Matches –3 February 2010 – Leeds United 1 Tottenham H 3 FA Cup fourth round replay – Elland Road – 37,704 Scorers: Becchio (45 mins) Leeds United: Ankergren, Bromby, Michalik, Naylor, Hughes (White 76), Snodgrass, Howson, Doyle, Johnson (Crowe 86), Becchio (Grella 86), Beckford Tottenham Hotspur: Gomes, Corluka, Bassong, Dawson, Bale, Bentley, Huddlestone, Kranjcar, Jenas, Defoe, Crouch The Renaissance of Leeds United was gathering genuine pace during the 2009/10 season after seven years of rapid decline. The reversal of fortunes was highlighted by some outstanding displays against Premier League opponents: Liverpool were narrow victors at Elland Road in the Carling Cup in September; Leeds achieved a memorable win at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round at the beginning of January; and then followed up with some stirring defiance in the next round, against Tottenham Hotspur on the 23rd of the month, when two Jermaine Beckford goals at White Hart Lane earned a replay. United‟s League form dipped badly during January, with the heady excitement of mixing it United fan Alan Fawcett celebrates the draw at White Hart Lane with top flight opponents an understandable distraction. Leeds‟ 2-0 defeat of promotion rivals Colchester on 30 January was their first League One victory of 2010. They had lost three of their previous five games, in the process falling three points behind leaders Norwich. Promotion was United manager Simon Grayson‟s priority and the diversion of the FA Cup spotlight was somewhat unwelcome. Elland Road supporters pragmatically shared the manager‟s view, but the whiff of big time football was simply too intoxicating to turn up one‟s nose at. Grayson said of the momentous victory against Manchester United: “It was a fantastic experience going there... No one expected us to win on this stage except perhaps 9,000 Leeds fans and the players and us in the dressing room... We said in the build up the players would sink or swim and they came out with plenty of credit. They can draw on that now and go on from there. Overall it was a great day for the club. We‟ve done something which everyone can be immensely proud of.” The draw at White Hart Lane was equally thrilling, as acknowledged by Grayson: “It was a cracking atmosphere, they had a stronger team than Man U in the last round and it was a big result. It was well deserved... We said all along we have players who can create chances and finish, and it proved... I would rather have lost 4-1 than not having chased the game.” www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Matches – 3 February 2010, Leeds United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 1 In the days before the Elland Road replay, Grayson added: “We have nothing to lose against Spurs. That would have been the case regardless of Saturday‟s result because our confidence and belief never waned when we were not winning over the last few weeks. We are still the underdogs but we go into the game with a good shout. My main focus is on next Saturday‟s game at Hartlepool but we are taking the replay seriously because we want to win through to the next round. “We will put a team out against Tottenham that will hopefully compete and give a good account of themselves. We showed at White Hart Lane that we can play the ball around like them. If we beat them it will give us a major psychological boost because they are a top team. “I will tell the players to go out and enjoy it really – the same as we did in the first game and at Old Trafford. Have no regrets when they come off the pitch and somebody try and be a hero. Jermaine has got a lot of headlines over the last couple of rounds. It would be nice for somebody else to get them for a change.” United were without their injured Australians, Paddy Kisnorbo and Neil Kilkenny, but otherwise at full strength, with the familiar attacking partnership of Beckford and Luciano Becchio in place. The giant Slovakian, Lubo Michalik, was recalled at centre- back to counter the aerial threat of Peter Crouch. Tottenham could also select from Battle of the Giants! Peter Crouch and Lubo Michalik tangle at Elland Road. The England striker had the strength, despite the departure of best of the contest, dominating in the air Robbie Keane on loan to Celtic. England international David Bentley was given the opportunity to continue his revival on the right after being out of favour following a drink-driving conviction in the summer. Club captain Ledley King was rested while Wilson Palacios and Luka Modric were on the bench. Despite a couple of hours of heavy snow falling prior to kick off, the pitch nevertheless looked in remarkably good condition when Tottenham kicked off at 7.45. They sought to make their early possession count, though United players were quickly in their faces, putting time and space at a premium. The first chance fell to the visitors: Niko Kranjcar‟s raking pass out to Bentley on the right wing was intercepted by Andy Hughes, but his header back to Casper Ankergren was misjudged and short, offering Jermain Defoe the opportunity to get a shot in. His miscued effort bobbled goalwards www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Matches – 3 February 2010, Leeds United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 2 but was cleared into touch by the alert Richard Naylor. The Tottenham throw was intercepted by Bradley Johnson and hammered downfield to Beckford, who held play up well on the left flank before he cut inside to find Robert Snodgrass on the opposite wing. The Scot fed it back to Leigh Bromby, but the defender‟s cross was easily cleared away by Spurs. Tottenham enjoyed some good possession in the Leeds half, but they could not fashion a clear opening and Becchio and Snodgrass broke out in tandem down the right to earn a throw deep in Spurs territory. Michalik came up for what promised to be a long throw by Bromby, but instead the ball was played short to Michael Doyle who fed Johnny Howson in the centre of the pitch. Tottenham were slow to get to the midfielder who tried a speculative curler which slipped wide of Heurelho Gomes‟ left hand post. After five minutes, Kranjcar got possession after a Leeds attack broke down and hammered the ball forward for Defoe in the right channel. The England striker collected and fed Bentley to his right; the ball was transferred instantly forward to Jermaine Jenas who had run on towards the Leeds penalty area. Referee Andre Marriner awarded Spurs a free kick 30 yards from goal when the midfielder was fouled by Naylor as he sought to turn on the ball. Bentley‟s dead ball attempt was headed out for a corner by Bromby on the edge of the Leeds wall. Bentley took the flag kick and found Sebastien Bassong in space in the heart of the area, but he chose to volley first time and the ball curled over the bar. In the ninth minute Becchio and Snodgrass combined to bring Leeds forward again down the right flank, but Spurs broke up the move when it reached Howson. Bentley made his way down the Tottenham right before firing a low ball across the six-yard line, but there were no Spurs takers for a promising pass which was cleared by Bromby for a corner. A couple of minutes later, Crouch got in front of Luciano Becchio battles it out with Tottenham's Vedran Corluka Michalik to chest down a Corluka cross for Defoe, whose instant strike from the edge of the area flashed narrowly past Ankergren‟s right hand post with the goalkeeper helpless. Two more minutes and Leeds had their best opportunity thus far. Naylor won his tackle to feed Howson and the Leeds midfielder found Hughes to the left. There was no obvious pass on and the left-back took a risk as he dwelled on the ball, but retained possession and managed to get the ball back to Michalik. His hoofed clearance down the left was headed on by Johnson, who pressurised Corluka. A hasty Spurs clearance was cushion headed down carefully by Naylor for Becchio to hold up down the middle. The Argentinian fed Howson who tried to put Snodgrass clear on the right. www.mightyleeds.co.uk - Matches – 3 February 2010, Leeds United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 3 3 The Scott was heavily marked and returned to Howson, whose centre was partially cleared by Dawson. The ball fell to Doyle, who got in a low left footed effort from ten yards outside the area but Gomes gathered low to his right. Seconds later, Beckford went for a high ball forty yards from goal and was given the free kick after Dawson led with his elbow. It was a promising position Snodgrass‟ ball into the area was hopelessly overhit. But Leeds were starting to settle into the game now and having some decent possession, though there was no obvious cutting edge in the final third. After 18 minutes, Bromby sent a long throw deep into the Tottenham area for Michalik and the ball dropped for Snodgrass to tease Gareth Bale. There was no way through and the Scot fed back out to Bromby whose dangerous cross dropped under the Spurs bar. Beckford got above the keeper and nodded onto the crossbar, but the referee awarded a free kick for the challenge on the keeper. It looked a harsh decision with Gomes flapping at the falling ball.