By Ian Baird 1-0
March 9 2007

Leeds United play host to vistors, Luton Town in this clash of the relgation rivals. regular MessageBoard contributor "Ian Baird 1-0" give us the run down. Kick off is 3pm with Tickets still on sale. Currently:
Another week, another defeat and another scandal in the soap opera that is Leeds United these days. Once again Dennis Wise's post match evaluation after the home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday talked of player unrest as he announced that 'skipper' Kevin Nicholls had informed him that he wanted to leave Leeds and return to the sunny climes of Luton, less than seven months after joining United. In true soap opera plotting next up at Elland Road is.....Luton Town. It is like the script had been agreed weeks back! Maybe Kev wants to be back near Kevin Blackwell, Luton resident and the man who signed him for the mighty Whites? All things considered it has been another embarrassing week for our once great club in the eyes of the Footballing nation after the supposed 'mole' allegations and the fact that we are rooted to the foot of the Coca-Cola Championship and seemingly destined for League One. OK, nobody has been relegated yet and there are ten games to go, but who honesty believes that this rabble have the collective mix of ability, discipline, desire and aggression to actually win any games? I am losing faith but marching on together and all that!
The Nicholls effect will add fire to a game that Leeds simply must win to gain ground on fourth from bottom and, while our competitors at the foot are not breaking away, neither are we gaining ground. It is amazing how a home game against Luton in Division Two may be deemed more important and memorable a fixture to our history than the Champions League games against Deportivo or AC Milan. It will, of course, only be memorable if we win!
There are the usual injuries (I really can't bothered to name them!) but good to see Shaun Derry on the official site offering his verbal support for the boys. Tresor Kandol scored a hat-trick in the reserves this week so this may prompt Wisey to recall him (hope not!) but you genuinely never know who Wisey is going to pick anymore.
This is another game that sees a reduced ticket price which will hopefully bring the fans back to Elland Road to support Leeds United. Mind you, the last time that happened was that 0-0 home draw against QPR a few weeks back when 30,000 turned up. In that game the fans did their bit and the players let the fans down again. It is time for the players to pay the fans back!

Last game:
Definitely one to forget! In the popular John Carver's fifth game in charge as Caretaker Manager, Leeds travelled to Kenilworth Road on the back of three consecutive defeats at WBA (2-4), home to Stoke (0-4) & Leicester (1-2). A 5-1 hammering that day in October meant United had conceded 15 goals in 4 games. This after the Whites had won Carver's first game at home to table-toppers Birmingham City.
The afternoon started poorly with Carlos Edwards, now at Sunderland, putting Town one up in 11 minutes. Hayden Foxe replied swiftly for United and it was all level at the interval. But goals from Bell, Vine and a second from Edwards compounded United's misery.
This game will go down as monumental if only for one reason as the Luton thrashing proved all too much for Ken Bates who had initially talked of Carver being Leeds Manager for the whole season. Bates immediately replaced Carver after the game and current Manager Dennis Wise was instated having attended the midweek Carling Cup at home to Southend - another loss, this time 1-3 at Elland Road.
Last time the sides met at Elland Road was February 2006 when goals from Douglas and Lewis set up a 2-1 win for United in front of a crowd of 23,644. How we would welcome the same this weekend!

Remember, remember:
February 29th 1992 - Leeds 2 (Cantona, Chapman), Luton 0.
Another game from our title-winning season which will be remembered as the game that gave flamboyant Frenchman Eric Cantona his first goal in English Football. Cantona had entered the game as a 29th minute substitute for Tony Dorigo and this was his third appearance for the Whites having made his first start at Everton the previous Sunday. United had to wait until the 59th minute before Cantona broke the deadlock when a McAllister surge into the box was halted by a foul from Town 'keeper Steve Sutton (later to be a goalkeeping coach at Elland Road!), the ball fell to Cantona, the referee allowed the advantage and Eric slotted home from close range. Chappy made the game safe 5 minutes from time but all the talk was about Cantona, who had arrived as a major hero with Leeds supporters.
This win put the Whites back two points behind Man Utd, who Leeds pipped to the title that season. In a shock move Cantona joined the Manchester reds the following season. Despite being initially popular with Leeds fans Eric was less than loved by Howard Wilkinson and his strict disciplined ways and was moved on after an incident at QPR when Cantona walked out. The move to Old Trafford turned Eric from hero to very much a hated figure at Elland Road.
Eric became a legend in Manchester but retained a very colourful and controversial career.

Did you know?:
Cantona's goal, Man Utd's fourth in a 4-0 win at Elland Road in October 1996, was Wilkinson's last game in charge at Leeds. The decision to sell Cantona had left Leeds fans scratching their heads and doubt Wilko's wisdom and some say they never forgave Howard for letting such a talent leave - especially to that lot! The Frenchman proved to be Wilko's nemesis until the end!
Norman Morton (1947) and Byron Davies (1954) are two players who only ever played one game for Leeds United and they did this against Luton. Also, I went out with Davies' daughter in the '80's (it's true, I tell ya!)
There has only been one Leeds United hat-trick scored against Luton, Peter Lorimer scored all three in a 3-1 win at Elland Road in 1967.

Us & them - they played for both clubs:
There have been four permanent transfers between the two clubs, two of them in the past three summers!
John Faulkner was a fringe player who made four appearances at Leeds under Don Revie having signed from Sutton United. He moved to Kenilworth Road in 1972. Chris Kamara joined Leeds in 1990 and will be remembered for putting in 'that cross' for Lee Chapman to score Leeds goal at Bournemouth in the game that secured United's return to the big-time. Kamara left Elland Road for Luton in 1992 but was a favourite at Leeds, although maybe his TV work recently has undone some of that affection?
In the summer of 2004 newly relegated Leeds United signed Matthew Spring from then League One side Town because of his bustling, all action reputation (and because he was free!). It remains a mystery to most Leeds fans as to why he was ignored by Kevin Blackwell in favour of Sean Gregan? Spring moved to Town's arch rivals Watford in 2005 and played a major part in their Play-off final victory at Cardiff in 2006 - against Leeds United! Spring is back at Luton.
Kevin Nicholls is the latest player to play for both. Kev signed in the summer of 2006 but injury (and Paul Butler's elbow) has restricted his appearances. He was the club captain until last week, in name if not in sprit. It remains to be seen if he ever plays for Leeds again, but I don't think there'll be many Leeds fans who would be sad if he went never to wear our famous white shirt ever again. Destined to be remembered as one of the most unpopular players ever to wear our colours! Maybe he should get some tips off Eric?

Bairdy's Prediction:
Once again it is with the heart that I venture forward this week. Defeat is unthinkable even if probable with this shambles of a team. Still, we are Leeds and we are proud (even if the players are not!) so a Leeds win is a must and the only thing I can even contemplate. The Nicholls affair will add spice to an encounter already likely to prove a fruity affair so expect some tussles and words exchanged. I doubt if 22 players will finish the game. It is time for our forwards to flourish so I think a 2-0 win for the mighty Whites with Cresswell and Healy dominating proceedings. Come on Leeds!