The final international break of the year is almost at an end and the busy Christmas period is upon us, with Leeds United playing five times in 16 days starting with Swansea on Sunday.
The likes of Joe Rodon, Karl Darlow, Charlie Crew, Dan James, Wilfried Gnonto, Ao Tanaka, Junior Firpo, Brenden Aaronson, Mateo Joseph and others will return to Thorp Arch this week ahead of Sunday’s trip.
Leeds are sitting pretty in the Championship table, two points off first. One more point than last season, Leeds are only two points off leaders Sunderland – compared to last season, Leeds were 11 behind first.
But November 19 is a date in the calendar that saw Leeds do something in the Championship that has not been matched in 19 years. Back in November 2005, Leeds went south to play against Southampton.
On this day: Leeds produced incredible Southampton comeback
Back on November 19 2005, Leeds want to Southampton and were losing 3-0 at half-time. It looked like The Whites were heading to defeat at Harry Redknapp’s Saints, with Kevin Blackwell in charge of Leeds.
Marian Pahars and a Nigel Quashie brace had given Southampton a 3-0 lead. But, a 13-minute blitz in the second half saw Leeds turn the game on its head, to go and win 4-3 on the south coast at St. Mary’s.
Paul Butler got the ball rolling on 71 minutes, before Robbie Blake and David Healy made it 3-3. Then, Liam Millar netted an 86th-minute penalty to secure a 4-3 win for Leeds, something not done since then.
Indeed, no other Championship side have won having trailed by three goals at half-time. Others have drawn, but no team since Leeds’ 4-3 win have turned a game on its head like Leeds did 19 years ago.
Leeds United have not done anything of the sort since, either
Leeds themselves have not produced a comeback of the like in the club’s history. Rarely, these days, do Leeds are three goals behind – once last season at QPR, and losing 3-0 to Middlesbrough this term.
Leeds XI that came from three goals down to beat Southampton:
- GK: Neil Sullivan
- Defence: Gary Kelly, Matt Kilgallon, Paul Butler, Dan Harding, Fraser Richardson
- Midfield: Liam Millar, Shaun Derry, Eddie Lewis
- Strikers: Rob Hulse, Robbie Blake
- Subs: David Healy (67, replacing Richardson)
Under Daniel Farke, Leeds rarely go behind and if they do, they rarely concede more than once and often come back. They have done so against Sunderland, Norwich and Portsmouth already during this season.
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