range Keane effort blocked by Oakes

20: Derby 'goal' disallowed

33: Harte shoots wide from 12 yards

49: Oakes makes second diving stop of the half

80: Keane's effort pushed over bar by keeper

85: Strupar heads over for Derby

Derby were seeking their first win at Elland Road for more than 26 years

They welcomed back Belgium international striker Branko Strupar after four months recovering from a series of groin-related injuries.

Craig Burley was passed fit despite missing training on Friday with a calf injury.

Oakes, continuing to stand in for the injured Mart Poom, was first called into action after just 50 seconds.

He scooped up a skidding 20-yard Olivier Dacourt free-kick after the Frenchman had been fouled by Horacio Carbonari.

Award

And he used his feet to thwart Keane, after some neat work in the penalty area from the Republic of Ireland frontman.

It just shows what this league is like because we've moved up a place on the back of a draw

  Leeds United manager David O'Leary

Keane, who collected his Carling player of the month award for January before kick-off, had shimmied his way past two Derby defenders.

From Derby's second corner of the game in the 20th minute, Nigel Martyn tipped the ball in the net while under a seemingly innocuous challenge from Deon Burton.

But referee Jeff Winter let Martyn off the hook, believing Burton had fouled the Leeds keeper.

In driving rain, Harte wasted a chance to open the scoring when he bundled a left-foot shot wide.

The Irish defender also saw a 25-yard free-kick deflected off target.

It was a bit of a battle, but we are happy with a point

  Derby County manager Jim Smith

After the break, Oakes continued an excellent display with two spectacular diving saves to his left.

The keeper first palmed away another Harte free-kick and then tipped wide Dacourt's searing 30-yard strike.

Harte also saw a fierce long-range drive go narrowly over the bar.

Derby forced Martyn into his first save of the game, from Malcolm Christie, in the 57th minute.

The loudest cheer of the afternoon came six minutes later when Kewell took to the pitch, with Wilcox making way.

Strupar went close with a header near the end for the visitors, but Derby appeared happy with the point.

Derby's Burton, Carbonari, Stefano Eranio and Chris Riggott were booked, along with Leeds' Eirik Bakke and Alan Smith.

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Leeds: Martyn, Ferdinand, Radebe, Matteo, Bowyer, Dacourt, Batty, Wilcox, Harte, Keane, Viduka. Subs: Kewell, Robinson, Smith, Bakke, Burns.

Derby: Oakes, Riggott, West, O'Neil, Carbonari, Strupar, Burley, Eranio, Powell, Burton, Christie. Subs: Morris, Higginbotham, Bragstad, Boertien, Grant.

Referee: J Winter (Stockton-on-Tees)