leeds-united

This one hurt. While both sets of fans were up for a renewal of hostilities with the club’s Yorkshire rivals – delivering an electric atmosphere at OT – only Leeds rose to the occasion on the pitch, securing a famous victory that saw United dumped out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage for the first time in a quarter of a century.

The pivotal moment arrived in the 19th minute when Leeds’ in-form striker Jermaine Beckford gave Wes Brown the slip to slot in the only goal of the game from a tight angle.

This should have been a wake-up call but United were unable to move up the gears. They had enough chances to win the game – Wayne Rooney was unusually profligate in front of goal – but it was Leeds who came closest to scoring in the second half. Substitute Robert Snodgrass saw a freekick clatter against Tomasz Kuszczack’s cross bar and Beckford came close with a strike that flashed wide.

“They had a far bigger appetite for the game than us,” admitted Fergie, adding that he was “shocked” at the performance.

In hindsight, this was a difficult game for Fergie to call. Leeds may be two divisions below United but they are a team full of confidence and well-used to the type of feisty encounter that this game inevitably became.

But Fergie’s starting XI left United toothless in midfield. Gabriel Obertan, Darron Gibson, Anderson and Danny Welbeck is not a midfield quartet to strike fear into the heart of a visiting team, and an energetic Leeds side were snapping at their heels all afternoon.

Welbeck appeared out of position on the left and Obertan fared little better on the opposite flank. Meanwhile, in the centre of the park, Gibson had a day to forget, miscuing a number of passes in the final third, while Anderson was mostly anonymous and eventually sacrificed for Michael Owen in the second half as United chased the game.

Fergie seems unsure of his best midfield right now, as he has been all season, but this certainly wasn’t it. Darren Fletcher’s industry and Michael Carrick’s precision were sorely missed, and Ryan Giggs – a second half replacement for Obertan – was not allowed the time or space to make a difference.

There were also problems defensively where Jonny Evans and Wes Brown – the latter added to the team sheet last minute after Nemanja Vidic pulled up in the warm up – were given a torrid time by Beckford’s pace. Elsewhere, Gary Neville was erratic and Fabio da Silva, at left back, was unable to provide the attacking threat usually supplied by the absent Patrice Evra.

Pundits made much of the fact that this was the 100th consecutive game in which Fergie has named a different starting XI. This run began in May 2008 and United have bagged plenty of silverware in the meantime – but squad rotation can always go wrong, and it did on Sunday.

“I didn’t expect that performance, it was shocking. I’ve no complaints about the result,” Ferguson told MUTV.

“Leeds deserved to win. They got breaks at times but deserved their luck – I’m disappointed.

“We did speak about Beckford’s pace up front. 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.

“I don’t think any of the players can say they had a good day. Maybe only [substitute Antonio] Valencia, when he came on, can say that. Even then it took us about 10 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.”

The visitors did and it could be some time before United has the opportunity to avenge this defeat while Leeds will no doubt be dining out on the result for many years to come.

However, United face more immediate concerns in the shape of the League cup semi-final against City, with the first leg starting on Wednesday. This is surely now a “must win” to avoid the ignominy of another cup exit at the hands of a bitter rival.

Sir Alex Ferguson will deploy a full-strength side as Leeds United arrive in Manchester for the FA Cup third round tomorrow. The Scot will roll out the big guns for the arrival of the League One leaders from across the Pennines in the most anticipated match between the clubs since Leeds’ relegation from the Premier League in 2004.

Ferguson, who is likely to use youth and fringe players in the Carling Cup against Manchester City midweek, will offer the FA Cup the respect it deserves as United look to dump Leeds out of the competition. With the Scot’s defensive injury crisis now abating, United will again deploy Nemanja Vidic and Wes Brown in central defense ahead of Tomasz Kuszack in goal. Fit-again Gary Neville may come in for Rafael da Silva at right-back despite the Brazilian’s outstanding display against Wigan Athletic last weekend.

In midfield Ferguson may opt to bring in one of Paul Scholes, Ryan Giggs or Anderson, each of whom missed out against Wigan, while Michael Owen or Dimitar Berbatov will partner the effervescent Wayne Rooney in attack.

It is almost six years since the Yorkshire side last featured at Old Trafford following successive relegations from the Premier League and Championship. But with more than 9,000 Leeds supporters expected in Manchester the tie will be as intense as matches between the sides prior to Leeds’ financial implosion. It is a fact recognised by United’s Scottish midfield general, Darren Fletcher, who will start the match in central midfield on Sunday.

“You do try and stay focused and treat it like any other game but the atmosphere brings it to a point where it can’t happen,” said Fletcher.

“You realise how much it means to the fans because of bragging rights and past rivalries.

“The atmosphere builds up around the ground and you just sense it is not a normal match – and cup tie atmospheres tend to lend themselves to a more frenetic pace at the best of times.”

“You hear about the rivalries with Liverpool and Manchester City but the Leeds one is just as big. The fans sing songs about it. Having played in a couple of the games I can testify as to how fierce it is.”

Despite Leeds’ lengthy absence from top-flight the club still garners the support of more than 30,000 United-hating fans each week, many of whom will make the trek over the Pennines for the match. While the club continues to recover from the £100 million debt-fueled ‘dream’ chased by former Managing Director Peter Ridsdale, the tie provides a taste of the big time that younger supporters will now barely remember.

“I was quite surprised at the intensity of the Leeds games when I first came down here. I didn’t know where they came from,” Ferguson said of the rivalry.

“It emanated from the 1960s when Denis Law used to cause all those problems, punching players. There was that great photograph of Denis with Jack Charlton, Denis’ strip is ripped right off him and they are all piling in.

“So obviously there was some intense feeling back then and I used to say to the players to make sure we behave properly on the pitch. We don’t need to add to the problems and the police obviously had a difficult day.”

A comfortable win for the home side Sunday lunchtime will do much to diffuse any tension.

Manchester United may face Leeds United in the FA Cup third round at Old Trafford following today’s draw. Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will play their great rivals from across the Pennines if Leeds overcome Kettering in a second round replay. The sides have not played since a 2003 Premier League draw at Old Trafford – Leeds relegation season.

Should Leeds win its replay the sides are likely to meet on Sunday 3rd January with a full FA Cup ticket allocation offered to the visiting side. Ready your Eric Cantona masks and velcro gloves now!

FA CUP THIRD ROUND DRAW:

Tottenham v Peterborough United
Brentford v Doncaster Rovers
Middlesbrough v Manchester City
Stoke City v York City
Notts County v Forest Green Rovers
Huddersfield Town v West Bromwich Albion
Sheffield United v QPR
MK Dons v Burnley
Chelsea v Watford
Nottingham Forest v Birmingham City
Preston North End v Colchester United
West Ham United v Arsenal
Aston Villa v Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth v Coventry City
Sunderland v Oxford United or Barrow
Wigan Athletic v Hull City
Everton v Carlisle United
Sheffield Wednesday v Crystal Palace
Tranmere Rovers or Aldershot Town v Wolves
Blackpool v Ipswich Town
Fulham v Swindon Town
Stockport County or Torquay v Brighton
Scunthorpe United v Barnsley
Southampton v Rotherham United or Luton Town
Bristol City v Cardiff City
Reading v Liverpool
Staines Town or Millwall v Derby County
Plymouth Argyle v Newcastle United
Leicester City v Swansea City
Bolton Wanderers v Lincoln City
Accrington Stanley or Barnet v Gillingham
MANCHESTER UNITED v Kettering Town or Leeds United