Smith winner spoiled leaders’ hopes of record unbeaten run
In the latest of our series of memorable matches, JOHN ABBERLEY recalls Stoke’s 3-2 win over runaway league leaders Leeds United on February 23, 1974. The article was first printed in 2009...
ON February 23, 1974, Stoke City defeated Leeds United 3-2 at the Victoria Ground, killing off the Yorkshire team’s hopes of equalling a record of 30 league games without defeat.
Leeds, coming to Stoke as runaway leaders of the old First Division, appeared to be in complete control after taking a two-goal lead in the early stages.
But the game developed into a battle royal as Stoke staged a dramatic three-goal comeback.
Midfielder Alan Hudson, a new arrival from Chelsea, scored his first goal for Stoke.
Leeds still ended the season as First Division champions, with Stoke finishing in fifth place, which booked them a place in a European competition for the second time.
The England manager, Sir Alf Ramsey, was in the crowd of 39,598.
The match is remembered by lifetime Stoke supporter Fred Ball, aged 67, a former city councillor from Meir.
He said: “Leeds were unbeaten in 29 league games and hoping to equal the record, so there was a considerable build-up of interest before the game.
“The bookies gave odds of 9-2 on a
Stoke win and hundreds of supporters, including myself, had a bet. We felt if anyone could beat Leeds it was Stoke. They could always turn it on against good teams.
“Incidentally, Stoke had an interesting 4-2-4 attacking formation, with John Ritchie wearing the No 11 shirt.
“Stoke were confident, having been undefeated in nine games themselves, but that ebbed away in the first 20 minutes when Leeds were two goals up.
“After 15 minutes Billy Bremner scored a cheeky goal at the Boothen End from a quickly-taken free kick as John Farmer stood by his right-hand post organising Stoke’s wall.
“He put the ball down just outside the penalty area and immediately stroked it along the ground into the left-hand corner.
“To the astonishment of the Stoke players the referee signalled a goal and waved away all protests.
“With Stoke still in a state of shock, Allan ‘Sniffer’ Clarke scored a second for Leeds with a typical effort, whipping the ball past Farmer after dashing clear of Stoke defenders.”
Fred added: “At this stage Leeds looked arrogant, but the game changed completely when Alan Hudson got into it and started to play.
“Hudson played a little one-two with Jimmy Greenhoff before pushing the ball through a gap for Mike Pejic, who beat David Harvey with a terrific left-footer into the top corner.
“Then just before half-time it was 2-2 when Hudson scored his first goal for Stoke. Ritchie headed the ball down and Hudson shook off a man before coolly slotting it home.
“As Stoke went in at half-time, you’d have thought from the roars of the crowd that Stoke were already winning.
“In the second half it really was a battle of the titans, blood and thunder stuff like a cup tie with the ball going from end to end and some crunching tackles.
“Stoke had the firepower up front in Geoff Hurst and Ritchie, yet ironically it was the marauding Denis Smith who got the winner in the 73rd minute.
“He put a diving bullet header past Harvey after Ritchie had headed the ball back across goal to the far post.
“I thought Ritchie had a fine game. He was always a threat.
“Towards the end, Leeds were agitated and after Bremner chopped one of the Stoke players down there was a general melee involving a dozen players.
“That night the game was on Match of the Day, so we could relive the thrills.”
Goalscorer Hudson said: “We had been to see Leeds play Bristol City in the FA Cup the previous Wednesday and they lost. That was a jolt for them and a boost for us.
“But when they were 2-0 up after less than 20 minutes, Leeds were pushing the ball about and taking the mickey out of us.
“Regarding that goal of Bremner’s, he put it into the net as a joke. He couldn’t believe it when the referee gave a goal and neither could we.
“But once we had pulled one goal back, I knew we were going to win. Mike Pejic called for the ball and told everybody to get out of the way. I gave it to him and he scored with a terrific shot.
“By the way, I’d forgotten my goal was my first for Stoke. That made it 2-2 and in the second half there was only going to be one result.
“For the rest of the season we felt we could beat anybody. Those were happy days.”
Don Revie, the Leeds manager, said later: “I always believed it would take a miracle for us to remain unbeaten. Some day we were going to come up against a side who would hit top form and Stoke gave a tremendous display.
“You can’t come back if the other team won’t allow you to dictate the pattern of play.”
Stoke City: Farmer, Marsh, Pejic, Dodd, Smith, Mahoney, Robertson, Greenhoff, Hurst, Hudson, Ritchie. Substitute: Skeels.
Leeds United: Harvey, Yorath, Cherry, Bremner, Ellam, Hunter, Lorimer, Clarke, Jordan, Giles, Madeley. Substitute: Cooper. Attendance: 39,598 Referee: Mr B Homewood.