Charlton Athletic vs Leeds United: Stats Preview

After a much needed three points at home to Yeovil last Saturday, its time to pick up some points away from Elland Road, starting with a trip to the Valley to face Charlton Athletic.

Here’s a look back and some stats:

Back in the season 92-93, the Valley was the scene of our only victory away from Elland Road (excluding Wembley in the Charity Shield and the Nou Camp v Stuttgart!) as we defeated the Addicks 3-1 in an FA Cup third round replay. The first game had ended 1-1 thanks to goals from Garry Nelson and Gary Speed and it was Speed again who headed the Whites (playing in all yellow) in front, before an own goal from Peter Garland and a free kick from Gary McAllister settled matters. Darren Pitcher pulled one back from the spot, before Macca rounded things off.

It would not be until 1999, that we would face Charlton again and this time it was in the Premiership and it turned out to be a disappointing affair. Charlton took the lead through Graham Stuart, but Leeds soon equalised through Jonathan Woodgate. Leeds were lucky to escape with a point as Paul Mortimer missed a pen for the home side.

From 2001 – 2004, we won all four games at the Valley, under three different managers! First, in 2000-01 we won 2-1 under David O’Leary thanks to goals from Mark Viduka after 13 seconds, and Alan Smith. The season later in September 2001 with O’Leary still in charge we won 2-0 live on Premiership Plus, with goals coming from Robbie Keane and a Danny Mills pile driver. Fast forward to April 2003, and Peter Reid was in the Elland Road hotseat and in only his second game at helm, Leeds produced some wonderfui attacking football and destroyed Charlton 6-1, with Viduka bagging a hat-trick, Harry Kewell with two and an Ian Harte penalty. Finally in November 2003 and with Eddie Gray now in charge, James Miner's goal settled the game. Again like Peter Reid this was Gray's second game in charge.

After that it would be another six seasons before we met again in May 2010! And what a day that turned out to be! Again another manager Simon Grayson in charge and the Maths were simple, beat Charlton and hope Tranmere do Leeds a favour by beating Millwall and promotion was theirs! The men from Birkenhead kept there part of the bargin thanks to goals from Leeds loanee Andy Roninson and former Leeds striker Ian Thomas-Moore!! Howeever with the clock ticking down and Leeds throwing men forward at every possible attack, Charlton won the game thanks to a late own goal from Richard Naylor and promotion would have to wait!

Another manager in charge last season, caretaker Neil Redfearn presided over a 2-1 defeat! So that’s five different managers we have had in our last five visits to the Valley!