On-loan Dougie Freedman was on target twice to bolster Leeds' play-off push after a thrilling 3-2 victory over second-placed Carlisle.

Slack defending by the hosts enabled the visitors to take a 16th-minute lead. Evan Horwood and Simon Hackney combined on the left and when the home defence failed to cut out Hackney's cross, the unmarked Scott Dobie scored with a far-post shot on the run.

Freedman saw a close-range header fly over the crossbar and then wasted a chance from Jermaine Beckford's set-up but made it third time lucky with a 49th-minute equaliser, chesting Neil Kilkenny's cross over the line.

Jonny Howson fired Leeds ahead in the 58th-minute when substitute Tresor Kandol's shot was parried into his path.

When Leeds goalkeeper Casper Ankergren spilled Hackney's corner, allowing Danny Graham to make it 2-2 on the hour mark, the hosts looked like being left frustrated.

But Freedman settled the match nine minutes later, turning in Kilkenny's dangerous free-kick from the left through a crowded goalmouth.

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