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Leeds United action replay 2004: Four goal Deano hits QPR for six
After going through the mill in a horror year, Leeds United's angst-ridden fans finally had reason to smile again one autumnal Saturday afternoon.
LEEDS UTD 6 QPR 1
Coca-Cola Championship
Elland Rd, Saturday, November 20, 2004
Veteran striker Brian Deane's four-goal salvo against the west Londoners was probably the on-pitch highlight of the proverbial annus horribilis – with the day truly one to savour for the Leeds-born frontman.
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It was his first-ever hat-trick for the Whites, with the beanpole targetman, 36, rolling back the years against the hapless R's, who probably endured the mother-of-all half-time tongue-lashings from Ian Holloway after trailing 5-1 at the interval.
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Clutching the match ball after United's best home win in nearly four years, Deane said: "I've scored a few hat-tricks in my time and got a few match balls, but this one will take pride of place.
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"I know what I'm here to do and it's nice. I've scored hat-tricks before, but to come back here at this stage of my career and show I've still got it in my bag is a special feeling."
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Leeds brushed aside Rangers with the sort of exhilarating display conspicuous by its absence at Elland Road in a wretched 2004, while the visitors looked nothing like a side who arrived in West Yorkshire in an upwardly-mobile fifth place in the table.
Leeds ruthlessly bludgeoned the shell-shocked men from Loftus Road with Deane, in particular, showing no mercy – his treble arriving in a turbo-charged first period which also featured goals from Northern Ireland ace David Healy and former Ipswich Town midfielder Jermaine Wright, who both turned in high-octane performances.
Loan winger John Oster, who gave United width in an irresistible three-pronged attack with Deane and Healy, also shone prompting cries of "sign him up" from the home faithful.
Ironically, it was Rangers who drew first blood after a mere 97 seconds – Gareth Ainsworth lashing home a 20-yard drive – but that was as good as it got for the Londoners and it was downhill all the way from that point.
Leeds devoured their opponents and recorded an irresistible five-goal first-half scoring feast for the first time since trouncing neighbours Bradford City in a Premier League fixture back in May 2001.
Parity was restored on nine minutes when the predatory Healy finished with aplomb, following good work from Gary Kelly and Deane, and four minutes later the hosts were firmly in the box seat after grabbing a second.
Deane converted Wright's cross from close range following a nifty back-heel from young gun Simon Walton.
A third arrived just 10 minutes later, with Wright reacting swiftly to poke home at the second attempt to notch his second goal of the season – with the Rangers back four in a real tizz following Deane's header into the box.
Rangers' flustered players came within three minutes of reaching the sanctuary of the dressing room to address matters at half-time only for Deane to neatly finish off another move involving Oster and Wright and, moments later, the visitors were well and truly in meltdown when Deane completed his hat-trick after converting Kelly's cross.
The onslaught looked like continuing on the restart, but Healy missed a penalty and the half took on an anti-climactic feel.
But Deane did help himself to a fourth, heading home 18 minutes from time after some more Fred Karno-style defending from Danny Shittu.
UNITED: Sullivan, Kelly, Carlisle, Butler, Pugh, Wright, Gregan, Walton (Richardson 90), Oster, Deane (Lennon 86), Healy (Joachim 78).
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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