The first home match of November will see Leeds United take on Plymouth Argyle. After toppling the league leaders last Friday in their own backyard, the Whites come into the game having claimed an important three points against the league leaders.
The day after that win for Leeds, Plymouth got a point in a six-goal thriller against Middlesbrough, in Devon. Going into Saturday’s clash, the current aspirations of both clubs are at a contrast. Hosts Leeds are sitting third in the table whilst the South Coast outfit are perched three precariously balanced places above the relegation zone.
History doesn’t make enjoyable reading for Argyle in this part of the country. Only one win ever at Elland Road, back in 1962, comes from 20 attempts. When last here it was Leeds winning 2-1 in a Championship match from 2007.
Our memory match this time around is a 2-1 United win the second tier, coming on November 1st, 1989. Ben Scott recalls his memory of the game.
That season, manager Howard Wilkinson had already laid down the gauntlet as credible promotion challengers, as his side had only lost once and that was in the opening match 14 games ago, away from home.
A healthy crowd of 26,791 filled Elland Road and as ever, the vast majority of them in attendance cheering on Howard Wilkinson’s team. The fanatical fanbase self-aptly named themselves Sgt. Wilko’s Barmy Army as they would roar and sing for the full duration of matches, helping Leeds rack up 54 from 69 points at home.
Leeds had the capacity to attack their visitors down the wide areas, often led on the right by Mel Sterland and the left, by Mick Whitlow. Both full backs were a constant threat for the Argyle defence.
When Leeds weren’t pushing play out wide, in the centre Gordon Strachan and Vinnie Jones were never far away from that incisive pass that could unlock any defence. It would be through the middle of the pitch, and involving Strachan, when Leeds caused Plymouth the biggest scare of the Tuesday night so far.
Our captain linked up with Andy Williams in a neat give-and-go that ended with Strachan by the dead ball line, cutting the ball back. Plymouth, through fate and fortune, combined in keeping the game scoreless owing to a good save by goalkeeper Rhys Wilmot and then referee John Llyod chalking Leeds a goal off from Ian Baird.
That disallowed goal allowed Plymouth to breathe for a moment, but the next wave of pressure soon arrived for them. Leeds attacked well down the right and a high ball was sent to the far post. It was met sweetly at its destination and headed across the six-yard box, agonisingly it just evaded two United men from glancing the ball home.
Despite the array of attacking style from the home side, it would be a penalty-kick that got the opening goal. It came about as in the in-form Bobby Davison bore down on Wilmot’s goal and Wilmot took Davison clean out, meaning the penalty was given and Strachan calmly tucked it away low and hard. The panic shown by Wilmot probably brought on by the fact that Davison had half a dozen goals from the last eight matches.
Before half-time, United were hit on the break as Andy Thomas headed home from across out wide. Leeds nearly regained the lead again quickly though but a dangerous ball from the right just fizzed past Wilmot’s near post.
It was the dangerous Davison though that was on hand 17 minutes into the second half to ensure Argyle would travel home empty handed. Ironically it was gifted to Davison by their own scorer Andy Thomas, when a wayward back pass by him fed a golden opportunity that was dispatched from six-yards after rounding Wilmot.
The march to the top for Leeds was well and truly on, as they gained promotion in May.
