Bygones: When Leeds were left standing at the platform after defeat to Hornets

For Gwyneth Paltrow’s character, this involved whether she caught the tube or not before the carriage doors closed when making her way home in London after being fired.

In the 1998 film, the two paths her life could have taken are played out and the differences striking. A decade on from their own ‘Sliding Doors’ moment in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, Leeds United fans can, no doubt, empathise.

Had Leeds triumphed against Watford to clinch promotion back to the top flight on May 21, 2006, who knows where the club could be now?

Thanks to the riches that Premier League football would have brought even back then, the financial crisis that less than 12 months later saw United placed into administration would have been averted. Likewise, relegation to League One and the 15-point deduction that followed the club being unable to exit administration via a CVA.

As it was, all three of these fates befell the Elland Road outfit and there is an argument to suggest the price is still being paid today as a 13th year outside the Premier League beckons.

The day itself had started amid such optimism. A stirring semi-final second leg fightback against Preston North End had the 35,000 fans who descended on the Welsh capital believing it was their year.

Kevin Blackwell, a builder by trade, had assembled a side from the ruins of relegation that had the necessary grit and resolve to go with the potency of Rob Hulse, Richard Cresswell and David Healey.

Watford may have finished third to United’s fifth in the regular season but that did little to dampen the expectation levels ahead of kick-off as ‘I Predict a Riot’ by Leeds band The Kaiser Chiefs boomed around the Millennium Stadium.

The first chance fell to the Yorkshire club, Shaun Derry being unfortunate to see his goalbound shot diverted just wide by Ashley Young. But, after that, the Hornets assumed control and from the moment Jay DeMerit opened the scoring on 25 minutes there was little doubt who would come out on top.

Blake’s introduction from the bench at half-time as Blackwell abandoned a formation that had left Hulse too isolated saw the decibel levels in the United end rise but Ady Boothroyd’s men doubled their advantage 11 minutes into the second half when James Chambers’s shot deflected off Lewis and against the post before bouncing off Neil Sullivan and into the net.

United’s misery was complete six minutes from time when Darius Henderson converted from the spot after Derry had tripped Marlon King.

Leeds’ path had been chosen, as just 12 months later a historic first relegation to the third tier had been confirmed. A decade on, a Premier League return looks as far away as ever.