Matches – 31 March 1965 – Manchester U 0 Leeds United 1

Matches – 31 March 1965 – Manchester U 0 Leeds United 1 First Division – City Ground, Nottingham – 46,300 Scorers: Bremner Manchester United: P Dunne, Brennan, A Dunne, Crerand, Foulkes, Stiles, Connelly, R Charlton, Herd, Law, Best Leeds United: Sprake, Reaney, Bell, Bremner, J Charlton, Hunter, Giles, Storrie, Peacock, Collins, Cooper The first clash between Manchester United and Leeds United in the FA Cup semi final of 1965 had ended in a bitter and rancorous goalless draw, with both sides more intent on kicking opponents than seizing the chance of a Wembley place. As Eric Stanger reported in the Yorkshire Post: “Perhaps it is as well there is a replay at Nottingham on Wednesday. At least it will give both sides opportunity to show that they can play good football and redeem themselves for a shabby, bitter FA Cup semi final at Hillsborough on Saturday. There were no goals but there were 24 free kicks for fouls given against Manchester United and 10 against Leeds. Two Manchester players, Stiles and Law, had their names taken and altogether too many players on both sides behaved like a pack of dogs snapping and snarling at each other over a bone.” Leeds manager Don Revie chose to paper over the controversy, saying: “We shall do better on Wednesday now we know what it is all about. Remember this is our first semi final. I was a bit worried at half time but we played much better against the wind and I am sure we can win the replay and get to Wembley.” Despite many fitness doubts on both sides following the bruising encounter, the only change to either team was Denis Law shows the effects of battle after the first game Terry Cooper replacing the injured South African Albert Johanneson on the Leeds left wing. Cooper had been unlucky to miss the first match through injury having featured regularly over recent weeks as either left-back or left winger, and the bloody minded assaults on Johanneson at the weekend made Cooper’s recall a formality. Referee Dick Windle had been heavily criticised for losing control of the first game, but was officiating again. This time he seemed determined to take a much firmer approach to matters and clamped down on any misdemeanours from the start. His change in approach quickly reaped rewards and the players showed much more discipline. There were again far too many fouls, 20 www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Matches – 31 March 1965, Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1 1 against the Mancunians and five against the Whites, but most were for petty offences, rather than aggressive play. As The Times reported, “This may sound like Dante’s Inferno but by comparison with last Saturday both sides trod a primrose path. We were no longer truly at a ringside and the ball was now a ball and not a time bomb; yet it was still a hard battle, razor keen, a true passage of arms with all the deep qualities of a taut Cup-tie. Both sides regained some stature and though there was a free flow of free kicks, most of them were of a technical nature. The gloss of the game had now returned and with it both sides had apparently learnt a little wisdom, a little patience and tolerance. Both still took as well as gave, but what was now given was cleaner, even if it was still no tea party where people are treated with an elaborate manner.” Matters were helped by the marked improvement in playing conditions. At Hillsborough the players had to contend with a churned up bog of a pitch, sticky and holding and mitigating against expansive play. Nottingham’s City Ground offered a fast, dry surface that the players were thankful for, taking the opportunity to rise above barbarism and opting instead for skill. Once again, Leeds seemed content to rely on their defensive excellence to see them through, with Bobby Collins dominant. The Yorkshire Evening Post’s Phil Brown noted that Collins “was again invaluable, pulling United out of trouble at one end of the field, and touching off their attacking at the other”, while Eric Stanger of the Yorkshire Post called the Scot “the cool, masterful general, who extricated Leeds from many a tight corner”. Leeds saw to it that the skillful Pat Crerand never got the chance to control the game. Jim Storrie: “Terry Cooper played at number 11, but had to mark Crerand. Crerand was a great passer … could land the ball on a beer mat from 40 yards. So we cut off his supply. It was like starving a deep-sea diver of oxygen and meant that Stiles and Foulkes, who were less gifted, had to put balls through. And instead of the goalkeeper being able to find Crerand, he had to kick it upfield where Jack Charlton would win it in the air. Best, Law and Charlton were locked in their own half of the field. “In the previous match, Pat Crerand had been at the hub of almost every United attack. When Leeds were on the attack, he would fall back, not playing any part in his side's defensive play, but staying spare so that United could find him with a clearance. Terry's Bremner, Hunter, Sprake, Bell and Charlton are all concentrating on keeping the ball out as job was to move infield and Manchester United attack pick up Pat, and in the first half this had the desired effect of choking the supply of passes to him. www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Matches – 31 March 1965, Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1 2 “Pat was fouled by Terry on one occasion, and made the mistake of chasing after him to get his own back. He forgot about his duties, with the result that Charlton and Law were forced to come deep in an effort to get the ball themselves.” The Peacocks had little option but to go for a rearguard action, for the Red Devils seemed determined to make up for missing out first time around and took control of the game early on. Stanger: “It was rich, rousing Cup football. Manchester United began as if they would make a meal of Leeds, switching play forward or across the field with fine dexterity. Early on Leeds owed much to Sprake, who made fine saves from Herd and Bobby Charlton. Leeds might well have been a goal down before they found their feet. But even thus early it was obvious that their defence would take a terrific amount of punishment without breaking.” After that opening burst, however, with Johnny Giles taking a controlling interest, Leeds came more into the picture, going close on several occasions. Most of their chances, though, were achieved by pumping high balls into the heart of the Manchester penalty area for Alan Peacock to contest. By half time there was little to choose between the two teams, although there was a yawning gulf between the quality of football being played this time against that which had masqueraded deceitfully under that term in Sheffield. Again, Matt Busby’s men started the better after the break, but this time their dominance was total and for the first twenty minutes there was only one side in it. The Times: “Soon after the change of ends a superb long through pass by Charlton found Best’s head, from the centre- forward position, but the ball was grabbed with masterful ease under the angle of crossbar and post by Sprake. Then a quick triangular move, three pass rat-tat-tat between the quicksilver Law and Herd saw Law cut through the middle and close in, like a flash. It was any odds on a goal but the Manchester roar of ‘goal’ was choked as Sprake made a remarkable point blank save from the Manchester captain. Almost at once Law broke clear once more down the right, pulled the defence apart, momentarily only, for Herd to blast wide into the Panic in the Manchester goalmouth as Bell and Peacock move in, but goalkeeper Dunne side netting with Best concedes the corner standing unmarked on the goal line. A quiet look then by the centre-forward and Manchester must have been ahead. “Hardly was that over than Law beat three men in a sizzling run, passed square across the goalmouth, and once more Herd, with time and space on his side, shot wide, left footed. In those www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Matches – 31 March 1965, Manchester United 0 Leeds United 1 3 moments did Manchester live and die, on firm, perfect conditions that should have suited their style of play. Law, supported by R Charlton and Crerand, had the genius to win this match, but it escaped him and his side.” But the Leeds team of 1965 was nothing if not resolute, and Jack Charlton, Paul Reaney and Willie Bell were playing like Colossuses in front of Gary Sprake. Bobby Collins, Billy Bremner, Norman Hunter and Terry Cooper did what they could to provide some respite when the opportunity arose, but were little more than additional conscripts in defence. Jim Storrie and Alan Peacock defended manfully from the front, while Johnny Giles played wonderfully well to maintain a grip in midfield, popping up all over the place to keep Leeds hopes alive. Gradually, the storm abated, and the Yorkshiremen sensed that the Mancunians were beginning to doubt they could pierce the resilient defence. Stanger: “Leeds turned the game. Manchester were surprised in one raid when Jack Charlton headed a free kick from Collins inches wide of a post. It proved the flashpoint for Leeds’ match winning rally, though they had one uneasy moment when Sprake dropped Connelly’s corner but recovered to turn the ball over the bar as Law went in for the kill.” Manager Don Revie was never one to let an opportunity pass him by and noted with relish the change in fortunes.

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