Leeds United - on this day: Whites begin Football League journey with Derby County win

The date...

August 7, 2004

The event...

Leeds United's played their opening game of the new Championship season following relegation.

What happened?

On a hot summer's day Leeds United started life outside of the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over Derby County in Championship action.

The clash at Elland Road was the first since the Whites tasted relegation at the end of the 2003-04 campaign.

Head coach Kevin Blackwell took charge of his first competitive game with Leeds selecting a starting eleven that was almost unrecognisable from the one which suffered the drop from the top flight.

Paul Butler, Danny Pugh, Michael Ricketts, Simon Walton and Neil Sullivan all made their Leeds bows but it was academy product Frazer Richardson who bagged the winner with his first senior goal for the club.

"I think it was important because the side put together is brand new and the understanding and confidence can only come from winning games," Blackwell said afterwards.

"It was a crucial win and that will give the lads the belief and more confidence but I'm thoroughly delighted.

"We looked rusty but we showed some determination. We may have finished the game off earlier and I told the strikers they had better finish off games this season so I don't have heart-attacks."