Leeds United will begin back-to-back home games this weekend, starting against Coventry City and then Ipswich Town the Saturday after.
Ahead of facing the Sky Blues on Saturday, Ben Scott takes us down memory lane with a match from our title winning campaign of 1991/92.
In April 20 of 1992, Leeds United host Coventry City in the old format of Division One. Leeds were chasing the points they needed in the title race, against bitter rivals Manchester United in a tense battle towards the end of the campaign.
Earlier in the day, Nottingham Forest had taken maximum points at Old Trafford which further strengthened the possibility that Howard Wilkinson could guide Leeds from a mundane place in second tier football of the October of 1988, into title winners and a place in European football in the following season by 1992.
Leeds headed into this clash with the Sky Blues on the back of a draw and win, two days previous a 0-0 affair at Anfield, and nine days previously they had shot Chelsea down 3-0 at Elland Road.
An optimistic but naturally nervous Elland Road, along with the many watching live on TV, would see Leeds celebrate another home win.
The two teams on the day had different reasons for the necessity of gaining points. Whilst Leeds were pushing for the title at best, or at worst a place in next seasons UEFA Cup, Coventry were mindful of their place towards the wrong end of the table.
Leeds won the toss of the coin by referee Bob Nixon and it would be prolific goal scorer Lee Chapman who got the game underway as they attacked the South Stand.
When we got underway, Coventry’s veteran Goalkeeper Steve Orgizovic was equal to a Rod Wallace left-footed strike from just outside his penalty area, which seemed destined for the top corner.
The home side kept the momentum, with midfielder Gary McAllister often at the centre of attempts at unlocking the 0-0 score line. First he fizzed a shot just over the crossbar from well the middle of the Coventry half, then he won his side a free-kick.
From the resulting free-kick, taken by Tony Dorigo, a header from Gary Speed seemed like it may evade Orgizovic but he was equal to the test and that wrapped up the best of the action as the teams headed off the dressing rooms goalless.
The second half began and ffter a period of pressure down the right as Leeds attacked, the visitors had to defend a corner and a ball swung into their penalty area. Follow this, Leeds probed down the left twice but still couldn’t get the goal they searched for.
Then, moments later, centre-half Chris Fairclough headed Leeds into the lead with a looping header over Orgizovic from close range!
That opening goal then set Leeds on the way to victory and three more valuable points as they would be crowned Champions before the month of May even began.
Coventry found themselves camped in their own half for large spells as Leeds attacked down both flanks or through the middle of the pitch with Strachan and McAllister often architects of the danger.
With around just 10 minutes of play left, Leeds pressed forward down the middle and in the brief mele that ensued, the linesman closest to play saw that Coventry’s Llyod McGrath had handled the ball on the goal line.
He was sent off, and from the spot, McAllister coolly finished the match off when he sent the penalty-kick tidily into the bottom right corner. Leeds United marched on and become the last ever champions of the old Division One.
