Mateo Joseph's deflected effort earned Leeds a point
Jack Whatmough's stoppage-time own goal gave Leeds United a point at Preston North End as the Whites kept pace at the top of the Championship.
A blistering first-half counter-attack started and finished by Brad Potts, allied to stubborn second-half resistance, looked to have given Preston victory and Leeds a third defeat on the road in four.
But the home side succumbed to relentless pressure from Daniel Farke's outfit and in the 93rd minute, Dan James provided the cross that flicked in off the unfortunate Whatmough.
Second-placed Leeds are now three points behind leaders Sheffield United after the Blades beat Plymouth later on Saturday.
Despite the disappointment Preston boss Paul Heckingbottom can take comfort in the improvement being shown by his side with this result making it a six match unbeaten streak.
Even though they avoided just a fourth league loss of the season, a draw means they have won only one of their past eight games away from Elland Road.
It was, therefore, with a degree of resignation that the 5,656 fans in the away end, boisterously 'marching on together' with their team before kick off, watched Preston take the lead.
The opener was a work of art. A perfectly executed counter-attack was started on the edge of his own box and finished at Illan Meslier's near post by Potts.
In between, Milutin Osmajic had spun a Leeds defender before sprinting down the right flank and whipping in a perfect cross behind a back-pedalling defence.
Leeds had chances in the first half to equalise, the best falling to Brenden Aaronson who fluffed his lines horribly when presented with an opportunity 10 yards out.
They were also furious that Preston midfielder Ben Whiteman remained on the pitch on 36 minutes. After being booked earlier for clipping Aaronson, his robust challenge on Jayden Bogle, taking ball then man, could have seen another yellow produced.
Farke received a booking from referee John Busby for his protests.
Leeds were much improved in the second half and loaded pressure on hosts who were tormented by the pace from Wilfried Gnonto and James from the left and right sides.
Ao Tanaka had an effort blocked after one such burst down the left from Gnonto, Freddie Woodman getting his positioning right to block.
With Leeds pouring forward, Preston remained dangerous on the break and Emil Riis went close on the hour mark, heading straight at Meslier when a yard either side could have sealed the points.
It proved to be a turning point.
Patrick Bamford replaced Aaronson on 65 minutes as Farke rolled the dice and the striker went close to levelling five minutes later only to see a backheel from three yards out slice wide after James flashed the ball across goal.
Welsh forward James hit the crossbar with a 20-yard effort before Largie Ramazani had a shot pushed around the post by Woodman, but the direction of travel was one way as the final whistle approached.
A minute before the end, the outstanding James delivered another dangerous cross into the box and, with Leeds striker Mateo Joseph lurking, the ball took a decisive touch off Whatmough.
Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom:
"It's frustrating because of the timing of the goal.
"For the way the players defended, it's sickening but Leeds threw everything at us and we had to stand strong.
"We did [stand strong], Freddie [Woodman] had to deal with things from about 25-to-30 yards and any cross in the box we dealt with.
"The goal is probably what Leeds needed today to beat us. It was a messy goal, unfortunate from our point of view, but you have to give them credit for the way they've stuck at it."
Leeds manager Daniel Farke:
"If you can't win it then you have to make sure you don't lose it.
"When you see the story of the game, we didn't start that well until the final 20 minutes or whatever as we tried to push for the equaliser. They were defending really well.
"To score the goal in added time, also in this way, after we took so much risk and made so many changes in the game feels like a valuable and priceless point, especially in an away game.
"It's a good point on the board in a tough place. I think Preston defended really well."
Manager Daniel Farke reflects after his side rescue late point at Preston.
