Leeds United 3, Manchester United 1
24th December 1995
So Santa Claus was a Leeds United Fan after all. Few supporters were willing to contemplate victory against the old enemy on Christmas Eve, but for every White across the world, a comprehensive 3-1 rout represented the best possible present, and they were not all that bothered that it had come a day early.
In a performance as authoritive and courageous as any under Howard Wilkinson, Leeds re-established their European credentials with a crushing success over a team hardly noted for their generosity, seasonal or otherwise.
After thirteen barren years in the War of the Roses, Leeds secured their second consecutive home win against the men from Old Trafford with goals from Gary McAllister, whose early penalty followed an inexplicable mid-air cartwheel from Nicky Butt, Tony Yeboah and Brian Deane. In fact, Leeds’ initial dominance threatened to extinguish the Red challenge within the opening half-hour and without Peter Schmeichel and his crossbar the score could have been considerably more emphatic.
McAllister’s fifth minute penalty goal was his one hundredth and he joined the select band of midfield players who have scored a century of domestic goals. Andy Cole wiped out the penalty strike when he equalized on the half hour but six minutes later Tony Yeboah restored the advantage with a brilliant strike after a strong run. United’s victory and joy was complete in the seventy-third minute when Brian Deane headed in Tomas Brolin’s neat little chip.
Unlike the previous year, when a controversial penalty provoked a desperate rearguard action, the huge Elland Road crowd was assured of victory well before full-time. The biting weather, a noon kick-off and live TV coverage didn’t deter almost 40,000 from interrupting their festivities and United’s biggest crowd of the season was rewarded with a typically fierce encounter between the great rivals.
The fixture’s enduring importance, enhanced further by the holiday schedule, was reflected by the freneticism of both players and supporters. At the final whistle, however, it was the Leeds contingent who had extra cause to celebrate their Christmas, and it was the kind of stuffing that they could do with every year.