Preview: Wycombe Wanderers v Leeds United

Wycombe Wanderers welcome Leeds United to Adams Park on Saturday for what will be the first ever meeting between the two clubs.


Leeds United are best known by those of a certain age for their glory days under manager Don Revie. After narrowly escaping relegation to the third tier of English football in 1962, Revie's uncompromising side won promotion to the top flight in 1964 and he then orchestrated the most successful spell in the Yorkshire club's history.

Before he left Elland Road in 1974, Revie's team became English League Champions twice, FA Cup winners, League Cup winners and Fairs Cup Winners twice. They were also runners-up in various competitions on numerous occasions.

Howard Wilkinson oversaw a third title win for Leeds in 1992, but in recent history it's the 2001 Champions League campaign under manager David O'Leary which people will remember.

It finished with a semi-final defeat to Valencia, but was soon followed by financial disaster as Leeds failed to qualify for the money-spinning competition the following season and the realities of chairman Peter Risdale's 'living the dream' gamble began to hit home.

Since then, United's fortunes have plummeted and after suffering two relegations, they now find themselves starting their third consecutive season in League One.

In 2007/08 they finished 5th and after reaching the play-off final, lost 1-0 to Doncaster Rovers.

In 2008/09 they finished 4th, but were defeated 2-1 on aggregate by Millwall in the play-off semi-final.

So far this season, Leeds have beaten Exeter 2-1 at Elland Road in the League and won 1-0 at Darlington in the Carling Cup.


Leeds United Summer Signings

Jason Crowe (Northampton Town)
Shane Higgs (Cheltenham Town)
Patrick Kisnorbo (Leicester City)
Michael Doyle (Coventry City) - season-long loan.


Danger Man

Despite spending most of this summer on the transfer list, star striker Jermaine Beckford is currently still with Leeds. Boasting a record of 56 goals in 85 starts for the Yorkshire side, including both goals against Exeter last Saturday, he's certainly one to watch.



Wycombe Wanderers have had a difficult start to the season with several key players currently out injured. The Chairboys narrowly lost 3-2 at Charlton Athletic on the opening day, before a much changed side were knocked out of the Carling Cup 4-0 at home to Peterborough United on Tuesday evening.

With Leeds United's visit this Saturday and a trip to Norwich City next week, it's certainly looking like a baptism of fire for the newly-promoted Chairboys.

It's a new-look Wycombe team this season and it's still gelling, but unaccustomed to his side leaking goals, manager Peter Taylor has no doubt been working on defending set-pieces this week after several soft goals were recently conceded from dead-ball situations.

Midfielder Matt Bloomfield suffered a broken nose and fractured cheekbone against Peterborough on Tuesday and Joins Tommy Doherty, Ian Westlake, Lewis Hunt, Lewwis Spence and TJ Moncur on the injured list.



A Look Back In Time


1968/69

Leeds become the champions of English football for the first time.

Wycombe Wanderers finish 4th in the Isthmian League, nine points behind champions Enfield.


1971/72

Leeds win the FA Cup, beating Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley.

Wycombe have a good season too, winning the Isthmian League championship for the second year in a row.


1973/74

Leeds are English champions for the second time, finishing five points clear of runners-up Liverpool.

Wycombe are Isthmian League Champions again, finishing two points clear of second placed Hendon.


1974/75

Leeds reach the European Cup Final, losing 2-0 to Bayern Munich.

Wycombe win the Isthmian League title yet again and also make it to the 3rd round of the FA Cup, where they take Middlesbrough to a replay at Ayresome Park before narrowly losing 1-0.


1991/92

Leeds are English Champions for the third time, finishing 4 points clear of runners-up Manchester United.

Wycombe finish second in The Conference, losing out to champions Colchester United on goal difference.


2nd May 2001

Leeds draw 0-0 with Valencia in the semi-final of the Champions League.

Wycombe travel to Bristol Rovers the same night and record a fine 2-1 win in League Division Two.



The Man In The Middle

Saturday's referee is Stuart Attwell from Warwickshire, who joined the National list of Referees in 2007. His last game involving Wycombe was the 3-1 win over Bournemouth at Adams Park last October.



Wycombe will be looking to get their first points on the board this Saturday and if they can cut out the errors at the back and play like they did in the second half at Charlton, they have every chance of taking something from the game.

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