Tranmere celebrate their winner against Leeds (GaryMPrior/Allsport)

Trailing to two first-half Leeds goals from Darren Huckerby, Tranmere stormed back to draw level before booking their fourth-round place with a 120th-minute winner from Andy Parkinson.

Manager Aldridge said: 'To bounce back from two down against one of the best teams in Britain is fantastic.' It was vintage Tranmere, who after being two goals down and outplayed for 45 minutes last night, found a lifeline through long throw specialist Dave Challinor.

His side drew on the fighting spirit that made them the cup side of last season to stun Leeds with a rousing second-half fight-back.

Trailing to two first-half goals from Darren Huckerby, and with John Aldridge's survival prospects looking bleaker than ever, Tranmere turned this third round tie on its head as a succession of long throws from Dave Challinor caused mayhem in the Leeds defence.

Andy Parkinson, on as substitute only seconds earlier, buried a right-foot drive beyond Paul Robinson with his first touch after Leeds failed to deal with Challinor's 50th-minute delivery.

When Challinor hurled the ball into the Leeds area again in the 75th minute, Tranmere found themselves heading for extra-time as Gary Kelly blocked Wayne Allison's effort on the line but could not prevent Steve Yates bundling home the rebound.

Tranmere were under pressure from the start, Joe Murphy denying Eirik Bakke at full stretch and Gareth Roberts blocking Ian Harte's header on the line from the resulting corner.

But Leeds could count themselves even luckier as Scott Taylor failed to capitalise on two gilt-edged chances. First he had a close-range shot turned over by Robinson after being picked out in the area by a long throw from Challinor. Then the hapless Tranmere striker went from bad to worse, blazing over after being set up by Des Hamilton.

With Leeds boss David O'Leary fielding a strong line-up, Tranmere were duly punished as Leeds carved them open for Huckerby's first domestic goals of the season.

First he was well placed to drill home a low shot from 10 yards in the 25th minute after being set up by Bakke. The former Coventry striker then put Leeds firmly in charge with a second goal in the 33rd minute, cutting in from a corner on the left and beating Murphy with a fierce angled drive.