'Two good teams' - Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's history when it comes to denying Leeds United against Manchester United at Old Trafford

The Norwegian will be calling the shots from the home dugout as the Red Devils and Whites finally renew league rivalry for the first time since the season of Leeds’ relegation in 2003-04.

Jermaine Beckford’s strike and the January 2010 success in the FA Cup third round remains fresh in the memory yet Leeds will head over the Pennines seeking a first league win at Old Trafford in 39 years.

After all, the last victory there arrived way back in February 1981 with Brian Flynn bagging an 85th-minute winner.

Yet but for Solskjaer there would have been another one two decades later with the then 28-year-old striker coming off the bench to bag an 89th-minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw of October 2001 - just when Mark Viduka’s strike had Leeds poised for a historic victory.

David O’Leary’s Whites had reached the Champions League semi-finals just six months earlier as part of a campaign in which Leeds finished fourth and only two points off second yet 12 points behind the champions the Red Devils.

The Whites headed to Old Trafford still unbeaten in the league and on a seven-game unbeaten run with a 4-2 win at home to UEFA Cup visitors Troyes followed by a goalless draw at home to Chelsea.

Leeds’ only reverse so far had been via a 1-0 loss at UEFA Cup hosts Maritimo in September but even that didn’t matter as the Whites secured a 3-0 victory in the second leg at Elland Road.

The Red Devils, meanwhile, had already fallen to two league defeats - via a 4-3 scoreline at Newcastle United in September and then a shock 2-1 reverse at home to Bolton Wanderers in the league game that preceded the clash against the Whites.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had then recorded a 3-2 triumph at Champions League hosts Deportivo and Leeds were next.

After a goalless first half, Leeds then sent the Old Trafford away end into raptures when taking the lead with 13 minutes left.

In their blue and yellow ‘Strongbow’ away shirt, Olivier Dacourt strode forward through the midfield and then fed Harry Kewell on the left flank.

Kewell then laid the ball back to Ian Harte who sent in a looping cross that caught the Red Devils all at sea and allowed Viduka to ghost in at the far post before volleying the ball back across Fabian Barthez to give the Whites the lead.

Yet with just three minutes left the Red Devils drew level in a move that Solskjaer both finished and began.

Ryan Giggs picked up a loose ball on the left flank after Leeds had cleared a cross from David Beckham following a throw in taken by Solskjaer who had come on for Nicky Butt with 15 minutes left.

Giggs delivered a high cross into the Whites box and Solskjaer managed to leap the highest to connect with a fine header at the back post that was directed across Nigel Martyn and into the bottom left corner.

The Norwegian had saved the Red Devils from back to back defeats and denied Leeds what would have been a first win at Old Trafford in 20 years.

Asked this week if he had a particularly fond memory of facing Leeds as a player, Solskjaer with a smile: "Yeah, many. I enjoyed scoring two goals in a win at Elland Road.

"I enjoyed a header back stick. I came on as a sub, it was a cross from Giggsy, and headed back to the other side.

"They were two good teams back in the day, I have to say.

"I liked the build-up to the games and the quality they had of course tested us as a team as well, so loads of good memories."

After Solskjaer's equaliser denied them victory, Leeds went on to finish the season in fifth with Ferguson’s side losing their tag of champions in finishing third behind runners-up Liverpool and champions Arsenal.

For Leeds, two more visits to Old Trafford followed before the Whites were relegated in 2004 with Leeds losing 2-1 in March 2003 and again drawing 1-1 in February 2004 with Alan Smith equalising three minutes after Paul Scholes gave the hosts the lead.

After a six year wait, Simon Grayson’s side finally gave Leeds the win they had been waiting for in the FA Cup third round in January 2010 and a decade on the Whites will now hope that a long awaited league win is finally in the offing in 2020.

At least this time Solskjaer won’t be coming off the bench.

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/its-been-too-long-manchester-united-boss-ole-gunnar-solskjaer-renewing-rivalries-leeds-united-3073777

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/manchester-united-v-leeds-united-transition-battle-bruno-fernandes-dangerman-and-graham-smyths-prediction-3073754

https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united/yorkshire-evening-post-launch-leeds-united-only-digital-subscription-ahead-premier-league-campaign-2967964

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Thank you Laura Collins