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28th April 2012 – LEEDS UNITED 1 LEICESTER CITY 2
The last day of the most miserable season in recent memory (and that includes two relegations!) saw Leeds fall to a typical defeat. The football was as unmemorable as most of the games at Elland Road under Neil Warnock at the tail end of the last campaign. Leicester took the lead six minutes as two of the crowd’s scapegoats combined to concede a comically bad goal. Michael Brown miscued a ball in midfield, skying the ball backwards towards his own goal, a mistake made worse by the hapless Danny Pugh failing to deal with the dropping ball, allowing Martin Waghorn to nip in and fire past Andy Lonergan. The match saw Jermaine Beckford make his first return to Elland Road since scoring the goal that took Leeds back into the Championship, and his reception was better than anything that the current team received. He repaid the fans adulation with the Leeds salute and a complete failure to attempt to cause Leeds any problems. He was removed by an un-amused Nigel Pearson at the break.
Leeds huffed and puffed their way back into the game, with Danny Webber grabbing an equaliser with eight minutes to go, the only goal of his disappointing spell at the club. However as so often that season, Leeds shot themselves in the foot, allowing Harry Panayiotou to tap in a winner four minutes into stoppage time, ensuring the season ended on a suitably downbeat note.
19th October 2010 – LEEDS UNITED 1 LEICESTER CITY 2
Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side came to Elland Road struggling at the wrong end of the table. The former England manager had assembled a useful looking outfit that were among the favourites to win promotion to the Premier League under Paolo Sousa. However after slipping into the bottom three, Sousa was fired and Eriksson handed the reins. The poor form under the Portuguese manager was a mystery as they proceeded to play Leeds of the park, earning the Swede his first win as Leicester boss. The only surprise was that it took 63 minutes for them to take the lead, Kyle Naughton eventually putting the visitors in front, his deflected effort looping over the keeper. Steven Howard doubled the lead nine minutes from time, before Luciano Becchio pulled one back, heading home a Max Gradel cross.
24th August 2010 – LEEDS UNITED 1 LEICESTER CITY 2 (League Cup 2nd Round)
Leeds bowed out of the League Cup in disappointing fashion, as they squandered a lead in the last 25 minutes. Coming just three days after the first win of the campaign over Millwall, hopes were high that the Whites could maintain their form after an impressive display against the Lions. The hero of the victory on Saturday was Davide Somma and the South African striker followed up his double with the opening goal of the tie on the half hour, heading home a Max Gradel cross. However with 25 minutes left Richie Wellens fired the Foxes level and they pinched the tie two minutes from time as Neill Collins handled inside the box, Steve Howard tucking away the spot kick.
26th December 2008 – LEEDS UNITED 1 LEICESTER CITY 1
A pitiful defeat six days earlier at MK Dons had seen Gary McAllister sacked by Ken Bates and the Boxing Day clash with runaway league leaders Leicester City saw Simon Grayson take the reins of Leeds United for the first time. A legend as a player for the Foxes, there was no case of mixed loyalties for the new manager, as he started his tenure with a gritty point.
Defensive frailties had been the Achilles heel for McAllister’s side and they surfaced again for Leicester’s opener, Matty Fryat given far too much time and space to fire the visitors ahead. The Whites though were roared on by a crowd of over 33,000 and as the game entered stoppage time got their reward. Robert Snodgrass had started the game on the bench, but finished it with the equalising goal, tapping in from close range.
17th October 2006 – LEEDS UNITED 1 LEICESTER CITY 2
John Carver took control of the team for the last time at Elland Road as Leeds continued their slide into the abyss of relegation to League One. A 4-0 defeat in their previous game to Stoke City saw the Leeds fans disgruntled (including this one who left the ground after Stoke’s third goal on the hour, the only time I have ever left a game so early!) and a pitiful turn out of under 17K saw Leeds capitulate to another defeat. Danny Tiatto put the Foxes ahead after 21 minutes and when Matthew Kilgallon was sent off early in the second half, the writing was on the wall. Leeds knew it was going to be one of those nights when a Robbie Blake header which appeared to have crossed the line was not given, and just seconds later Leicester swept to the other end to make it 2-0 through Ian Hume. A late Paul Butler header was scant consolation and a 5-1 defeat at Luton in the following game brought Carver’s short reign to a painful end.