Cornick nets a stunner as battling Luton hold leaders Leeds at Elland Road

Luton produced a truly superb display packed with resilience and fight to earn a wonderful 1-1 draw at Championship leaders Leeds United this evening, breathing further life in their bid for Championship safety.

Up against a Whites side who appear destined for the top flight, Town never gave Marcelo Bielsa's side an inch, defending their area as if their lives depended on it.

Boss Nathan Jones might even be ever so slightly disappointed not to claim all three points, having taken the lead through Harry Cornick's second half goal, but not many come away from Elland Road with a victory, and the draw means Luton are now just two points from safety, having been six when the Championship resumed recently.

The Hatters made four changes for the clash, Danny Hylton making his first start since March 2019, while Callum McManaman, James Bree and Ryan Tunnicliffe all came in for James Collins, Harry Cornick and Elliot Lee, who dropped to the bench, while Jacob Butterfield missed out completely.

Another late change saw Glen Rea miss out with an injury in the warm-up, his place being taken by Martin Cranie as Town lined up with five at the back, although it didn't stop Patrick Bamford from testing Simon Sluga early on, the keeper out to save with his legs.

McManaman, on a booking inside 90 seconds, had appeals for a penalty turned down on 15 minutes, going down inside the area under pressure.

United upped the tempo, Tyler Roberts flashing over the bar from close range, as did Helder Costa, with Town's defending leaving a lot to be desired.

Town still created chances of their own, Sonny Bradley's header from a corner palmed away Illan Meslier, Matty Pearson's spectacular overhead attempt falling wide.

The visitors then settled into proceedings, proving hard to break down, keeping their easy on the eye hosts at arm's length, Sluga finger-tipping Phillips' dangerous cross behind.

He then had to gather a decent effort from Phillips after Leeds won a host of corners before the break, but crucially, Town kept them out.

Boss Nathan Jones introduced Cornick for McManaman at the interval and it paid instant dividends.

The attacker was found by Tunnicliffe's wonderful pass out of defence, but he still had so, so much to do.

He did it quite superbly too, picking his spot to find the top corner in some style, scoring the first goal Leeds had conceded at home since February.

United then ramped up the pressure immediately, Sluga forced into two sprawling stops, before producing some top drawer heroics moments later.

A free kick just outside the box, saw Luke Ayling's low effort draw one excellent low parry, as he somehow blocked the follow up from Ezgjan Alioski, with Costa's rebound dropping just wide.

Leeds weren't behind for long though, drawing level on 62 minutes when Alioski's incisive pass into the area saw Stuart Dallas take a touch and confidently slot into the bottom corner.

Jones reacted to the goal by bringing on top scorer Collins and Luke Bolton for Hylton and Cranie, as Leeds kept threatening, an unmarked Alioski heading wide at the back post.

Unsurprisingly, it was Leeds who were now looking the more likely, Bamford's flick brushing the side-netting, while he then fluffed his lines from Luke Ayling's excellent run and cross, falling over as the opportunity went begging.

Leeds thought they had a penalty when Bamford appeared to be pulled back by Pearson, with nothing given, while a late opportunity was deflected inches wide.

Town then almost snatched a winner when Cornick's low cross was just cut out, while Sluga held Ayling's snapshot.

In the dying seconds, Costa missed the target when completely unmarked as United thankfully couldn't break Luton's hearts for a second time this term with a stoppage time winner.

Whites: Illan Meslier, Luke Ayling, Ben White, Liam Cooper (C Gaetano Berardi 12, Ezgjan Alioski 46), Patrick Bamford, Tyler Roberts, Stuart Dallas (Jamie Shackleton 90), Helder Costa, Jack Harrison, Kalvin Phillips, Mateusz Klich (Pablo Hernandez 60).

Subs not used: Kamil Miazek, Barry Douglas, Ian Poveda, Pascal Stuijk, Robbie Gotts.

Hatters: Simon Sluga, Matty Pearson, Dan Potts, Sonny Bradley (C), Cameron Carter-Vickers, Martin Cranie (Luke Bolton 64), Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu, Ryan Tunnicliffe, James Bree, Callum McManaman (Harry Cornick 46), Danny Hylton (James Collins 64).

Subs not used: James Shea, Jacob Butterfield, Elliot Lee, Andrew Shinnie, George Moncur, Izzy Brown.

Booked: McManaman 2, Cranie 56, Cornick 74, Potts 87, Collins 87.

Referee: John Brooks.