CLARKE Carlisle's late header rescued a point for Leeds United against Watford last night - and spared the blushes of team-mate Sean Gregan.

The midfielder's backpass howler looked as though it had gifted victory at Elland Road to the busy Hornets.

Instead of finding its intended target, Gregan's pass slammed into defender Paul Butler and rolled in to the patch of Bruce Dyer, who cracked in his second goal of the night.

But with just four minutes left Carlisle headed in Jermaine Wright's clipped cross from the right to earn Leeds a precious point from a 2-2 draw and lift United into 15th place in the Champion-ship.

A draw, played out in front of Elland Road's lowest crowd of the season, was a fair result for a couple of teams who showed a refreshing willingness to throw midfielders forward to supplement their attacks.

The result stretched Watford's unbeaten run to 11 games - nine of which have been draws.

Dyer stroked Watford ahead early on after good work down the left by Heidar Helgusson.

Leeds responded midway through an enterprising first half when Saturday's four-goal hero Brian Deane chested the ball down for Wright to equalise with a crisp 20-yard drive.

A hamstring injury prevented Deane from re-appearing after the interval, but chances continued to be made by both sides.

United's Neil Sullivan and his opposite number, Richard Lee, pulled off great saves in the space of a minute, while David Healy and sub Julian Joachim both had opportunities to put Leeds ahead before Dyer cashed in on Gregan's comedy error.

Assuming Deane is not fit for the televised clash at Rotherham on Monday night, manager Kevin Blackwell must now decide to bring back Michael Ricketts and stick with the recently introduced attacking diamond formation or revert back to 4-4-2.

Leeds United 2, Watford 2

Coca-Cola Championship

(at Elland Road)

Leeds United: Sullivan, Kelly, Carlisle, Butler, Pugh, Oster, Gregan, Wright, Walton, Healy , Deane (Joachim HT). Subs (not used): Carson, Kilgallon, Lennon, Spring. Caution: Walton. Goals: Wright 21, Carlisle 86.

Watford: Lee, Smith, Cox, Dyche, Darlington, Chamberlain, Gun-narsson, Mahon, Ardley ((Young 90), Helgusson, Dyer (Fitzgerald 87). Subs (not used): Chamber-lain, Demerit. Cautions: Helgu- son, Smith. Goals: Dyer 9, 71

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)

Attendance: 24,585

Updated: 09:33 Thursday, November 25, 2004