Ten-man Leeds hold out

Smith was sent-off for a clash with Alpay

Leeds 1-1 Aston Villa

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Leeds striker Alan Smith was controversially shown a fifth red card in two years in his side's draw with Aston Villa.

Smith was rewarded for a lively start with the opening goal when he powered in a 19th minute shot from strike partner Robbie Keane's pass.

But Smith's fortunes went from one extreme to the other when he was dismissed for an apparent elbow on Villa defender Alpay Ozalan.

  Key moments

19 mins: Smith puts Leeds ahead

32: Smith is red carded for violent conduct

35: Kachloul expertly equalises for Villa

Villa exacted almost immediate advantage with a spectacular equaliser from Hassan Kachloul.

Villa's midfielder scored with a scissors-kick from Paul Merson's free-kick.

Ten-man Leeds' impressive defensive qualities kept Villa at comfortable bay and the home side could even have stolen a win but Rio Ferdinand's header hit the post in injury-time.

Leeds were again without several key players, but still started brightly.

Their first chance came after six minutes when Keane disappointingly mis-kicked from close range.

Villa's Alan Wright saw a well-struck 25-yard shot saved by keeper Nigel Martyn before Darius Vassell should have done better than to put a free header wide a minute later.

Kachloul scored with a scissors-kick

The home side heeded the vistors' warning with Keane intercepting a Wright back-pass and setting up Smith to score with a left-foot shot.

The troublesome Smith and Keane both had headed efforts with the latter forcing Villa keeper Schmeichel into a point-blank one-handed save after 25 minutes.

But the superiority Leeds were enjoying came to a brief end when Smith was sent-off.

The controversial forward's fiery reputation was enhanced when he was sent-off and Villa soon pulled level in spectacular fashion.

Kachloul showed technique and precision to equalise with a first-time volley.

And any Leeds anger at Smith's dismissal was only intensified shortly after the interval.

Lee Hendrie looked to have lashed out at Danny Mills but was punished with a yellow card.

There was little sign that Leeds were playing with 10 men during the second half and they could have gone in front through Keane.

Leeds midfielder Eirik Bakke's shot was only parried but Keane put the rebound over the crossbar.

Ferdinand looked like he had scored in injury-time but his header came back off the post.

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Leeds: Martyn, Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte, Bakke, Batty, Johnson, Wilcox, Keane, Smith. Subs: Robinson, Kelly, Dacourt, McPhail, Duberry.

Aston Villa: Schmeichel, Stone, Alpay, Mellberg, Wright, Merson, Boateng, Hendrie, Kachloul, Angel, Vassell. Subs: Enckelman, Taylor, Dublin, Staunton, Ginola.

Referee: N Barry (Scunthorpe)