Leeds United and Chelsea played out a famously ill-tempered encounter on this day in 1997, as the two sides met in the game that would become known as the Battle at the Bridge.
An Ao Tanaka screamer helped guide Leeds to a brilliant 3-1 win over Chelsea in the Premier League, as the Elland Road crowd witnessed the latest instalment of the bitter rivalry between the two clubs.
The rivalry between Leeds and Chelsea dates back to the glory days under Don Revie, when Leeds’ uncompromising style was contrasted by the flashy side from West London.
Although the intensity of ill-feeling between the two sides could be felt in the stands, the on-field aggression has died down somewhat as only Anton Stach and Estevao received yellow cards.
That was not the case when the two sides met in 1997, in a clash that would go down in infamy, as the brutal style of the 1960s and 1970s came briefly back into fashion.
Which former Leeds player would you have back, if you could pick one? Raphinha surely has to be up there💎
Nine-man Leeds United held out at Stamford Bridge
Chelsea welcomed George Graham’s Leeds side to Stamford Bridge in December 1997 with hopes of going top of the Premier League table with a win.
However, they met a Leeds side that the BBC charitably described as “gritty”, with European ambitions of their own, having won four of their last five heading into the game.
The game threatened to descend into chaos in the first half, as Leeds had two men sent off before the interval. Lucas Radebe was fortunate not to see red, as he was booked for scything down Zola from behind to set the tone of the proceedings.
Alf-Inge Haaland was then booked for an off-the-ball altercation with Roberto Di Matteo, as tensions began to boil over. Bruno Ribeiro soon received a ticking off for a lunge on Dennis Wise, but somehow avoided a booking.
When Haaland was drawn into a scuffle after a flying tackle from Chelsea’s Michael Duberry, the Norwegian was sent off, as Graham Poll awarded 20 free-kicks in the first half-hour.
Ribeiro soon received his first yellow for kicking out at Graeme Le Saux, shortly before Gary Kelly was sent off for a wild hack on Frank Leboeuf, to prevent Chelsea from profiting from a quick free-kick.
However, Leeds held on, despite their numerical disadvantage, as Nigel Martyn made a wonderful late save from a Michael Duberry header, to take a point from a remarkable game.
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George Graham accuses Chelsea of ‘play-acting’ in ill-tempered game
By the standards of the modern game, the meeting between Leeds and Chelsea may need an 18 rating, as some full-blooded challenges were exchanged.
However, speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day after the game, Graham accused the Chelsea squad of play-acting to influence the referee.
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Although he acknowledged his Leeds side lacked discipline, the Leeds boss argued: “With nine men, we showed a lot more discipline, a better attitude.
“The first half was very ill-disciplined, with certain players. We picked up far too many bookings; we picked up two sending-offs.
“But I would like to see them in a re-run, because I thought there was an awful lot of diving from the opposition. I’ve been saying this recently; it’s creeping into our game a lot. I think it’s terrible to see professionals play-acting to get other players booked.”
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