FULL TIME: Derby County 2 Leeds United 2 - Heartache for Whites as Palmer salvages dramatic Rams draw
Whites striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga stunned the Rams by heading home a Stuart Dallas cross from close range in the 34th minute but Derby equalised late in first half added time when Liam Cooper's scuffed header let in Andreas Weimann who rifled past Felix Wiedwald.
But Leeds were much improved after the interval and after the introduction of the returning Samu Saiz, United regained the lead in the 79th minute when brilliant work from Saiz set up substitute Gjanni Alioski to finish off a one-on-one at the second attempt.
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Hide AdLeeds looked to be heading for a much-needed victory but the Rams bagged an equaliser in the second minute of added time as a corner caused a goalmouth scramble from which Palmer stabbed the ball home from close range.
Derby had the game's first attempt on goal in the fourth minute when Tom Lawrence whipped an effort from 20-yards out over the bar.
Leeds hit back with a decent attack of their own but Pablo Hernandez saw his powerful volley blocked before an audacious effort from Stuart Dallas sailed over the bar.
But Derby gradually began to turn the screw and Weimann and Chris Baird both saw efforts blocked before Laurens De Bock's blushes were sparred when the Belgian let in Weimann who dragged his shot across goal.
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Hide AdSoon after, a Lawrence corner flashed across the six yard box and out for a goal kick with Matej Vydra narrowly failing to net from close range.
The returning Gaetano Berardi was then beaten to the ball by Lawrence down the left flank but Lawrence's cross was wastefully headed wide by David Nugent.
Derby were piling on the pressure and Adam Forshaw narrowly avoided heading into his own net before Felix Wiedwald clawed away a Lawrence corner from under his own bar.
A superb pass from Joe Ledley then sent away Weimann whose attempted lob over Weidwald dropped over the bar.
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Hide AdBut just one minute later United broke away to take the lead as Liam Cooper found Stuart Dallas whose looping cross was converted from close range by Lasogga at the far post 11 minutes before the break.
Derby were soon back on the attack and United were saved by the frame of the goal shortly before the interval when an absolute rocket from Lawrence smashed the crossbar from 20 yards out with Nugent flagged offside in his attempts to net the rebound.
But Derby finally bagged the goal they deserved in the second minute of first half added time when a scuffed header from Cooper let in Weimann who rifled the ball past Wiedwald from inside the box.
Derby were straight back on the attack after the break and Nugent wasted a good opening when heading another cross from Lawrence straight at Wiedwald.
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Hide AdWhites head coach Paul Heckingbottom then called on the returning Saiz who was brought on for Kemar Roofe six minutes before the hour.
But Leeds were then let off the hook when an awful pass from De Bock let in Weimann who fed Nugent who again proved wasteful in firing wide.
Another De Bock mistake then allowed Lawrence to again pull the trigger but Wiedwald produced a fine low save.
Leeds then spurned a golden chance themselves in the 71st minute when a lovely cross from Hernandez found Cooper who could only power his header over the bar.
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Hide AdBut Leeds were looking threatening and the Whites regained the lead after superb work from Saiz in the 79th minute.
Derby were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box but Palmer slammed his shot into the wall and Saiz raced away on the counter and skinned his man before delivering a perfect pass for substitute Alioski who eventually finished his one on one at the second attempt.
United looked to be heading for a much-needed victory but the Rams bagged an equaliser in the second minute of added time as a corner caused a caused a goalmouth scramble from which Palmer stabbed the ball home from close range.
Derby County: Carson, Baird, Olsson, Davies, Keogh, Huddlestone, Lawrence (Palmer 85), Ledley (Johnson 80), Weimann, Vydra, Nugent (Jerome 69). Subs not used: Roos, Wisdom, Pearce, Anya.
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Hide AdLeeds United: Leeds team v Derby: Wiedwald, De Bock, Cooper, Jansson, Berardi, Vieira (Philips 62), Forshaw, Dallas, Hernandez (Alioski 76), Roofe (Saiz 54), Lasogga. Subs not used: Lonergan, Pennington, Sacko.
Referee: Keith Stroud.