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Memory Match: Leeds United 2-0 Portsmouth

Ben Scott takes us on a trip down memory lane.

Gordon Strachan 1990

24th March 1990

Elland Road, Division Two

Attendance: 27,499

Howard Wilkinson’s promotion hopefuls would have nine games left after playing Pompey, who themselves had no real relegation fears but also no real solid hopes of challenging at the top, and the game played out in the fashion fans might have expected.

From the off, it was a constant barrage of Leeds attacks at Alan Knight’s Portsmouth goal. The fact the Whites only scored twice was perhaps testament to Knight’s impressive performance and strokes of Pompey fortune.

Driving the hosts forward was the effervescent Gordon Strachan, with his early dangerous cross from the right palmed away by Knight amidst a sea of blue shirts.

The next threatening move saw Strachan again at the heart of it, with the Scotsman feeding through a delightful pass that full-back Mel Sterland raced onto, before Zico, as he was affectionately known, was hauled down by old his teammate Mark Chamberlain.

The duo had once lined up together for Sheffield Wednesday – and the defender’s blushes were spared when Knight saved Strachan’s spot kick.

Before the half-time whistle sounded, Leeds got the breakthrough they deserved. The move started with a Sterland throw in down the right for Strachan, who controlled it and coolly evaded the nearest two Pompey players, before teeing up Vinnie Jones. The midfield marvel struck first time, seeing his shot from the edge of the area nestle in the top corner.

The lead was very nearly doubled before the break, with Knight on hand to push a Lee Chapman effort over his crossbar, before further penalty appeals from Strachan were waved away.

After the interval, the busy Knight again denied Chapman with a fine save as the forward looked set to turn home Jim Beglin’s cross.

Two more good efforts at goal warmed the gloves of Knight – a Jones long-range volley was parried away before Imre Varadi was denied from close range.

Leeds’ pressure finally told when Chapman rose highest to meet a Strachan corner and headed home a deserved second.

Nine games later a Chapman header would promote Leeds out of the second tier, an outcome the current Leeds squad will be keen to replicate at the end of the season.

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