The Elland Road club were restricted to a point from their third match of the season at Huish Park by a contentious second-half penalty decision, and Whitestone's performance throughout Saturday's League One fixture incensed Leeds' squad.

The penalty award, which came on 61 minutes with United leading
1-0 and in control of the game, followed an alleged foul by Paul Huntington on Yeovil striker Paul Warne 12 yards from goal.

Neither Leeds manager Gary McAllister nor his counterpart Russell Slade witnessed the incident, but though Lloyd Owusu saw his penalty parried by Casper Ankergren, the ex-Sheffield Wednesday forward converted the rebound from close range to earn Yeovil a draw.

United winger Andy Robinson said: "Hunty swore blind that he didn't touch the man and that (Warne) went over far too easily.

"The referee was too quick to jump on the decision, like he was all game.

"We felt we were heading for a win but decisions change games. It cost us two points.

"It's a League One game and I think we got a League One standard of refereeing in my opinion."

United's slender lead had been provided by a goal from Luciano Becchio inside 30 seconds of Saturday's game – his first goal for the club on his full league debut – and McAllister's defence had been largely untroubled until Whitestone's intervention.

Full-back Alan Sheehan said: "I didn't really see what went on with the penalty but I thought the referee was embarrassing.

"I'm not going to mind my words because he was absolutely awful. I felt we were strolling in the first half and I'm really disappointed to be leaving Yeovil with a draw.

"When the decisions were going against us in the second half it was difficult to keep your head, and he didn't give us anything."

Sheehan, who suffered mild concussion during the game at Huish Park and is a doubt for tomorrow's Carling Cup second-round tie against Crystal Palace, said: "What the manager looked for after Oldham was a reaction, and he had it in the first half. But things didn't go right in the second half.

"Everyone can use the referee as an excuse but we've got to be better as well. We should be capable of getting a couple of goals at any ground in this league.

"There's a good mood among the players because deep down we know we can be the best team in this league but I'm disappointed to have four points after three games."

McAllister spared Whitestone from severe criticism after the final whistle and he reflected a mood of under-achievement in his dressing room.

The United boss said: "We didn't play well, I've got to underline that, but although Yeovil were causing us problems, we were coping pretty well.

"There are more positives to take (than the Oldham game) but we set our standards high and we wanted to come to Yeovil and control things better. In order to do that, we've got to pass the ball better.

"We were denied space but that's going to happen in this league. We've got to improve."

Becchio's goal came as a consolation for McAllister, who found the net with 25 seconds on the clock.

"I thought Luciano worked hard," McAllister said. "He showed what he's capable of with that goal, but we're still looking for more."