MX23RW : Thursday, November 21 16:25:19| >> :600:104636:104636:
[monks data]
Leeds logo
Premier League
May 13, 2001 at 3pm UK
 
Bradford City

6-1

FT

On this day: Leeds United hammer Bradford City

Fourteen years ago today, Leeds United recovered from their Champions League exit by thrashing Bradford City at Elland Road.

Traditionally, the Yorkshire derby between Leeds United and Bradford City is a close affair.

Of the last 12 meetings in all competitions, wins have been recorded by no more than a one-goal margin, with the exception of the clash at Elland Road 14 years ago today.

The visiting Bantams may have already been relegated, but there was a growing belief that they had a good chance of picking up a positive result, largely because Leeds had been dumped out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage by Valencia only a few days earlier.

Lee Bowyer of Leeds beats a challenge from Gary Locke of Bradford during the Premiership match on May 13, 2001© Getty Images

The thinking was that the disappointment of the exit would weigh heavy on David O'Leary's side.

However, that school of thought was dismissed during a rampant opening 45 minutes in which bottom-of-the-table Bradford were blown away.

There was just 14 minutes on the clock when Mark Viduka converted Ian Harte's cross with a diving header, before full-back Harte turned scorer five minutes later when his free kick got the better of Aidan Davison.

Ashley Ward pulled one back for Bradford in the 22nd minute, but it was only a brief moment of respite, as Eirik Bakke soon restored the home side's two-goal advantage.

Alan Smith, who was sent off during the defeat to Valencia, got in on the act in the 38th minute when he fired in Viduka's knockdown and Harry Kewell added a fifth goal from inside the penalty area two minutes before the break.

It proved to be too much for Bradford's Andy Myers and Stuart McCall, who took their frustrations out on each other, leaving the latter with a cut below his left eye.

Mark Viduka of Leeds celebrates his goal and leeds'' first during the Premiership match between Leeds United and Bradford City at Elland Road on May 13, 2001© Getty Images

The duo kept their places for the second half and although Bradford's fortunes didn't improve too much, they did at least stem the flow of goals.

Nevertheless, with six minutes remaining, midfielder Lee Bowyer added a sixth goal for the hosts when he benefited from a mistake by Bradford defender Wayne Jacobs to turn in Harte's cross.

Speaking after the final whistle, O'Leary said: "I was delighted with the lads and their attitude in the first half. I thought the football was good, we scored goals and we got about them. It was a great way to bounce back after the disappointment of Europe.

"The players were a little bit down before the game, they were disappointed after Tuesday night, but with two games left it was important to win them both. I am already looking forward to next season and I want to end on a high this campaign."

Leeds: Martyn; Mills, Ferdinand, Matteo, Harte; Bowyer, Bakke, Dacourt (McPhail), Kewell; Smith, Viduka

Bradford: Davison, Jacobs, Halle, Nolan (Locke), Myers, Lawrence, Whalley, McCall, Jess, Ward, Carbone

ID:221310: cacheID:221310:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:6067:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Youri Djorkaeff of Bolton celebrates his second goal during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match between Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United at The Reebok Stadium, on May 2, 2004
Read Next:
OTD: Leeds plight continues as relegation closes in
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Sunderland1594225111431
2Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd1510321971231
3Leeds UnitedLeeds158522491529
4Burnley157621861227
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom15672169725
6Watford158162322125
7Middlesbrough157352317624
8Millwall156541813523
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn156451917222
10Bristol City155732019122
11Swansea CitySwansea155461110119
12Derby CountyDerby155461919019
13Stoke CityStoke155461819-119
14Norwich CityNorwich154652322118
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds155371725-818
16Oxford UnitedOxford Utd154561718-117
17Coventry CityCoventry154472021-116
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth154471526-1116
19Hull City153661620-415
20Preston North EndPreston153661523-815
21Luton TownLuton154381726-915
22Cardiff CityCardiff154381423-915
23Portsmouth152671628-1212
24Queens Park RangersQPR151771225-1310


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!