Leeds United: Whites drawn away to Cambridge in FA Cup's third round

Leeds United have been handed a trip to Shaun Derry's Cambridge United in the third round of the FA Cup.
MEMMORY LANE: Leeds United's Billy Bremner lifts the FA Cup after defeating Arsenal 1-0 in 1972.MEMMORY LANE: Leeds United's Billy Bremner lifts the FA Cup after defeating Arsenal 1-0 in 1972.
MEMMORY LANE: Leeds United's Billy Bremner lifts the FA Cup after defeating Arsenal 1-0 in 1972.

Derry’s League Two side will host Leeds at the Abbey Stadium next month in only the fifth ever competitive clash between the clubs.

United and Cambridge met in the old second division in the early 1980s but 56 league places separate the teams after Leeds climbed to fourth in the Championship with a 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Saturday.

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Derry, whose side reached round three of the FA Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Coventry City, was part of the last Leeds squad to qualify for the Championship play-offs in 2006.

THE LAST TIME: Souleymane Doukara and Miguel Britos battle for the ball in Leeds United's last appearance in the FA Cup in February this year, when they lost out 1-0 to Watford at Elland Road.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson.THE LAST TIME: Souleymane Doukara and Miguel Britos battle for the ball in Leeds United's last appearance in the FA Cup in February this year, when they lost out 1-0 to Watford at Elland Road.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
THE LAST TIME: Souleymane Doukara and Miguel Britos battle for the ball in Leeds United's last appearance in the FA Cup in February this year, when they lost out 1-0 to Watford at Elland Road. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

Speaking to the YEP tonight, the former United midfielder said. “It’s a brilliant draw. I couldn’t be happier. To me it’s as good as drawing a top Premier League club.

“We’ve got a huge English club coming to us and that’s all you’d ask for. People know my history, they know how proud I was to be a Leeds player so it’s perfect for me.”

Derry took charge of Cambridge last November and his squad are currently 12th in League Two, three points off the play-offs.

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Cambridge progressed to the fourth round in 2015 and famously held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at home before losing the replay 3-0 at Old Trafford.

THE LAST TIME: Souleymane Doukara and Miguel Britos battle for the ball in Leeds United's last appearance in the FA Cup in February this year, when they lost out 1-0 to Watford at Elland Road.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson.THE LAST TIME: Souleymane Doukara and Miguel Britos battle for the ball in Leeds United's last appearance in the FA Cup in February this year, when they lost out 1-0 to Watford at Elland Road.  Picture: Bruce Rollinson.
THE LAST TIME: Souleymane Doukara and Miguel Britos battle for the ball in Leeds United's last appearance in the FA Cup in February this year, when they lost out 1-0 to Watford at Elland Road. Picture: Bruce Rollinson.

Reflecting on their win over Coventry, Derry said: “We’ve found some form of late but that was probably our most comprehensive game. There’s a lot of football to play before Leeds but it’s something to look forward to.”

Leeds, however, have shown their pedigree this season by mixing impressive league form with a run to the last eight of the EFL Cup.

Their progress was ended by an unfortunate 2-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield last Tuesday, denying United a first semi-final appearance for 20 years.

The third-round tie at Cambridge will be played over the second weekend of January.