Leeds United face Barnsley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, at Elland Road. Ben Scott takes a trip down memory lane, recalling a ‘memory match’ from November, 1997.

Seven years had elapsed since the last league clash of these Yorkshire sides and this one was well worth the wait. Or at least the ending was worth it for Leeds and their sizeable passionate following who had travelled to South Yorkshire.

On the rain-soaked pitch, Leeds carved out the first good shot. It came from deadly marksman Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink in the early minutes, but his crisp effort pinged the crossbar and away, out of danger.

As often happens in football in those moments, play will venture quickly back into the penalty area of the team just inches from celebration. And so it did, as Andy Liddell followed up his own shot that had been well-saved by Nigel Martyn and placed the home side one goal up with eight minutes gone.



The goal lifted an already eager crowd, who sang “just like watching Brazil”, as they revelled in making it into the Premier League.

The rain continued lashing down – not weather a goalkeeper prefers. And Martyn would certainly testify so when he stopped a Neil Redfearn shot but saw Ashley Ward nip in and drive it home with 17 minutes of the half left, before everyone could escape the dreadful conditions.

Ten minutes before that break, Leeds attacked with vigour and Hasselbaink was heavily involved. He won Leeds a corner and Alfie Haaland headed it in from six-yards out to reduce the deficit and breathe hope into the air.

Into the second half, and it was all end-to-end action. The Tykes saw Liddell blast over the bar and Leeds could then thank David Robertson who read play well and cleared off the goal line, to deny a third for the hosts.

It was three weeks since Leeds had come back from trailing 3-0 to triumph 4-3 over Derby and this crop of players would once again show their fighting mentality. They left it late, though!

With 11 minutes to play, Martyn struck a long goal kick. The speedy Rod Wallace picked up play after a flick on and, with his left foot, clinically despatched past Lars Leese from close range.

Five minutes later Wallace displayed his skills and trickery, leaving Tykes defenders not able to catch him. His play allowed Derek Lilley, who had only joined play five minutes prior as a substitute, to tuck away the final and winning goal as he showed great instincts, having been first to Wallace’s cross from the right and ensured the loudest noise came from Leeds sodden support in the open-air stand.



The supporters of Barnsley would rue the defeat, one of 23 they witnessed as they went straight back down. For Leeds it was three more points that would see them playing In Europe next season.