REV’D UP FOR ELL OF A WIN
FIFTY years ago today Leeds fans woke up with a smile on their face.
The day before their beloved side hadn’t just looked like Real Madrid in their all-white strip, they had played like them as well in a 5-1 rout.
Better still, arch rivals Manchester United were on the receiving end.
United had been in the sights of Don Revie (below) ever since he took over at Elland Road in 1961 – and there were signs of a shift in power between the two clubs.
Leeds had won a titanic FA Cup semi-final in 1970 that went to a second replay, and were the team in form when the sides met at Elland Road in front of a crowd of 45,394 on February 19, 1972.
Leeds were second, while United were fifth, after a run of eight games without a win.
Mick Jones returned to partner Allan Clarke up front for Leeds after shaking off a bout of flu, but had only two goals in his previous 12 games.
But he was in the right place at the right time three minutes into the second half.
Eddie Gray’s shot smacked off the inside of the post and Jones was on hand to tap home.
The lead doubled after 55 minutes. Peter Lorimer’s cross was met by Jones on the volley and Clarke diverted it past United keeper Alex Stepney.
Two minutes later, United were back in the game when Francis Burns scored – a third goal in just nine minutes.
There was another a minute later – and that went to Leeds.
Billy Bremner slung over a cross from the right and Jones knew where it would land.
He forced his way between two United defenders and headed in from a couple of yards out.
Jones then wrapped up a 15-minute hat-trick to make it 4-1.
Gray teed up Clarke for a shot and with the ball a couple of inches from Stepney’s grasp, Jones nipped in to nudge it over him and into the net.
Jones was the creator of the fifth goal. He put in a cross from the left that Lorimer was able to get under control and then scoop into the roof of the net.
Leeds fans chanted “Easy” as their team knocked the ball around, denying greats like Bobby Charlton and George Best even a touch.