Nothing more than a victory over Leicester City – League One's leaders and champions-elect – would have encompassed a true change in the footballing recession that has taken hold of Leeds, but a draw achieved in the final seconds at Elland Road yesterday was the next best thing.

Four minutes away from their sixth defeat in as many games, United rose to the occasion of their new manager's induction and scored a 90th-minute goal which secured the club a welcome point, their first accrued from a league game since November 22.

Robert Snodgrass' far-post finish changed the mood of a stadium which was packed to the rafters for Grayson's first appearance, three days after his appointment as United's boss, but which, for more than an hour, had felt the sinking sensation experienced too regularly by his predecessor, Gary McAllister.

Leicester were within distance of recording a 1-0 victory over Leeds and, with fully 90 minutes gone, had done as much as they could to protect the narrow lead given to them in the first half by Matt Oakley.

The fourth-official led Nigel Pearson's team into the home straight by indicating four minutes of stoppage-time, but Jonathan Howson immediately dinked a cross over Leicester's six-yard box and left Snodgrass to ignite three-quarters of Elland Road's biggest crowd of the season.

Recruited from Blackpool on Tuesday in slightly contentious circumstances, Grayson had completed only two training sessions before yesterday's match, and it was perhaps inevitable that traits which ended McAllister's reign were apparent again, namely a nervous defence and an impotent attack.

But as telling as a performance which appeared largely second-best when compared to Leicester's was the mindset of a team who refused to accept defeat as inevitable with 90 minutes gone. Grayson found an appropriate reaction to his appointment and, after three days in charge, it was as much as he could realistically have asked for.

The sobering reality for the 39-year-old is an unflattering league table that was not improved by United's draw with the division's leaders. Leeds, in fact, are further away from the play-off places than they were on day of McAllister's sacking.

Yesterday's match, however, was the most challenging debut imaginable for United's boss, a fixture with the potential to go badly wrong.