Leeds United extended their impressive unbeaten run on the road to nine matches on Wednesday night, matching a feat not achieved since 1979, after a dramatic 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.
A stoppage-time equaliser from Sean Longstaff in the 97th minute ensured Daniel Farke’s side left the south coast with a point, continuing a remarkable sequence of results away from Elland Road.
The current run began on 11 January with a 3-1 victory over Derby County in the FA Cup at Pride Park, before Leeds followed up with draws against Everton (1-1) and Chelsea (2-2). Progress in the cup also came via penalty shootout successes against Birmingham City and West Ham United.
Further league draws at Aston Villa and Crystal Palace were followed by an impressive 2-1 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, before Wednesday’s late drama on the south coast ensured the sequence continued.
It is the club’s longest unbeaten away stretch in nearly half a century, since Jimmy Adamson’s side went on an 11-game unbeaten run between October 1978 and January 1979.
That sequence began with a 4-1 win over Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, where goals from Tony Currie, Frank Gray and a brace from Eddie Gray secured victory in front of 40,899 supporters.
Leeds went on to record notable results against sides including Liverpool, Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, before concluding the 11-match unbeaten away run with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on 20 January 1979. Goals from Paul Hart and Ray Hankin sealed that win, before the run was eventually ended by a 1-0 defeat to Southampton in the League Cup semi-final.
Should Leeds go unbeaten away from home for the remainder of the season, they would surpass the 1979 milestone. To do so, they must defeat Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday, beat Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in the league.
The club’s longest-ever unbeaten run away from home remains a remarkable sequence spanning the 1968/69 and 1969/70 campaigns, when Don Revie’s side went 17 matches on the road without defeat. That stretch formed part of a still-standing club record 34-match unbeaten run in all competitions, during which Leeds also secured the First Division title.
