Leeds United needed a win over Chelsea to move themselves away from the relegation places in the Premier League on this day in 1996, as Ian Rush finally made his mark at Elland Road.
An out-of-form striker who needs a goal, a change of system to 5-3-2 and the looming threat of relegation from the Premier League were all themes in the 1996/97 season for Leeds United, as they are today.
Chelsea travel to Elland Road to face Leeds as Daniel Farke fights for his position as manager, with reports suggesting that a defeat could see him sacked.
The Whites had already made a managerial change when Chelsea came to town in December 1996, as George Graham led Leeds into a winter of discontent.
Ian Rush scored his first goal for Leeds, as Graham’s side claimed a much-needed goal to lift them away from relegation trouble. But it would be the last goal they scored for a while, as Graham’s dour football came to the fore.
Prediction time for Leeds United v Chelsea
Leeds United claimed a much-needed win over Chelsea on this day in 1996
Ian Rush had joined Leeds from Liverpool in the build-up to the 1996/97 season but failed to live up to his previous reputation as a goalscorer, a theme which persisted when Leeds signed Robbie Fowler several years later.
The Wales forward failed to find the net in his first 15 games for the club, but that run came to an end against Chelsea as Rush finally got his Leeds goal and, in truth, should have had more.
Leeds took the lead in an ill-tempered game when Rush clattered Dennis Wise late, but the referee allowed play to continue. Paul Beesley took the ball forward and played in Brian Deane, who rounded goalkeeper Frode Grodas before finishing well from an acute angle.
Rush then doubled Leeds’ lead in a frenetic first half, reacting quickest to Lee Sharpe’s cut back to finally score his first goal for his new club.
The game descended into a bitter battle, reminiscent of the fierce encounters between the two sides in the 1960s and 70s, as Leeds held on to their lead.
Ruud Gullit, Frank Leboeuf and Gianluca Vialli all committed cynical fouls, but Leeds were no innocent bystanders, as Mark Hughes was forced to leave the field with a gashed leg after a nasty challenge from Deane.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph after the game, Graham described Leeds’ tactics as “spot on” and claimed it was a “good hard game”, as his side claimed a win on a stormy night in West Yorkshire. However, Leeds put together a sequence of three straight 0-0 draws in a difficult December run.
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Leeds United have only won three times in 18 games against Chelsea 😐
STATS
- Leeds United have won just three times in 18 meetings between the two sides since the turn of the century under David O’Leary, Terry Venables and Jesse Marsch
- Chelsea have won 11 times, the other four being drawn
- Leeds have won just one of their last 12 midweek games, a 2-1 win v Forest in 2023
- Daniel Farke has never beaten Chelsea (1D, 5L)
- Daniel Farke has beaten Enzo Maresca twice in two games (Leeds did the double over Leicester in 2023-24)
Leeds United have had a poor recent track record against Chelsea
Under-fire Leeds boss Daniel Farke would desperately love a repeat of the 2-0 win over Chelsea in December 1996, as he looks to steer his side away from trouble.
However, the weight of recent Premier League history is stacked against Farke’s side, as Leeds have secured just one top-flight win against Chelsea in their previous nine fixtures.
Leeds’ Premier League record v Chelsea since January 2003
- Played: 9
- Won: 1
- Drawn: 2
- Lost: 6
Brenden Aaronson scored his first-ever Leeds goal as Jesse Marsch secured a 3-0 win in the summer sunshine at Elland Road in 2022.
Before that, Leeds’ last win came in December 2022, with the Whites suffering six defeats and earning just two draws in that time.
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