LEEDS United’s lead at the top of the Championship was cut to a single point after they blew a two-goal lead in the final ten minutes at relegation-threatened Hull City.

The Whites, 3-1 up, appeared to be cruising to victory at the MKM Stadium when goalkeeper Illan Meslier’s error opened the comeback door for the Tigers.

Instead of palming Sean McLoughlin’s header from a freekick over the bar he flapped it down straight to Joao Pedro who gobbled up the chance.

After Dan James squandered a great opportunity to restore United’s two-goal cushion the revitalised Humbersiders believed they could still get something out of the game.

In the 89th minute a Gustavo Puerta corner was headed out to the unmarked Abu Kamara who fired the ball crisply past Meslier and see Leeds let maximum points slip away at the death for the second game running.

Leeds had been on course for victory but were pegged back to 3-3 late on. (Image: PA) It was Kamara who lit the blue touchpaper to an enthralling game by opening the scoring after five minutes. He ran off the back of Max Wober to latch on to Mason Burstow’s long pass through the middle and lob over the onrushing Meslier.

It was a cheap goal to conceded and although Leeds applied plenty of pressure as they sought an equaliser the Tigers should have doubled their lead before the interval. A Puerta cross evaded everyone except Regan Slater at the far post who slammed his effort against an upright when it seemed easier to score.

It proved a costly miss as a minute into the second half Ao Tanaka’s spectacular curler found the far top corner.

Leeds began to click. Just beyond the hour Manor Solomon’s deflected cross found its way to Jayden Bogle whose cut-back was swept it by James.

Dan James put Leeds 2-1 up just after the hour, with Joel Piroe soon adding a third. (Image: PA) There looked no way back for City when goalkeeper Ivor Pandur passed the ball straight to Joel Piroe who drove into the box and fired home for his tenth of the season.

At 3-1 up after 72 minutes should have seen the game out but another goalkeeping blunder at the other end cost Leeds dear. While title rivals Burnley and Sheffield United both won their away games, Leeds didn’t have the steel or nous to secure maximum points

Unlike many teams near the bottom the Tigers made a real effort to get at Leeds, finding plenty of space in midfield to drive forward and almost matched the leaders, shot for shot.

Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: “Disappointed is probably the right word. In the first-half we were not sharp enough in both boxes. At half time I told players to move up higher. There are times where midfielders need to push higher.

“It was a good reaction in the second-half. We were in control at 3-1 and could have scored a fourth, fifth or sixth goal, especially with Daniel James having a one-on-one chance.

“It’s then difficult to accept how we conceded two late goals without them really having a chance in the half, but somehow they were able to score.”