Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United: Five memorable games at Hillsborough
The Yorkshire Post looks back on five memorable encounters at S6 - depending on your particular persuasion - to get each set of supporters in the mood ahead of this weekend’s favourite meeting. Choose your particular favourite.
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Leeds United 2; April 25, 2015.
Leeds United ended a barren run of five straight defeats to claim an unlikely victory, thanks to goals from Charlie Taylor and Steve Morison, who fired the winner in front of the ecstatic away contingent in the away end in the second half.
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Hide AdIt represented a dramatic turnaround for Morison, his second goal in two games arriving after an epic run without scoring - and being the butt of many jibes.
Wednesday took a 36th minute lead through Chris Maguire’s penalty, but offered little in the second-half with the Whites rediscovering their mojo to triumph in spirited fashion
Sheffield Wednesday 6 Leeds United 0, January 11, 2014.
The Owls stunned 10n-man Leeds United to romp to a crushing victory in front of the TV cameras at Hillsborough.
The result heaped humiliation upon Brian McDermott’s Leeds, fresh from their FA Cup exit at Rochdale over the previous weekend, as the Elland Road outfit suffered their first 6-0 league defeat since way back in 1959.
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Hide AdGoals from Reda Johnson and Atdhe Nuhiu had put Stuart Gray’s Owls in the box seat at 2-0 before Leeds’ afternoon assumed nightmarish proportions when Matt Smith controversially saw red for a foul on Johnson - within seconds of coming on as a half-time substitute.
Connor’s Wickham’s 51st-minute strike left Leeds to limit the damage as a fourth straight loss beckoned.
But Chris Maguire converted a deflected free-kick in the 67th minute and Caolan Lavery came off the bench to strike twice late on and complete a brutal scoreline.
Lavery’s preparations for the game were hardly ideal after he endured a 600-mile round trip from Sheffield to Plymouth after being recalled from a productive loan spell with Arygle, managed by ex-Whites and Owls great John Sheridan.
But it proved worth the long car ride.
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Leeds United 1; October 19, 2012.
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Hide AdIt was ultimately a match remembered for all the wrong reasons..
Jay Bothroyd put the Owls into a 44th-minute lead, but the points were shared after Michael Tonge’s stunning volleyed equaliser in front of the TV cameras - although that was not exactly the half of it with a major news story evolving.
The game was marred and ultimately defined by the celebrations that followed Tonge’s goal.
A Leeds ‘fan’ who went onto claim notoriety in Aaron Cawley ran onto the pitch and struck Wednesday goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, with the former England international requiring several minutes of medical attention - with a media frenzy ensuing following the final whistle and some unsavoury headlines arriving the following day in the TV and print media.
Sheffield Wednesday 6 Leeds United 2, December 16, 1995.
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Hide AdA Chris Waddle-inspired Owls provided a marquee moment in a largely forgettable campaign to hammer Leeds.
Wednesday, lying in 14th place in the top flight before the game, cut a dash and raced into a 3-0 lead within 25 minutes, with Belgian froward Marc Degryse scoring twice, sandwiching a Guy Whittingham strike.
Leeds soon pulled one back though Tomas Brolin after 28 minutes and had further chances to reduce the arrears in a dominant spell on the restart.
But the Owls regrouped and Mark Bright headed home a killer fourth at the midway point of the half.
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Hide AdDavid Hirst, sent off in the reverse fixture at Elland Road for displaying foul and abusive language in a 2-0 loss, then made rather more edifying headlines by soon adding a fifth.
Although Rod Wallace pulled one back for the visitors with six minutes left, it was Hirst who had the final say as he struck for Wednesday’s sixth two minutes later.
Sheffield Wednesday 1 Leeds United 6, January 12, 1992.
An irresistible performance from Leeds United showcased their title credentials in outstanding fashion as they showed considerable six appeal at Hillsborough in front of an admiring TV audience.
It proved a noteworthy return to S6 for Whites chief Howard Wilkinson, back at Hillsborough for the first time since leaving the Owls.
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Hide AdLeeds made light of the absence of injured captain Gordon Strachan and the suspended David Batty to turn in an exhilarating display of attacking football and inflict the first home defeat in 15 matches upon Wednesday.
To add to the hosts woes, United’s goal thrust was led by a Hillsborough old boy in Lee Chapman, who plundered a treble - the first hat-trick on away soil by a United player in 12 years.
Chapman fired Leeds in front on nine minutes, forcing home Chris Fairclough’s headed knock down and rampant United doubled their tally when Tony Dorigo thumped home a 25-yard free-kick on the half-hour.
Wednesday were afforded a controversial 37th minute penalty lifeline when some sorry theatrics from Gordon Watson - who went to ground despite no contact from a visiting player - saw Philip Don point to the spot.
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Hide AdEx-Whites schemer John Sheridan netted the rebound after his effort was pushed onto the post by John Lukic.
But Chapman headed in Gary Speed’s fine cross to restore the two-goal cushion before the break and sealed his hat-trick on 65 minutes when he nodded in after Speed’s header hit the bar.
A thumping header from substitute Mike Whitlow made it 5-1 before Rod Wallace added a sweet sixth as Leeds claimed their best away victory since winning at Blackpopol in 1936.