Away On Saturday: Winning at Elland Road (2008)

Leeds United 0-1 Doncaster Rovers
Coca-Cola League One
Saturday 19th January 2008

It was the fixture every Doncaster Rovers supporter couldn't wait for; a promotion six-pointer away at 'noisy neighbours', another landmark moment in John Ryan's chairmanship, and a meeting which would give an indicator as to the team's promotion credentials.

The opponents were 'Champions Of Europe' Leeds United - a club making plenty of noise as they sensed injustice at having been docked 15 points after financial problems which arose following their relegation into League One at the end of the previous season.

Leeds, of course, were (and still are) an absolutely massive club, but their bold, brash attitude - refusing to acknowledge the points deduction in the league table in their matchday programme for instance, plus having a 'Cockney Mafia' of Ken Bates and Dennis Wise as owner and manager, respectively, meant they were never away from the headlines for too long.

Both teams were performing strongly in League One and right amongst the promotion mix.

Under Sean O'Driscoll, Rovers were winning admirers for their ability to achieve results with a fluid brand of football - several teams had been 'popped off the park' and it was a joy to watch.

Leeds, meanwhile, had began the season with a vengeance - winning seven straight games (in what was their first ever campaign in the third tier) to wipe out their hefty points deduction and with it, bring expectations that they could wipe the floor with every team they came up against.

A lot of the pre-match focus centred on the contrasting journeys of the two clubs during the 2000s because whilst Leeds were Champions League Semi-Finalists just seven years earlier - and taking on some of the biggest clubs on the planet such as Barcelona and Real Madrid, at the same time Donny were trudging off to nondescript, downtrodden, non-league hell holes including Farnborough, Margate and Leigh RMI.

But here the two clubs were somehow meeting in a top of the table encounter!

To add extra spice, Leeds' (soon to be departed) manager was Dennis Wise. Often perceived as smug and arrogant to outsiders, it was no secret that there was no love lost between him and Rovers 'keeper Neil Sullivan who'd been on the books at LUFC just a year earlier.

As always, there was a great atmosphere inside Elland Road with the old 'Marching On Together' war cry only seeming to ignite the voices of the 3,000 travelling fans spread across the South Stand who responded with outbursts of 'Rovers Til I Die'.

It was a big day and there was a big game atmosphere to match!

The 31,402 crowd watched on as Rovers seized the early initiative and went close on a couple of occasions through James Coppinger and then Jason Price's stabbed shot from the edge of the six-yard box which went narrowly wide.

The pressure continued and a free-kick was soon in a promising position when Richie Wellens was brought down on the edge of the area. The danger was obvious and up stepped Brian Stock who curled the low set-piece around the hosts' three-man defensive wall and into the net. Leeds 'keeper Casper Ankergren (remember him!) was rooted to the spot and could do nothing whilst those on The Kop behind him fell into stunned into silence; Rovers fans up at the other end exploded into delirious celebrations!

With Rovers 1-0 up, it meant Leeds had everything to do and they nearly equalised when Jermaine Beckford (one of the most prolific strikers in the division at the time) unleashed a sweet 25-yard volley from a corner which Sullivan did well to keep out.

Brian Stock is mobbed by team-mates after his match-winning free-kick (Photo: Unknown).

The veteran 'keeper was kept busy in the run-up to half-time as the Whites forced a series of corners - coming closest when Darren Kenton's back-heel attempt from inside a packed six-yard box was blocked by Sullivan. The save meant it was still 1-0 at the interval.

It had been a typical 'blood and thunder' hard-fought 'derby' up to this point and the second half followed a similar pattern as opportunities were created and squandered at both ends.

Sullivan denied Beckford again when the striker got through and attempted to lob him, whilst Rovers then enjoyed a spell of sustained pressure as Mark McCammon and Coppinger went close - the latter having a shot tipped wide by Ankergren. A series of corners amidst intense pressure also came to nothing as Rovers couldn't get the second goal which they deserved by now - and it's fair to say that another goal would have gone a long way to easing the nerves which were starting to build up within the away end.

As the game ticked into the final 10 minutes, Leeds had no other option than to throw caution to the wind as Tresor Kandol who forced a good save from Sullivan with a long-range attempt. In typical Donny fashion, there was a 'heart in mouth' moment as the 'keeper dropped what looked to be a routine catch but with two home players quickly bearing down on his goal, he was able to grab the loose ball in the nick of time before taking an age to release it downfield.

Four minutes of injury-time seemed like four hours and referee Steve Tanner's final whistle was met with euphoric celebrations. This wasn't just any win. It was a win over 'mighty, noisy, brash and bold' Leeds United and another landmark in the resurgence of the club under John Ryan's ownership.

Celebrations continued for quite a while afterwards and the picture on Dennis Wise's face in his post-match interview afterwards spoke a thousands words. He looked annoyed and he certainly wasn't smirking because he knew full well that although the score was just 1-0, it could easily have been much greater.

These golden times will live on in the memory for years to come just as much as the image of Mrs Robinson celebrating afterwards (see first picture) remains iconic.

Rovers Team: Neil Sullivan, James O'Connor, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts, James Coppinger (James Hayter), Paul Green, Richie Wellens (Mark Wilson), Brian Stock, Mark McCammon, Jason Price (Matt Mills). Unused Subs: Lewis Guy, Martin Woods.