Litt vorspiel....
Super Sheridan put skids under PrestonLeeds Utd 3 Preston 0, FA Cup
Saturday, January 8, 1983, Elland Road
LEEDS UNITED and Preston North End were almost sick of the sight of each other last season, but the clubs have not always been regular foes.
The 2005-06 campaign brought the teams together on four occasions, notably during the gripping two-legged play-off semi-final that eventually swung in Leeds' favour, and few players needed an introduction by the time United visited Deepdale for a second time on May 8.
But, despite their recent battles, encounters between the clubs have been few in number during football's modern era. Following United's promotion to Division One in 1964, the Elland Road outfit went 40 years before clashing with Preston in a league fixture, and the visit of North End to Yorkshire for an FA Cup tie in 1983 was a rare meeting.
Preston's history is rich, but the 1980s were steeped in decline for the Lancashire club. North End dropped into the fourth division in 1985 and came close to finishing bottom of the Football League 12 months later, spared the humiliation only by Torquay's woeful season.
The Preston team that travelled to Leeds for their FA Cup third-round clash in 1983 were making hard work of the third division, and the fixture was also a welcome diversion for United's player-manager, Eddie Gray.
Leeds had endured a five-match winless streak in the build-up to Preston's visit, culminating in a 3-0 defeat at Wolves on January 3, but Gray's players made the most of a break from their league campaign with a tough, but deserved, third round win.
The scoreline flattered Leeds, and Gray conceded: "There wasn't a three-goal difference between the sides on the day. But hopefully it will set us up for the remainder of the season."
United's win was inspired by an influential performance from John Sheridan, who scored the opening goal and dominated the midfield with assurance.
Sheridan broke the deadlock in the 31st minute after Aidan Butterworth beat Tommy Booth and found his team-mate on the edge of the box. Sheridan's shot took a deflection off Alan Gowling and sailed into the net.
North End were repeatedly stretched by United's attack, and goalkeeper Peter Litchfield parried Butterworth's shot before a header from Paul Hart was cleared off the line.
Gwyn Thomas also went close, but Leeds' failure to improve their advantage, encouraging Preston to throw men forward.
John Lukic produced an excellent save to deny Graham Houston, and the pressure was not lifted until the 78th minute when Terry Connor's goal settled the tie. Connor was set up by Arthur Graham and promptly returned the compliment as Graham's late finish eased United into round four.
Gray's players were handed a visit to Arsenal during the fourth-round draw, a fixture which was expected to bring a quick end to their cup run, but an epic battle saw the Gunners eventually stagger through after two gruelling replays.
UNITED: Lukic, Aspin, E Gray, Sheridan (Hird 83), Hart, Burns, McNab, Connor, Butterworth, Thomas, Graham.
Attendance: 16,816.
http://www.leedstoday.net/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleID=2192133&SectionID=1083