O'Dea downs 10-man Posh
Darren O'Dea scored a controversial injury-time winner as Leeds secured a 3-2 success over 10-man Peterborough in a game they appeared to have thrown away.
The Republic of Ireland defender's effort went over the goalline seconds before Luciano Becchio made sure in the 95th minute, although the home fans felt O'Dea should have been sent off for a last-man foul minutes earlier.
Becchio also claimed the goal, although the linesman confirmed at the final whistle that O'Dea had scored, flicking in a free-kick from Adam Clayton, who had put Leeds ahead for a second time.
Prior to O'Dea's late intervention, another error from Leeds goalkeeper Paul Rachubka appeared to have cost his side two more points.
Having gifted Coventry a late equaliser on Tuesday, Rachubka was caught in no-man's land as a ball sailed into his penalty area and got tangled up with his defenders, allowing Mark Little to bundle in an 88th-minute equaliser for Posh from six yards.
Andy Keogh put Leeds ahead in the fourth minute with a stunning strike, only for Peterborough to level through Gabriel Zakuani in the 23rd minute.
Posh were reduced to 10 men when striker Lee Tomlin scythed through the back of Keogh eight minutes before the interval.
Peterborough were incensed by the decision, but looked to have gained some reward when Little equalised, only for O'Dea to snatch the winner just seconds after home fans howled for his dismissal following his challenge on David Ball.
Leeds manager Simon Grayson made only one change, with Mika Vayrynen replacing the injured Robert Snodgrass.
Keogh justified his selection when he took a pass from Clayton and teed himself up just inside the area before thundering a volley beyond Posh goalkeeper Paul Jones into the top corner in the fourth minute.
Peterborough were back on level terms after a spell of pressure when Zakuani powered in a header from underneath the crossbar from McCann's corner.
Leeds had the chance to regain the lead straight away, but Keogh's finishing deserted him as he hit straight at Jones when clean through, but the Irish striker remained at the heart of the action and, with 37 minutes gone, was at the centre of the game's first flashpoint when Tomlin was dismissed.
Peterborough were already unhappy that Grayson would not allow his physio to treat Zakuani while the home doctor tended to George Boyd and tensions were raised further as Ferguson urged referee Keith Stroud to allow the latter to return to the field as play continued.
A temporary numerical disadvantage soon became permanent though, as Tomlin clattered through Keogh with a challenge that perhaps looked worse than it was, but Stroud was convinced of its intent and wasted little time in issuing a red card.
Leeds striker Ross McCormack and skipper Jonny Howson missed glaring chances either side of the break - the latter hitting a one-on-one at Jones and the former fizzing over from eight yards.
But with the home side down to 10 men and Leeds creating chances it only looked a matter of time before the visitors took advantage and Clayton did the damage in the 54th minute.
Substitute Lloyd Sam pulled Danny Pugh's cross down and rolled the ball across the area and Clayton stepped inside McCann and stroked home his third goal of the season.
Peterborough appeared to have salvaged a point when Little slipped in to score in the 88th minute and McCann went close to winning it with a free-kick following O'Dea's foul on Ball, only for the defender to have the final say.
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Peterborough 2-3 Leeds: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
