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Spurs full Cup record against Leeds Utd.
F.A. CUP
Season Rd H/A Result Scorer(s)
1953-54 3 A 3-3 Walters, Bennett (2)
1953-54 3R H 1-0 Bennett
1971-72 Q-F A 1-2 Pratt
1981-82 4 H 1-0 Crooks
1998-99 5 A 1-1 Sherwood
1998-99 5R H 2-0 Anderton, Ginola
Spurs and Leeds have never met in the League Cup.
Spurs need to be "Up for the Cup"!
The last time Spurs met Leeds in Cup competition was in an exciting 5th Round replay on 24th February, 1999 at White Hart Lane. Spurs were managed by George Graham, who had joined us from Leeds in the previous October, whilst Graham's former deputy, David O'Leary took charge of Leeds.
In the away match on 13th February Tim Sherwood scored a 53rd minute goal for Spurs on his full debut, but Ian Harte levelled the scores after a run past Anderton and Sherwood, before scoring through Les Ferdinand's legs.
The replay was televised and was to include "the goal that wasn't a goal", when David Ginola caused Graham to leap with excitement at a shot that seemed goal-bound, but that rebounded across the goal-mouth off the post. Ginola did eventually cap a fine performance with a goal after Anderton had scored one of his finest ever Spurs goals with an arrowed shot from outside the area. The Leeds side included our own Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer, who we will face next week against Birmingham, future Spurs player Willem Korsten, and Ian Harte, who now plays League One football with Carlisle. Funnily enough, Harte played in Carlisle's 2-1 win at Elland Road on Tuesday night in the Johnstone Paint Trophy Northern Final (1st Leg).
Spurs of course went on to win the Worthington Cup that year, but were knocked out of the FA Cup in the semi-final at Old Trafford against a Newcastle side inspired by the hand of Dabizas and the elbows of Shearer! David Ginola won both the Players' and Writers' Footballer of the Year awards.
The records show there are only three other seasons that Spurs have met Leeds in Cup battle. It took a replay in January 1954, when Les Bennett scored 2 goals in the 3-3 away match, and got the winner in the replay in front of 35,000 people. Spurs were knocked out by the eventual winners that year (West Brom) in the quarter-final.
In March 1972, John Pratt scored for Spurs, but we lost 2-1, and in a cup winning season, we beat Leeds in January 1982, with a goal by Garth Crooks.
Leeds won their way through to this round with that great win at Old Trafford and a goal from Jermaine Beckford. It was a great and deserved piece of giant killing by the League One side. Beckford was thought to be on his way out, perhaps to Newcastle, but has withdrawn a transfer request and vowed his loyalty to the club at least till the end of the season.
Since that win at Old Trafford, Leeds have lost form, drawing at home to Wycombe Wanderers, losing at Steve Perryman's Exeter, and now losing at home to Carlisle. They are still top of the league, but their focus must be on retaining that position, despite the glamour of the FA Cup. Leeds are reported to be in the hunt for former Spurs Reserve striker Lee Barnard, who is only one goal behind Beckford in the League One goal-scorers' chart, with 15 to his name.
On the back of their achievment at Old Trafford, Leeds are certainly not to be under-estimated by Spurs. The home fans will demand a performance after recent disappointing league results which have seen us lose five more points in the race for the Champions League. At least we know that Harry Redknapp will want to play a strong side, but that side will not include Aaron Lennon, who made his league debut for Leeds against Spurs in August 2003 at the age of 16 years and 129 days, or Jonathan Woodgate, both of whom would love to play against their old club.
The team might include another ex-Leeds man, Robbie Keane, much maligned these days by many Spurs fans, but probably needed with a Premier League game next Tuesday night against Fulham, if Harry wants to rotate the side a little. Danny Rose is another Spurs player farmed from the Leeds Academy, and he might well get an opportunity to impress.
My instincts are that Leeds had their day at Old Trafford, and whilst they might make it tough for Spurs, the home side will win by two goals. Spurs certainly need to be "Up for the Cup", as their Champions League chances look to be diminishing.
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