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Here is Brian Judson's preview of the game
Full Record of Spurs -v- Leeds United
Premier Pl W D L For- Ag Pts
Home 9 3 3 3 14 - 10 12
Away 9 1 2 6 7 - 17 5
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Total (Premier) 18 4 5 9 21 - 28 17
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Football Lge
Home (Div 1) 28 14 8 6 47 - 34 37
Away (Div 1) 28 6 10 12 32 - 42 23
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Total (Div 1) 56 20 18 18 79 - 76 60
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Football Lge
Home (Div 2) 4 3 1 0 10 - 4 7
Away (Div 2) 4 1 1 2 3 - 5 3
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Total (Div 2) 8 4 2 2 13 - 9 10
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Total (Premier) 18 4 5 9 21 - 28 17
Total (Div 1) 56 20 18 18 79 - 76 60
Total (Div 2) 8 4 2 2 13 - 9 10
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Grand Total 82 28 25 29 113 -113 86
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As can be seen from the foregoing statistics, Elland Road has never been
one of our happy hunting grounds. We have only won once at Elland Road in
the Premiership and that was on 2 May 1996 when we won 2-1. Last season we
were unlucky not to take a point off Leeds as we were holding our own
quite comfortably until Alan Smith scored.
Our finest win was probably on January 9th 1971 when Martin Chivers scored
twice. It was featured on Match of The Day and was possibly our best
League performance that season. That was during the Don Revie era and of
players like Johnny Giles, Mick Jones, Allan Clarke, Jack Charlton, Peter
Lorimer ............. and Gary Sprake! David Harvey was in goal that day
if memory serves me correctly but Sprake was one of those goalkeepers who
could play a blinder and than fluke the winner for the opposition by
needlessly flapping at a shot going well wide until he diverted it into
his own goal.
I thought that Revie's side of 1972-73 was probably the best side Leeds
have had to date. It has to be said, though, that David Leary's present
squad is vastly more entertaining than any of Revie's, who wasted time so
effortlessly, disputing every decision referees made.
Until the advent of Don Revie, Leeds had never been much more than what I
call a bit-part club. They'd never been championship challengers and had
spent too long in the old Division 2 over the years. But Revie changed all
that, although I never liked some of the strong arm stuff they became
notorious for. I wonder how long Jack Charlton and Norman Hunter would
survive in the modern era? Not very long, I suspect, with their habit of
ruthlessly chopping down the opposition.
When Leeds declined after the departure of Revie, they spent a long period
in the doldrums before Howard Wilkinson took them back to top flight
football. It was Wilkinson who bought Eric Cantona to the UK and it was a
major surprise when he allowed him to depart for Manchester United, as
that was the catalyst for the Reds' long domination of domestic football.
O'Leary looks like taking Leeds back to the top of the pack as Manchester
United are bound to suffer in the wake of Ferguson's long-heralded
retirement. I hope O'Leary retains the football that has become his
trademark and drops some of the things that remind me so much of the Revie
era.
One game I enjoyed watching was the home game at Tottenham when we beat
them 2-1 towards the end of the 1981-82 season. It was sweet because Leeds
were struggling to avoid relegation and Kenny Burns scored an own goal to
put us ahead. Garry Brooke scored the other as Spurs had a tiring run-in
to the end of a packed season that had promised victory on four fronts but
ended up with us having to settle for retaining the FA Cup.
Sunday's game will be a difficult match for us. However, Leeds had a very
tough match against Troyes in the UEFA Cup on Thursday night, surviving by
the skin of their teeth. Hopefully, our boys can take advantage of that to
snatch some valuable points. But I think I'd settle for a draw ..... Much
depends on the make-up of the defence. We have done well in recent matches
and I think we should stick with the current line-up.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
Cheers, Brian
Leeds full record this season is as follows:-See the full league table here.
Leeds Utd 2 0 Southampton
Arsenal 1 2 Leeds Utd
West Ham Utd 0 0 Leeds Utd
Leeds Utd 0 0 Bolton Wanderers
Charlton 0 2 Leeds Utd
Leeds Utd 3 0 Derby County
Ipswich Town 1 2 Leeds Utd
Liverpool 1 1 Leeds Utd
Leeds Utd 0 0 Chelsea
Manchester Utd 1 1 Leeds Utd
As Declan mentions in his last five article, Leeds have neither lost at home, nor have they conceded a goal. This will be a tough test for Glenn Hoddle's rejuvenated Spurs side, but an attacking game is on the cards, with Leeds keen to reclaim their top position in the league. My head rarely tells me the same as my heart, and to bring anything back from this game will be a great achievement. I will be there for the 12 noon kick-off, so look out for the exclusive Spurs Odyssey report, late on Sunday!
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