Rodrigo salvaged a point for Leeds as a see-saw battle with fellow Premier League strugglers West Ham ended 2-2 at Elland Road.
The Spanish forward rifled home his 10th league goal of the season midway through the second half to deny West Ham a much-needed victory.
The Hammers were on course for their first league win since October after quickfire goals either side of the break – via Lucas Paqueta's penalty and a Gianluca Scamacca strike – had cancelled out Wilfried Gnonto’s opener.
Both sides wore black armbands as a mark of respect for West Ham’s joint-chairman David Gold, who died on Wednesday morning aged 86, while there was also a minute’s applause before kick-off.
The Hammers were bidding to halt a rotten run of form after five straight league defeats but they were soon back-pedalling.
Leeds were also a team in need of a lift after taking one point from their previous three matches and inspiration was provided by Gnonto in the 28th minute.
The Italian teenager combined with Crysencio Summerville on the edge of the area to put Leeds ahead, slamming a low shot inside Lukasz Fabianski’s near post for his first goal in English football.
West Ham almost responded through Pablo Fornals, who rolled a golden chance agonisingly wide before the Paqueta lashed a VAR-highlighted spot kick into Meslier’s top left-hand corner for his first West Ham goal.
The visitors struck within moments of the second half to make it 2-1. Leeds midfielder Brenden Aaronson’s careless mis-placed pass found Scamacca and the Italian curled a superb low shot in off a post from 25 yards.
The home side huffed and puffed in a bid to get back on level terms and did so in the 70th minute. Substitute Jack Harrison teed up Rodrigo on the edge of the box and the Spaniard took one touch before rifling home a fine finish.
Both sides went close to snatching all three points as Leeds skipper Liam Cooper’s header was cleared off the line by Michail Antonio, who soon after was just inches away from connecting with fellow substitute Said Benrahma’s cross.
Fabianski also pulled off two world-class saves from Rodrigo as the game ended in a draw.
Nottingham Forest climbed out of the Premier League relegation zone courtesy of a precious 1-0 victory which heaped more misery on bottom club Southampton.
Taiwo Awoniyi's fifth goal of the campaign earned Forest a first top-flight away success of the season to strengthen their survival hopes.
Steve Cooper’s resurgent side have now taken 11 points from the last 21 available, having only managed six from the previous 33, and fully merited a significant triumph on the south coast.
Calamitous defending once again contributed heavily to Saints’ downfall as their alarming losing streak stretched to six top-flight games to make a precarious position slightly more perilous.
Manager Nathan Jones has overseen four of those defeats and there was little to suggest he is set to launch a successful survival mission following another deflating outing at St Mary’, disgruntled home fans chanting 'You don’t know what you’re doing’ at full-time.
In a high-stakes encounter notable for Bhupinder Singh Gill becoming the first Sikh-Punjabi assistant referee to officiate in the Premier League, Che Adams wasted the best opportunity for the hosts, who slipped four points from safety.
Forest were content to soak up pressure following their 27th-minute opener – the game's only attempt on target – after earlier hitting the crossbar through the impressive Brennan Johnson.
The goal came when Saints defender Lyanco dithered and then sloppily conceded possession on halfway, allowing the jet-heeled Johnson to burst clear and square to give Awoniyi a simple tap in past Republic of Ireland keeper Gavin Bazunu.
Danny Ings rescued a point for poor Aston Villa to dent Wolves' bid to climb out of the relegation zone.
The striker cancelled out Daniel Podence’s opener as the hosts recovered from a below-par first half to grab a 1-1 draw.
Wolves were on course for their first back-to-back away wins in the Premier League for a year but were forced to settle for a point and they remain in the relegation zone.
They were well worth their lead but Julen Lopetegui needs wins to haul his side, who have been in the bottom three since October, to safety.
Villa sit 11th as Unai Emery continues to enjoy his honeymoon spell and he matched the result when he and Lopetegui met in LaLiga in September when Villarreal drew 1-1 with Sevilla.
It should have been better, though, only for Leon Bailey to miss a glaring chance in stoppage time.
Wolves worked their way through with some style in just the 12th minute.
A cross was only cleared to Podence on the touchline and he swapped passes with Joao Moutinho to wriggle into the area. He still had plenty to do but the forward danced past the static Douglas Luiz and expertly curled into the corner.
Villa's 78th-minute leveller was a simple goal as Tyrone Mings' long ball found Ings and, with Jose Sa dithering and slipping, the striker calmly finished.
