CITY 4 LEEDS UNITED 0
Barclays League Division 1
4th April 1992
Attendance 30,239
Scorers Hill(11), Sheron(33), Quinn(62), Brennan(89)
Ref J Watson
City Coton, Hill, Pointon, Brennan, Vonk, Curle, White, Sheron, Quinn, Simpson, McMahon – Subs I Brightwell(85), Reid(unused)
Leeds Lukic, Cantona, Dorigo, Batty, Fairclough, Whyte, Strachan, Wallace, Chapman, McAllister, Speed – Subs Newsome(unused), Hodge(unused)
Going into April, 1992, City were in the top six of the table under the high octane stewardship of Peter Reid and Sam Ellis, preparing for the visit of Leeds United, one of only five teams ahead of them in the table.
It was Leeds, under Howard Wilkinson, that were the main challenge to Manchester United in their seemingly never-ending quest for the title.
The Yorkshire side arrived at Maine Road in rich form and there seemed little to point towards the humbling experience that awaited them. By the end of the game, however, they had been handed a lesson in attacking football and clinical finishing, had seen their title hopes severely dented and been packed off back down the M62 with what would remain their heaviest defeat of the season.
Niall Quinn proved a thorn in Leeds’ side from the off, setting up both Michael Sheron and David White with presentable early chances, with the bit well and truly between their teeth, City moved ahead after only 11 minutes when Andy Hill rose majestically at the far post to head home from a corner. City increased their lead after weathering a terrific storm of attacking play from the visitors.
Steve McMahon tamed the ball in the busy midfield and sent a wonderful through pass to Sheron, who just had the legs to reach the ball before the fast approaching Leeds goalkeeper John Lukic The ball floated gently over the ‘keeper and into the North Stand end net as Sheron was catapulted into the air by the ensuing collision.
There had been the suggestion from Red parts of the city that the Blues would ‘lie down’ and let the Lilywhites walk off with the points rather than assist United’s title challenge. The truth was, City were going well and United’s fortunes held no importance whatsoever. Reid’s side were just too good for a very good Leeds outfit.
Coton then copied the arrogant swagger of Eric Cantona, as he plucked the Frenchman’s drive out of the air with a nonchalance that brought a standing ovation from the North Stand behind him. The Brummie ‘keeper’s body seemed only to move a fraction as his arms shot to his right and pulled the fizzing ball out of the air and into his chest.
As the Leeds fans silence became more and more pronounced, City wrapped up the game with a last minute goal by Mark Brennan, running through the middle onto another McMahon defence-splitter.
At the end, Reid saved special praise for Michel Vonk, who had tamed the Leeds attack so impressively, but, in truth, this had been a gritty and exuberant team performance. Leeds midfielder Gordon Strachan was honest enough to admit afterwards, that his team simply couldn’t compete with the Blues on this occasion.
“On this form City would have beaten anybody, even the current league leaders,“ commented the diminutive Scot.
This was not a case of City finding Leeds on an off day, either. The Yorkshire side fought hard from start to finish but came up against a City team that out-fought and out-thought them virtually from the first minute. There were heroes all over the park for the Blues. As well as Coton and Vonk, Sheron proved an excellent foil for Quinn up front and McMahon was imperious in midfield…
