· Last season's game - Spurs 1 Leeds 2, 28.08.99
· This season's away game - Leeds 4 Spurs 3, 30.09.2000
· See the current injury list for all Premier League Teams
· All the Spurs Stats you could hope for here! THFC6061 Sports Stats

This preview was written by Brian Judson

Full Record of Spurs -v- Leeds United

Prem           Pl   W   D   L   For-Ag  Pts
Home            8   3   3   2    13-9   12
Away            9   1   2   6     7-17   5
===========================================
Total (Prem)   17   4   5   8    20-26  17
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 1)   28  14   8   6    47-34  37
Away (Div 1)   28   6  10  12    32-42  23
===========================================
Total (Div 1)  56  20  18  18    79-76  60
===========================================
Football Lge
Home (Div 2)    4   3   1   0    10-4    7
Away (Div 2)    4   1   1   2     3-5    3
===========================================
Total (Div 2)   8   4   2   2    13-9   10
===========================================
Total (Prem)   17   4   5   8    20-26  17
Total (Div 1)  56  20  18  18    79-76  60
Total (Div 2)   8   4   2   2    13-9   10
===========================================
Grand Total    81  28  25  28   112-111 87
===========================================

Over the last two or three years, Leeds United have transformed themselves from under achievers to a team that is starting to terrify the great clubs of Europe. They have some of the most promising young players in the country and, on their day, can be a very exciting team to watch. Undoubtedly, their priority this season has been the Champions' League. Considering the number of players they have had missing from their side at various times this season, they have performed a minor miracle in qualifying for the knock-out stages of the Champions' League.

Before the rise of Don Revie as a manager in the 1960s, Leeds United had no tradition of challenging for honours. They had spent time in both the top two Divisions without ever really sparkling. It was Revie who jettisoned the traditional blue and gold shirts, white shorts playing strip and adopted the all white strip that they play in today. Revie said the aim was to emulate Real Madrid, then the Kings of Europe when he became manager in 1961. Leeds were languishing in the lower half of the old Second Division and going nowhere fast. But he signed Bobby Collins from Everton and Johnny Giles from Manchester United and these two astute signings provided the foundations for the Leeds United side that later won the Football League title. It was the tactics that Revie adopted that upset the neutral spectator. Time was deliberately wasted at every opportunity, particularly if Leeds were winning.

Undoubtedly, it was a crass mistake on the part of Ray Tinkler that cost Leeds the championship in season 1970-71 and led to that anonymous side from the other side of North London enjoying a rather lucky win in League and Cup. Briefly, West Bromwich Albion were playing Leeds at Elland Road. The ball was played wide to Tony Brown, standing just inside the Leeds half of the pitch. Further inside, Jeff Astle was also clearly offside but the referee waved play on and Astle scored to give the Throstles a totally unexpected 2-1 victory. Incensed Leeds fans tried to get the game abandoned, at least one attacking the referee. The defeat cost Leeds the title, the riot enforced the closure of Elland Road for six games at the start of season 1971-72. This enabled Hull City to stage Division One football for the only time in its history as Spurs' away game with Leeds in 1971-72 was played at Boothferry Park.

The Leeds side of 1973-74 went 29 games without defeat from the start of the season. Leeds dropped the more annoying habits of arguing with the referee and played the game in the spirit it should be played. But despite that, Leeds were not the most popular champions that season. There was a slow decline and eventually Leeds were relegated in season 1981-82 and did not return to the top flight until the end of season 1989-90. Their recent history is well known.

As things stand at present, David O'Leary stands a very good chance of becoming Leeds most successful manager. They may not have won any honours under O'Leary as yet but no one can deny the signs are there. I tipped Leeds for future honours about three years ago and I stand by that. I like their mix of youth and old heads as it makes for a balanced side. What they lack at the moment is someone like Gary McAllister, who would have been the perfect foil for this side.

Leeds will still be walking on cloud nine after their win at Anderlecht on Wednesday night. This is probably the best chance we have of beating Leeds as they seem to lose their first match after a European game. Moreover, their preparations will have been disrupted because key personnel are on trial at Hull Crown Court. I take Spurs to win 1-0 even though we are still lacking the right personnel up front as Iversen has gone down with a flu bug and none of the others are particularly fit.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Cheers, Brian

Follow @spursodyssey