This weekend brings the FA Cup fourth round with Leeds United still involved after a two nil victory against Rotherham in the previous round. A debut goal from Mustapha Carayol and a last minute strike from Souleymane Doukara set up Leeds to play either Eastleigh or Bolton. After a hard fought replay Bolton won though and so Leeds United head to the Macron Stadium as marginal favourites with the bookies on Saturday. Bolton are in disarray at the moment, firmly at the foot of the Championship table and having just avoided an immediate winding-up order it may be a good time to play them and get through to the fifth round.
Ties against Rotherham and Bolton hardly set the world alight but the cup competitions have given us some fantastic fixtures over the past few years. We’ve played some of the biggest teams from Premiership home and away, Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool and what’s more we’ve beaten them too. They have reminded us of our days at the top of English football, of a packed Elland Road and taking 9,000 fans away. Here are just a few moments from the FA Cup over the last few years but what is your favourite?
Leeds 2, Tottenham 1 - FA Cup 4th Round 2013
Spurs were fourth round visitors to Elland Road in 2013 and Leeds sent them crashing out of the FA Cup. Some poor defending from Spurs saw Luke Varney break away down the left on 15 minutes and coolly finish past Brad Friedel to give Leeds a one nil lead. The 50th minute saw another Leeds player break free from the Spurs defence. This time Ross McCormack who checked his run in the area to beat the defender before curling a left footed shot home to double Leeds’ lead. Clint Dempsey got a goal back for the Londoners soon after but they failed to chalk up another and Leeds went through to the fifth round.
Arsenal 1, Leeds United 1 - FA Cup 3rd Round 2011
Leeds took 9,000 fans away to the Emirates back in 2011 to watch Leeds play Arsenal in the third round of the FA Cup, and we very nearly won. Arsenal were undoubtedly on top but when Denilson brought down Max Gradel in the box ten minutes into the second half Leeds had a chance to take the lead. Robert Snodgrass stepped up and slotted the ball home from the spot to give Leeds the lead. Luciano Becchio nearly doubled the lead but a 90th minute Cesc Fabregas penalty took the game to a replay. Leeds lost the replay 3-1 despite a 37th minute screamer from Bradley Johnson.
Manchester United 0, Leeds United 1 - FA Cup 3rd Round 2010
January 3rd remember the date… Probably the most famous of Leeds United’s recent ‘giant killing’ escapades. Manchester United hadn’t lost in the 3rd round or been knocked out of the FA Cup by a team in a lower division under Alex Ferguson's reign. This day was the day Jermaine Beckford broke their hearts. A Jonny Howson long ball from well within his own half found Beckford, his first touch took the ball away from him but he was quick enough to get there before Wes Brown, a left foot touch took the ball through Brown’s legs and past Kuszczak, the ball trickling almost in slow motion towards the goal before nestling in the right hand side on the net. Leeds, one nil! Just to round things off Richard Naylor kicked Wayne Rooney up in the air, a good day all round.
