leedsbookfinal

three/ one/ two thousand & ten 03/01/10

three/ one/ two thousand & ten 03/01/10

Manchester United Vs Leeds United FA Cup 3rd Round Old Trafford

4

Pre-Match On January 3rd 2010 two teams with an intense and bitter rivalry met in the 3rd round of the F.A Cup.

Leeds United’s most recent demise saw them slip into the third tier of English football for the first time in their history after public financial meltdown which would serve as a warning to other clubs spending beyond their means. The period that proceeded saw Leeds United in the Champions League with a side of talented youngsters built up from a blossoming academy.

Manchester United continued to enjoy success in the Premier League winning an incredible eleven titles since it’s inception. With the likes of big money signings such as Rooney and Berbatov, as well as seasoned professionals such as Giggs and Owen, there was little to suggest that Leeds United would get anything from this fixture.

Although the teams were separated by two divisions, fans on either side remained hyped for an overdue encounter that could be a glimps of both the past and future. Leeds sat seven points clear at the top of the Football League one division, and were on course to return to the Football League Championship.

Leeds United were backed by a glittered history but young stars such as Rio Ferdinand, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer, James Milner, Paul Robinson, Ian Harte, Harry Kewell, and Aaron Lennon had all moved on to other clubs to ease the clubs financial troubles. For new players such as Jermaine Beckford, Jonathan Howson, Bradley Johnson and Luciano Becchio the Premier League could only be a dream.

Leeds United’s Champions League Semi-Finalists (2001) Mark Viduka, Danny Mills, Nigel Martyn, Rio Ferdinand, Ian Harte, Alan Smith, Lee Boywer, Oliver Dacourt, Dominic Matteo, David Batty, & Harry Kewell

6

Old rivalries will resume at Old Trafford on Sunday when Manchester United play host to Leeds United.

The eagerly-anticipated FA Cup third round tie will represent the first time these two arch-enemies have met since February 2004.

The Red Devils, the reigning Premier League champions, will enter the game as strong favourites, with Sir Alex Ferguson’s men buoyed by back-to-back wins in the league.

The Whites will be no pushovers, though, as the runaway League One leaders are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions and have already dumped Kettering and Oldham out of the cup.

Team News Veteran duo Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are expected to return as Manchester United get set to do battle in the War of the Roses.

Neville has now recovered from a groin injury and Scholes is also over a hip complaint, so Ferguson is set to pitch both men into a white-hot atmosphere.

Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown should continue in central defence, while Wayne Rooney will be looking to add to his 15goal tally for the season.

Leeds, who are set to take 9,000 travelling fans across the Pennines, will have a virtually full-strength squad from which to choose.

Leigh Bromby will be unavailable to boss Simon Grayson due to suspension, while the terms of Max Gradel’s loan deal prevent him from featuring, but they are the only notable absentees.

The Whites will, therefore, be looking towards Jermaine Beckford to help spearhead their pursuit of a memorable scalp, with the striker’s future at Elland Road now the subject of much speculation.

“I don’t need to spell out to Manchester United fans and players what Leeds games have meant over the years.”

Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United Manager

8

Form Guide Manchester United

History

History of FA Cup meetings

Prior to their game against Wigan Athletic on Wednesday night at Old Trafford they won their previous game 3-1 at Hull City.

The two clubs have met 49 times at Old Trafford over the years with the home side winning 24 to Leeds 8.

1950/51 Man Utd 1-0 Leeds 1964/65 Man Utd 0-0 Leeds 1964/65 Man Utd 0-1 Leeds 1969/70 Man Utd 0-0 Leeds 1969/70 Man Utd 0-0 Leeds 1969/70 Man Utd 0-1 Leeds 1976/77 Man Utd 2-1 Leeds 1991/92 Leeds 0-1 Man Utd 1994/95 Man Utd 3-1 Leeds

In their last home game they defeated Wolverhampton Wanderers reserves 3-0.

Recent home form: WLWLWD

Leeds United The Whites continue to set the pace in League One and are unbeaten in the league since October at Millwall.

They have only lost two games all season, the other coming in the Carling Cup against Liverpool when they were unfortunate to lose.

Last time out away from home they beat Stockport County 4-2.

Recent away form: WDWDWW

It`s something of a bogey ground for Leeds and they have not won their since 1981 (17 games) when a Brian Flynn goal gave them a 1-0 victory.

The last time they met was in the 2003/04 Premiership when an Alan Smith goal was enough to earn Leeds a point in a 1-1 draw.

The two sides have met on nine occasions in the FA Cup with Leeds winning two to Manchester United`s four.

Manchester United have won both clashes at Old Trafford, the last one was during the 1994/95 season when Brian McClair and Steve Bruce put the home side 2-0 up inside five minutes. Leeds pulled a goal back in the second half through Tony Yeboah (his first for the club) but Mark Hughes stopped any thoughts of a replay when he scored the third.

Match Betting (Odds supplied by Betfair.com) Man Utd 1/4 Draw 11/2 Leeds 14/1 To win FA Cup outright Man Utd 9/2 Leeds 249/1

“We’ve had a lot of negative times over the past few years, and this is a great tie for the club, and something for the fans to look forward too.”

Simon Grayson Leeds United Manager

10

Fans Forum Piazza

Manchester United and Leeds United fans continue to have a hostile relationship. These comments were taken from each clubs fans forum prior to the game.

29-11-2009 18:41

The reaction in another thread was shamefully muted. I for one, do not care about any other fixture this year half as much as this one.

TFIA

02-01-2010 06:32

It wouldn’t matter what competition it was, it’s Leeds. If we lost against those bottom feeding scumbags especially when they’re a LEAGUE 1 side it would be beyond humiliating. That team and their vermin fanbase have been rotting away for a good reason. Need to beat those dirty b******s and beat them well.

8ballali

29-12-2009 14:53

There’s always a chance no matter who we play.

The cup gives unexpected results every year.

Matthew McDowell

Gurj

30-12-2009 06:42

30-11-2009 20:04

wouldnt it be great eh....turning them over, how I would love to see Fergie’s face when we knock em out.

Sownak27

30-11-2009 13:13

Oh yes.

Can’t imagine how happy I am to get those bunch of c***s in a game after so long.

There may not be as much rivalry between the players now, but its as strong as ever between the fans and should lead to a great atmosphere.

Twiggster

28-12-2009 19:49

Main thing is that our team plays well, like against the scousers and if we lose, then we do it FIGHTING.

note to sir alex... do not rest any 1st team players for this cup tie 6-0 demolition of vile scum is on the menu as the dish of the day.

Joluafc4eva

28-12-2009 19:29

We havent got a cat in hells chance of winning but will be a good day out anyway.

Haggler

31-12-2009 18:47

Bloody sunday for the woolybacks.

I want us to demoralise them and remind them how crap they are.

We’re not famous, We’re not famous, We’re not famous anymore.

We’re not famous anymore.

Starting line ups

Team Sheet

Manchester United

Leeds United

29. Tomasz Kuszaczak £4,000,000 (West Bromich Albion)

1. Casper Ankergren £500,000 (Brøndy)

2. Gary Neville £0 (Academy)

2. Jason Crowe £0 (Free Agent)

6. Wes Brown £0 (Academy)

6. Richard Naylor £0 (Ipswich)

23. Jonny Evans £0 (Academy)

3. Patrick Kisnorbo £0 (Free Agent)

20. Fabio Da Silva £2,700,000 (Fluminese)

22. Andrew Hughes £440,000 (Norwich City)

8. Anderson £14,000,000 (Porto)

4. Michael Doyle £0 (Loan from Coventry)

28. Darron Gibson £0 (Academy)

8. Neil Kilkenny £198,000 (Birmingham City)

19. Danny Welbeck £0 (Academy)

16. Bradley Johnson £250,000 (Northampton Town)

26. Gabriel Obertan £3,000,000 (FC Girondins Bordeaux)

14. Jonny Howson £0 (Academy)

10. Wayne Rooney £27,000,000 (Everton)

10. Luciano Becchio £0 (Free Agent)

9. Dimitar Berbatov £30,750,000 (Tottenham Hotspur)

9. Jermaine Beckford £45,000 (Wealdstone)

Substitutions

Referee Chris Foy

Rafael Da Silva

Ryan Giggs

Ben Amos

£0

Attendance

£0

74,526

David Martin

Tony Capaldi

£2,700,000

£0

£0

£0

£ undisclosed

£ undisclosed

£0

Aidan White

£0

Lubomir Michalik

Antonio Valencia Michael Carrick

Robert Snodgrass David Prutton

Zoran Tosik

Mike Grella

£16,000,000

£ undisclosed Total

Substitutions

Michael Owen

£114,150,000

£14,000,000

£0

£1,433,000

14

The Spectacle The time was now, Leeds United rekindle their on the field rivalry with Manchester United. Ferguson knew it, Grayson knew it. The fans were hyped and the players were briefed. The match was televised on ITV primetime and was discribed as the media as the tie of the round, which was an underestimation with what was about to follow. Leeds were flying in the league and Manchester United were unfamiliar with this new look side.

Leeds United kick off the match in the usual way by attempting to pile pressure on the hated figure of Gary Neville. Bradley Johnson is a constant aerial threat and so the ball is pumped long into Neville’s direction in the hope Johnson will challenge him for the knock down.

Battles would be won and lost all over the field. Luciano Becchio had to work harder than ever before to maintain Leeds defensive strength. The Argentine was called to drop deep when United lost possession of the ball. Jermaine Beckford who had been the feature of the press all week after handing in, and then retracting a transfer request was in boyant mood attempting to lead from the front, a skill that wasn’t usually part of his game.

Local boy Jonny Howson and journey man Michael Doyle had their work cut out with Anderson and Darron Gibson who would always look to break forward.

Finally, Richard Naylor and the ever present Patrick Kisnorbo would have their hands full to contain a strikeforce worth fifty eight million in Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov.

“The seventy five thousand plus sell out crowd will be twice the size of any other in the third round. Leeds could have sold their allocation twice over.

The FA Cup is alive and well here today.�

Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

1:30 “This will be a great game for Leeds.

Too often sides have come here with a negative attitude. Already they have looked to break forward.�

Iain Dowie Match Commentator

Close match up: Top Opposite:

Jermaine Beckford surges ahead of Darron Gibson for Leeds.

Bottom Left: Jason Crowe and Wes Brown challenge for the ball.

Bottom Right: Wayne Rooney holds off the advancing Richard Naylor.

Above: Neil Kilkenny stops Darron Gibson going forward with a sliding challenge.

18

The Unthinkable The Manchester United fans cheered the initial mistakes of Leeds United’s young, inexperienced team but those fans suddenly fell silent when Jermaine Beckford latched on to Jonny Howson’s sublime downfield pass and neatly finished to give Leeds a much deserved lead. The result of which left Manchester United fans even more frustrated by their team who couldn’t control the game due to Leeds pressurised defense.

18:15 “Berbatov. Seen off by Naylor, who is Leeds through and through. Welbeck won it back momentarily. And it’s Howson. Forward towards Beckford. And the balls over Brown. And this is Beckford, it just ran away from here but he’ll still get a strike in on goal! And score at the Stretford End for Leeds United! And it doesn’t get any better than that for a Leeds centre forward.”

Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

Unbelievable Jeff!

Jermaine Beckford scores for the away side to silence the home crowd. He runs onto a long ball out of defence from Howson, advances into the box and stabs the ball past Kuszczak.

How will Manchester United react to this? Alex Ferguson’s men have never been beaten by a club from the lower divisions and they have never been knocked out in the third round of the Fa Cup. That is what is so special about cup football.

Leeds are good for their lead.

They have worked together and effectively as a team who are difficult to break down, and they have not allowed Manchester United anytime on the ball.

Manchester United will now have to up their game to get back at a Leeds side full of confidence and looking like an attacking threat once more.

Legionited

03-01-2010 13:19

0-1 Beckford! Get the f**k in!!!!!!!!!

Can’t believe it!

Vava

03-01-2010 13:19

Great goal, everyone relax..... we’ll still win with ease, this will wake us up if anything.

Daffs

03-01-2010 13:20

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE EEEEEEEEEES

“The shot didn’t have much pace on it, but it got there. It teased the Leeds fans down the other end Old Trafford but the roar that followed it shook this famous stadium and Manchester United are shaken.”

Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

Goal! ak Kuszacz d Beckfor Brown

Howson WelbeckNaylor v Berbato

Minute By Minute 1. We’re underway at Old Trafford.

2. Gibson has an early sighter for United which flies wide.

4. Leeds work the ball out to the left and Johnson crosses.

His ball in evades everyone.

6. Johnson is involved once more, winning a corner.

Kuszczak rather nervily punches clear.

6. Beckford brings the ball down in the box and tries an acrobatic effort which goes over.

8. Hughes’ free kick is flighted into the box. Kuszczak claims.

9. Wellbeck plays in an inviting cross but no United players gamble. Berbatov may well have opened the scoring if he had committed to getting on the end of that.

11. Beckford has another shot, this time from much further out. It’s comfortable for Kuszczak though.

12. Johnson is hugging this left touch line. He is challenged by Anderson and the ball goes out. Johnson thinks he’s won a corner. The referee points for a goal kick.

13. Obertan slaloms into the box on the right and plays the ball across the area. Wellbeck is unable to bring the ball under control.

15. United are finding a lot of space down the wings.

Rooney tries to shoot first time from a high pass when perhaps he should have headed it. Anderson then flashes a shot well wide.

18. Goal Jermaine Beckford

20. Becchio could have made it two! The striker is presented with a free header which he can only direct over.

22. Leeds’ players are snapping into tackles and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men look ruffled.

24. Brilliant play from Crowe!

Rooney breaks free down the right and stabs the ball under Ankergren and appears to have scored but the Leeds defender gets back and denies the England striker.

26. Leeds are creating chances almost at will.

27. Anderson has another strike on goal from the edge of the box. Again it’s wide.

28. Anderson plays a lovely ball through to Obertan, who manages to win a corner. Anderson takes and Ankergren punches. The ball is whipped in again and cleared. Rooney takes a touch before curling a shot wide.

30. Rooney struggles to get the ball under his control and Kilkenny is able to take the ball out of defence.

31. “Fergie what’s the score” is the refrain from the jubilant Leeds fans..

32. Rooney passes to Wellbeck on the left. The 19-year-old cuts the ball back and plays in a cross-shot which goes past the post.

35. Wes Brown picks up a yellow card for a foul on Becchio.

37. United are having the majority of the possession in their search for an equaliser.

39. A chance for United from a free kick. Gibson takes. Naylor heads behind for a corner.

40.Ankergren comes to claim from the set play but misjudges it. Evans tries to take advantage with a headed effort. Fortunately for the Leeds stopper he can’t find the target.

41. Johnson goes down in a heap after a challenge from Brown, who is on a yellow card. The United man got the ball before taking out the man.

43. This game hasn’t disappointed so far. The atmosphere is electric and the players are getting stuck in.

44. United break with Obertan.

The Frenchman switches play to the left with Wellbeck. The 19-year-old is unable to control the pass and sees the ball go out for a throw-in. There will be two minutes of stoppage time.

45+1. Obertan pops up on the left and lays a ball off to Fabio to cross. It goes past everyone for a goal kick. That should be that at the end of an absorbing half.

45+2. Chris Foy blows for half time. Some boos can be heard as the teams trudge down the tunnel. Fantastic performance from Leeds so far. I suspect the famed hairdryer might make an appearance in the United dressing room at half time.

Well It’s the end of a captivating first half in which Leeds United, thanks to Jermaine Beckford’s twentieth goal of the season, are threatening a major, major upset here at Old Trafford but it looks like a game which probably still has more goals in it.

23:50 “Rooney up in front of kisnorbo and a terrific return pass from Berbatov and Rooney is running free here. Keeper committed, Wayne Rooney! Oh, and a fantastic goal line clearance from Crowe.�

Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

47:33

“And there’s a little bit of a tussle here between Howson and Brown.

Wes Brown is walking a tightrope, if not for the challenge, for the afters.

He does have a yellow card. ” Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

26

The Usual Suspects With an hour of the game approaching, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson signalled his intentions with the double introduction of Welsh international and Premier League veteran Ryan Giggs as well as big money signing Antonio Valencia, a player that had been drafted in to fill the void left by Madrid bound Cristiano Ronaldo.Youngsters, Welbeck and Obertan were sacrificed as United began to look desperate for a result.

Ten minutes later and Giggs and Valencia had provided little to Manchester United’s attacking threat, so Michael Owen was introduced. A player who was proven on the international scene as well as Premier League top scorer.

Leeds remained unfazed by their opponents, often breaking away themselves to relieve their defensive duties. Leeds themselves soon made use of their squad by introducing highly rated winger Robert Snoddgrass, an ever present in the United team, but rested today due to a back injury.

Snodgrass was involved in parts and worked hard in his defensive duties, before being presented with a chance in the eightieth minute when Jermaine Beckford was brought down by Jonny Evans. Snodgrass curled a stunning freekick against the upright, and was unlucky to put Leeds two-nil up and out of sight.

Substitutions as they happened 57.

Welbeck Valencia

77.

Howson Snodgrass

57.

Obertan Giggs

88.

Becchio Michalik

69.

Anderson Owen

90.

Hughes White

56:19

“And Manchester United are about to bring on the cavalry. Valencia & Giggs will replace Welbeck & Obertan �

Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

93:38 “It’s still Berbatov, and now Antonio Valencia, it will come for Rooney! Saved by Ankergren, Fabio!

Ankergren’s there again, Owen’s in there, but it’s going to be hooked away by Michael Doyle, and Leeds United have survived again. ” Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

Minute By Minute 46. Manchester United win the ball from the kick-off and go straight on the attack, with Wayne Rooney galloping down the left wing and sending in a high cross, which is put out for a corner.

47. The ball’s sent in and only half-cleared as far as Danny Welbeck. He storms back into the Leeds penalty area and goes down under a challenge from Jonathan Howson.

48. And Wes Brown, who is on a yellow card, slides in to dispossess Howson on the edge of the Manchester United penalty area. The pair engage in afters, which are quickly broken up.

49. Danny Welbeck is sent galloping clear to chase a long ball and looks set to equalise with a diagonal shot from right to left, only to be foiled by an excellent save by Casper Ankergren.

52. Darron Gibson is booked for a late tackle on Michael Doyle. The mercury is creeping up the thermometer here and it’ll be surprising if both sides finish the game with 10 men.

53. Leeds skipper Richard Naylor goes into the book for a scything challenge on Wayne Rooney about 40 yards from goal. The free-kick is played short, Leeds clear ass far as Jermaine Beckford, who draws the foul from Wes Brown just inside the Manchester United half. Beckford’s pace is frightening and you can see Manchester United’s defenders panicking every time he gets the ball.

55. From the free-kick, Patrick Kisnorbo wellies the ball towards the Manchester United goal and the ball goes off a Manchester United head and out for a corner. The ball’s sent across the edge of the six-yard box and Wes Brown heads clear.

56. Manchester United substitutions: Antonio Valencia and Ryan Giggs on, Danny Welbeck and Gabriel Obertan off. The cavalry is on.

60. There’s half an hour to go and League One side Leeds United continue to lead against Manchester United at Old Trafford on the back of Jermaine Beckford’s 19th minute strike.

65. Wes Brown fouls Jermaine Beckford again, kicking through the back of him just outside the Manchester United penalty area. I’m not sure what Wes has to do to get sent off. He’s already on a yellow card and is fouling persistently. Free-kick for Leeds about 30 yards out, just left of centre.

67. Antonio Valencia gallops down the right wing and crosses for Wayne Rooney, but Patrick Kisnorbo clears with a meaty header.

68. Manchester United substitution: Anderson off, Michael Owen on.

70. Antonio Valencia tees up Michael Owen with a perfect pass and, practically standing on the penalty spot, the striker swivels and scews a feeble effort harmlessly wide. It was a glorious opportunity to equalise and he completely miskicked it.

71. With United pushing forward, Leeds go on a counter-attack and Bradley Johnson crosses from the left.

The ball drops in no-man’s land between Jermaine Beckford and Tomasz Kuszczak, but it’s slightly nearer the goalkeeper, who is quickest to react.

77. Michael Doyle picks out Jermaine Beckford with a marvellous defence-splitting pass and from the edge of the penalty area, the Leeds striker drags an excellent effort inches wide of the left upright.

78. Jonny Evans fouls Jermaine Beckford a couple of yards outside the D around the Manchester United penalty area. Free-kick for Leeds.

79. Robert Snodgrass, who has just come on for Jonathan Howson, stands over the freekick, then curls a magnificent effort past the wall, beyond the reach of Kuszczak and off the cross-bar. That’s a great shot he was very unlucky that didn’t go in.

81. Michael Owen appeals for a penalty after going down under a challenge from Andy Hughes on the edge of the Leeds penalty area.

84. There’s six minutes of normal time remaining, but you can probably add another 25 for injuries if Manchester United are still 1-0 down at the end of normal time. This is Old Trafford, after all.

86. Wayne Rooney is caught napping by Robert Snodgrass, who disposssesses him on the edge of the Leeds United penalty area.

88. Leeds striker Luciano Becchio goes off injured with what looks like cramp and is replaced by Slovakia international centre-half Lubomir Michalik.

89. The ball is pumped long to Dimitar Berbatov in the Manchester United penalty area, but his knock-down is nowhere near Michael Owen.

90. The board goes up - there’ll be a minimum of five minutes of added time.

90+3. Leeds try to run the clock down by making another substitution. Andy Hughes is replaced by the teenager Aidan White. It’s a like-for-like substitution - a left-back for a left-back.

90+3. There’s pandemonium in the Leeds penalty area as the ball pings around before falling for Wayne Rooney, who brings a great save out of Ankergren with a low drive.

90+6. We’re now into time added on to time added on.

It looks like Leeds are going to pull off a huge shock here.

They’ve ridden their luck at times but performed heroically and will be well worth their win.

It’s all over - Leeds have dumped Manchester United out of the FA Cup in the upset of the third round so far. They’ve been excellent all afternoon.

Leeds United will progress into the fourth round draw to face Tottenham Hotspur.

95:38 “The third round of the FA Cup never disappoints.

The shock of the round comes from the tie of the round. Manchester United tried to throw on all the big guns to try to save it but its Manchester United out, and Leeds United through. �

Clive Tyldesley Match Commentator

Full Time Leeds United pull off one of the biggest cup shocks in all it’s history When the five minutes of ‘Fergie Time’ were signalled, the game was left on a knifes edge. Manchester United had improved and seen more of the possession, however Leeds United showed their determination to put head and body behind the ball in an effort to see out not only a clean sheet at Old Trafford but to see themselves win and make history all at the same time.

The likes of Lubamir Michalik and Aidan White were introduced to halt Manchester United’s impending attacking threat. Leeds eventually saw out the onslaught and came away with a victory of significance in the cup and something Leeds fans could be proud of, after the turmoil that saw them hit the lowest of lows. Promotion was still key for players and fans alike, but there is no questioning how fantastic it felt to be a Leeds United fan that day.

Celebrations: Above:

A battered and bloodied Patrick Kisnorbo leads the Leeds celebrations after an emphatic performance and victory of Manchester United.

34

Match Report Many suggested that Manchester United underperformed greatly that day, but statistics reveal that they still posed a goal threat, and to those who thought Leeds sat back and defended for their lives were mistaken.

Match Statistics Possession

Man Utd 54% Leeds 46%

This, to borrow a phrase from a certain former Leeds United chairman, was living the dream. Or perhaps it was emerging from the nightmare of the previous decade.

Attempts on target

Either way, a sleeping giant announced its awakening at Old Trafford yesterday afternoon with a famous victory that amounted to a humiliation for Manchester United.

Attempts off target

Romance of the FA Cup? There was bucketloads of it here, with the only goal scored by Jermaine Beckford, a 26-yearold who was playing for Wealdstone and working as a windscreen fitter for the RAC four years ago. But the wider context, of the greatest upset in the competition’s recent history, seemed secondary to the significance of a Leeds victory at the home of their fiercest rivals.

Corners

Sir Alex Ferguson said that Simon Grayson’s team had enjoyed the luck that any visiting team needs to beat Manchester United, but he was just about gracious enough to say that they had earned any luck that had come their way. He said that Leeds had shown “a far bigger appetite than us for the game”, a damning appraisal of his players’ efforts on an afternoon when they were put to shame by the resolve of Patrick Kisnorbo, the tenacity of Neil Kilkenny and the composure, when it mattered, of Beckford.

Any FA Cup upset these days usually has to come with a caveat, with the top managers tending to withhold their heavy artillery as much as possible, but this was a Manchester United team containing eight full internationals, among them Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, against a Leeds side from two divisions below.

Both teams deserved everything they got. Leeds were simply sharper, more energetic and more committed.

Man Utd 5 Leeds 4

Man Utd 13 Leeds 6

Fouls

Man Utd 8 Leeds 3

Man Utd 11 Leeds 10

Yellow Cards

Man Utd 2 Leeds 2

Red Cards

Man Utd 0 Leeds 0

Attendance Split

Man Utd

Leeds

Crowd Noise

Man Utd

Leeds

ILoveBeckford 03-01-2010 20:31

unlike some, im always proud to be a leeds fan, but im just extra proud to be one today

Jay007

03-01-2010 23:11

Shocking performance, Leeds deserved it and in all honesty should have won by more.

Matty Davidson 03-01-2010 22:32

It is hard to take that we had ÂŁ60 million pounds worth of talent and they could not stick the ball into the net. But you have to hand it to Leeds they were brillant.

36

Manager Reactions Grayson - A fantastic day for the club 04/01/2010

Simon Grayson hailed a “fantastic day for this football club” after watching his Leeds United side claim the scalp of Premier League champions Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Leeds ended a 29-year drought at Old Trafford after Jermaine Beckford’s 19th minute goal proved enough to secure a first win at the home of Manchester United since 1981.

“It was a fantastic experience going there,” said a delighted Grayson. “We played well, the players did what they were asked, and it was a fantastic day for this football club.

“No one expected us to win on this stage except perhaps 9,000 Leeds fans and the players and us in the dressing room.

“We said that someone could be a hero and Becks came up with the goal. It was a great ball in from Jonny Howson and it was almost slow motion watching it go in.

“Maybe we didn’t kill the game off and we rode our luck at times, but you expect that when you are playing against the Premier League champions.

“We’ve been like that all season, hard to beat, and a threat with the ball.

“We said in the build-up the players would sink or swim and they came out with plenty of credit. They can draw on that now and go on from there.

“Overall it was a great day for the club. We’ve done something which everyone can be immensely proud of.”

“No one expected us to win on this stage except perhaps 9,000 Leeds fans and the players and us in the dressing room.�

Simon Grayson Leeds United Manager

Fergie, what’s the score.

Fergie, Fergie, what’s the score.

Ferguson shocked by bad display 03/01/2010

Sir Alex Ferguson admitted he was “shocked” and “surprised” by United’s disappointing performance that led to a third-round FA Cup exit at the hands of fierce rivals Leeds.

The Reds boss had hoped his men would come flying out of the blocks in 2010 after finishing 2009 with a thumping 5-0 win over Wigan. But that just didn’t happen as Sir Alex’s men delivered a frustratingly flat display.

“The preparation for the game was very good, but I’m shocked by the performance,” the boss told MUTV. “We didn’t start right and Leeds did start right. They got their goal and had something to hold onto. They fought like tigers, and we expect that with any team coming to Old Trafford for an FA Cup tie. It’s a disappointment.”

Jermaine Beckford gave the visitors the lead and merely exacerbated the manager’s frustration at the first-half display. “We did speak about Beckford’s pace up front,” he said. “We were caught napping really, it was a bad goal for us to lose. The whole performance in the first half was bad.

We never got going and the quality of the passing… the whole performance was just bad.”

“It’s one of these things. We’re only human and sometimes you have performances that surprise you. But we didn’t expect that today.”

United’s second-half response provided a glimmer of hope, but even that wasn’t enough to break Leeds’ hold on the game. “I don’t think any of the players can say they had a good day. Maybe only [Antonio] Valencia, when he came on, can say that. Even then it took us about ten minutes to get the ball to him.

“You expect us to get a goal at Old Trafford, and the intensity of our game improved a little bit in the second half. We had a lot of chances in the box, but on the day we didn’t take them.”

“We have to get this result out of our system as quickly as possible,” added Sir Alex. “We have a semi-final on Wednesday and a lot of these players won’t be playing. You have to view this performance in the right light. We’ll make sure we’re ready for Wednesday now. We had a team in mind, but there will maybe be a few changes for that.”

40

The Fourth Round clash with Spurs & Promotion to The Championship A brave Leeds performance over two legs against Tottenham ended in defeat and Leeds bowed out of the FA Cup with their heads held high. More dramatics saw Jermaine Beckford bag a last minute penalty at White Hart Lane to seal a replay at Elland Road, which Spurs would run out as eventually winners.

Leeds United’s League One performances suffered at the hands of their cup exploits, as more drama followed when Leeds surrended their top of the table position to Norwich City, and almost missed out on automatic promotion.

On the final day of the season Leeds needed to win against an average Bristol Rovers to hold onto the final automatic position. Mayhem ensued when Max Gradel was sent off for a stamp on Rovers defender Daniel Jones. To make matters worse Darryl Duffy put the visitors ahead just after half time, and ten man Leeds had their backs firmly against the wall.

An inspired Simon Grayson tactical substitution saw Jonny Howson enter the fray with twenty five minutes to play. Howson quickly repaid his manager with a goal in the fifty ninth minute. That goal lifted the belief around the stadium after fans were left frustrated by a Leeds performance that was, in parts, lacklustre.

However, the day would be remembered for top goal scorer, and captain for the day, Jermaine Beckford’s sixty third minute winner, which would immediately haul Leeds United back into the last automatic spot which had been contested all afternoon by the likes of Millwall, Swindon and Charlton Athletic.

Celebrations enrupted after the final whistle as the Yorkshire club, who despite a host of under par performances, undoubtedly deserved their place in the Football League Championship.

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