CITY 4 LEEDS UNITED 0
FA Premier League
7th November 1992
attendance 27,255
scorers Sheron(13), White(37), Hill(75), I Brightwell(80)
Ref K Morton
City Coton, I Brightwell, Phelan, McMahon, Curle, Hill, White, Sheron, Quinn, Simpson, Holden – sub Reid(unused), Flitcroft(unused), Margetson(unused)
Leeds Day, Newsome, wetherall, Hodge, Fairclough, Whyte, Strachan, Cantona, Wallace, McAllister, Speed – subs Chapman(56), Rocastle(unused), Pettinger(unused)
THE TEAM CELEBRATE IAN BRIGHTWELL’S GOAL
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MICHAEL WALKER WRITING IN THE OBSERVER 8TH NOVEMBER 1992
A week which began with such promise for Leeds United came to a miserable end under grey skies in Manchester.
Those expecting a backlash after Wednesday’s defeat by Rangers saw instead an invigorated Manchester City inflict upon Leeds their heaviest defeat of the season a repeat of the scoreline here in April.
Howard Wilkinson had not shrunk from making changes, bringing in 37 year old Day and the inexperienced David Wetherall for lukic and Dorigo, both out through injury. Also starting were Hodge and Wallace, replacing Rocastle and Chapman.
But, especially in the first half, Leeds were very subdued. McAllister and Hodge were dominated by the tenacious McMahon and Simpson, who both played superbly As a result Leeds makeshift defense, in which Whetherall was playing only his third League game alongside Whyte, was often exposed. Whetherall struggled manfully against Quinn, but the sharp movements of Sheron and White provided a constant threat.
The two speedy forwards were aided by The Slack Leeds defending, ably illustrated after 12 minutes when Whyte’s miscued header forced Fairclough to jump for a high, bouncing ball. He nodded too softly towards Day, allowing Sheron to nip in and head home.
Ten minutes before half-time, Sheron’s turn and cross on the left found White sliding in to beat Fairclough in to the ball.
Leeds emerged in the second half and looked more likely to score after Chapman replaced the disappointing Hodge. But Curle and Phelan were again impressive in the City Defense.
Eyebrows were understandably raised when Peter Reid paid £5 million for two ‘Wombles’ to play to put at the back, but both are playing very well. Curle especially looks far from the Muppet he appeared in the European Championship.
City’s other defenders, Hill and Brightwell, sealed victory, Brightwell finishing clinically after Quinn and Sheron had carved up the left. The game ended with City fans whooping every pass and the Leeds players wanting to bring this curtain down on a sorry week.
