When Leeds United outclassed Leicester City in chase for Champions League spot

Having both been in the doldrums of League One in the 2008-09 campaign, the Whites and Foxes then had four consecutive seasons together in the Championship between 2011 and 2014.

Under Nigel Pearson, the Foxes were then promoted as champions and ultimately became champions of England two years later under Claudio Ranieri.

Four years on, the Whites are now back in the country’s top division to renew top-flight rivalries with the Foxes for the first time since April 2004.

Leeds were 3-2 winners at Elland Road that day as part of a relegation scrap, though both sides ultimately went down as part of a season in which the Whites were trounced 4-0 at Leicester back in September.

Yet matters were rather different the previous season as goals from Mark Viduka and Robbie Fowler gave Leeds what remains their most recent top-flight victory at Leicester in United’s search for a Champions League spot.

The win put O’Leary’s side fifth, their final league position, as the Whites ultimately missed out on the Champions League after a season in which Leicester finished bottom.

The Foxes were in their sixth consecutive season in the country’s top flight but a world away from what they became under Ranieri – or the Brendan Rodgers outfit Leeds will face in this Sunday’s 2pm kick-off.

Back in March 2002, the Foxes were under the care of Dave Bassett, who had succeeded Peter Taylor after the days of Martin O’Neill.

Leicester had finished 13th the previous season and were also in UEFA Cup action, having won the League Cup in February 2000 under O’Neill.

Two years later their stay in the country’s top flight was about to come to an end, and March 23, 2002 saw the Foxes face a Whites side who had reached the Champions League

semi-finals the previous season but missed out on repeat qualification by finishing fourth.

Leeds, though, were very much part of the country’s elite and lined up at Leicester with a star-studded side from one to 11.

The Whites went ahead after just 18 minutes, but not before two big scares.

Leeds began on the front foot and Ian Walker saved Fowler’s effort, but Leicester were only denied by the frame of the goal in the 13th minute when Matt Elliott hit the post after Leeds failed to clear a corner.

The Whites then lost midfielder Olivier Dacourt to injury just one minute later, Seth Johnson being brought on in the Frenchman’s place.

But Leeds rolled on and took the lead when Viduka reacted first to Walker’s superb save to a Fowler overhead kick to head home his first goal in 12 games.

Despite another fine initial save, Leicester then found themselves 2-0 down in the 31st minute as this time Fowler picked up the pieces to head home after Walker had tipped Viduka’s shot on to the crossbar.

Leicester were giving it their all and Paul Dickov’s overhead kick landed on top of the crossbar after Nigel Martyn had misjudged a Jon Ashton long throw.

The Foxes continued to press after the break but Dickov was denied when he fired his shot straight at Jonathan Woodgate, who was looking to press his claims for a place in the England squad at the 2002 World Cup in front of Three Lions assistant boss Tord Grip.

But in the end United could and should have added a third, Harry Kewell shooting from a tight angle when Viduka and Fowler were free, and Viduka then just failed to connect with an Alan Smith cross.

Victory gave United a third win in a row, but a 4-3 defeat at home to Manchester United at Tottenham Hotspur followed and four wins from the last five games was still not enough to put the Whites back in the Champions League as O’Leary’s side finished five points behind fourth-placed Newcastle United.

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Thank you Laura Collins