Match From The Past – Manchester City Thump Champions Leeds – Again

In the final season before the Premier League started, City hammered champions-elect Leeds 4-0, laying to rest any fears that the blues would lie down and allow the visitors to win in order to prevent Manchester United winning the league.

The following season, Leeds arrived at Maine Road, intent on revenge for that hammering…but instead received another one.

Both teams were content in mid-table, with City three places and one point above the reigning champions, and victory would be City’s 6^th from 14 games, and would potentially send the blues into 7^th place above neighbours United.

And as happened the previous season, City stormed into an early lead. Mike Sheron took advantage of some poor Leeds defending to nod the ball over Mervyn Day in the Leeds goal after just 13 minutes. Tony Coton’s long ball forward was headed back by Chris Whyte and an attempted header back to his keeper by Chris Fairclough fell short, and Sheron nipped in to head over the keeper.

City went 2-0 up in the 37^th minute, thanks to a near post strike from David White. Keith Curle’s free kick into the Leeds half was headed forward to Sheron. The striker turned the defender and crossed into the six-yard box, where White came rushing in to slide home the second.

It was almost a carbon copy of the match in April, although City had to wait until the 75^th minute to make the game safe. Fitzroy Simpson out-muscled the defender and his shot was saved by Day, only for the rebound to fall into the path oh Andy Hill, who slotted home from close range.

Five minutes later, City completed another 4-0 rout. Ian Brightwell collected a defence splitting pass and ran into the huge space left by the Leeds defence, before beating Day at his near post.

It was another glorious day for the blues in what would turn out to be an indifferent first season in the new Premier League.

Final Score: Manchester City 4-0 Leeds United