A mild mid-winter afternoon was the setting at Elland Road as the sun brightened the scene of the first League clash between Leeds United and the Rovers since 1955 and a top six clash at that. Both teams are in the play-off positions, with Leeds two points better off than the Rovers but having played two games more. Thus, points are essential to both teams in their efforts to gain promotion. However, earlier in the afternoon a small ceremony was performed at the statue of Billy Bremner when a wreath from the Rovers Supporters Club was laid by John Ryan and Len South, the Chairman of the Rovers Supporters Club.

Leeds include in their starting line-up their recent signings, Bradley Johnson and Neil Kilkenny both of whom have played against us this season for Northampton Town and Oldham Athletic respectively. Other new signings are Peter Sweeney from Stoke City and Darren Kenton, on loan from Leicester City. The West Yorkshire side won just one point from three games over the festive period but have bounced back with successive wins against Northampton Town and Crewe Alexandra. The Rovers starting line-up was unchanged from the win over Carlisle United, the only change being on the bench where on loan signing Matt Mills replaces Sean McDaid. For goalkeeper, Neil Sullivan, it is a return to his old club for the first time. The Rovers defended the Elland Road end in the first half.

Leeds set the game going and Price was immediately chased and wrestled to the ground by Johnson. A stern lecture was issued by the referee and a free kick to the Rovers set them on the attack. Although the ball was cleared the Rovers spent the first five minutes in the Leeds half. The home team then hit back and the game settled down to an even contest as each side sought an opening. The pace was fast and furious. In the 13th minute, an opportunity arrived for Coppinger when he was played in on goal but he elected to try and go round a defender who had got back to him and lost the ball. Minutes later Price stabbed wide, under challenge, from the left side of the six yards box. Then, on 21 minutes, Wellens was brought down just outside the Leeds penalty area as he threaded his way through the defence. STOCK took the free kick and rifled a low shot past a wrong footed Ankergren. The Leeds reply was to go down their right, the ball was crossed but it skimmed over the head of a white shirt. After 25 minutes, the home side won the first corner of the game. The ball came out of the Rovers defence to Beckford, who hit a tremendous volley from 25 yards that Sullivan, in the right place, did well to handle and save. Continuing the pressure Leeds were awarded a free kick on their right. Sweeney put the ball into a crowded penalty area but Sullivan rose above everybody to catch and hold. The Rovers hit back with a cross by Gareth Roberts on their left that was headed goalwards by McCammon but Ankergren handled it easily. As time ran down Leeds threw everything into attack forcing three corners. Sullivan punched out the first one, the next was cleared out by the Rovers defence and the third one nearly produced a goal for the home team. Johnson forced the ball through a forest of legs to Kenton, who backheeled the ball from three yards but Sullivan was alert to the danger and was able to save. A hard fought typical 'derby' game in the first half but it was the Rovers who went in one goal to the good.

The Rovers started the second half and immediately forced a corner on their left but it came to nothing with the referee blowing for a foul and a free kick to Leeds. The home team followed suit and in their first attack won a corner, which came out to Kilkenny but his effort from 25 yards was well wide. Five minutes in and Beckford received the ball about 8 yards from goal to the left, tried to lob the oncoming Sullivan, who stuck a hand up and knocked the ball away. On 57 minutes, Price played Coppinger in down the right but his pass for Green was too far in front of him but ran to McCammon on the left, who beat the keeper in a race for the ball but his shot was blocked. On the hour a good run by O'Connor down the Rovers right was only stopped at the expense of a corner to the Rovers. This was followed by a shot from Coppinger that took a slight deflection off Huntington but Ankergren got down at the foot of a post to give away the corner from which McCammon headed just wide. The Rovers now took over command of the game. Wellens went past several defenders on the Rovers left, his final shot being deflected for a corner. This came out of the Leeds defence to Wellens, whose 20 yarder was blocked coming out to Gareth Roberts on the Rovers left. His shot from 30 yards went wide. The next few minutes had Leeds defending desperately as the Rovers launched attack after attack. McCammon had a couple of headers, one following a free kick was wide and the other was saved under the bar by Ankergren. Coppinger also put a 30 yards effort wide. The Rovers made a couple of substitutions and Leeds threw caution to the wind and threw everything at the Rovers. Kandol had a good effort from 30 yards well saved by Sullivan, who then caught a free kick dropped it and collected at the second attempt as two white shirted players came in. Four minutes of added-on time was safely negotiated by the Rovers defence so that the final whistle went on a great win for the Rovers, their first ever at Elland Road.

Teams - Leeds United - Casper Ankergren; Frazer Richardson, Paul Huntington, Bradley Johnson, Andrew Hughes, Peter Sweeney, Ben Parker, Darren Kenton, Neil Kilkenny, Tore Andre Flo, Jermaine Beckford
Subs used - Matt Heath for Kenton 46 mins; Tresor Kandol for Flo 54 mins; Curtis Weston for Kilkenny 71 mins;
Subs not used - David Prutton, Alan Thompson,
Cautions - Kilkenny,

ROVERS - Neil Sullivan, James O'Connor, Steve Roberts, Adam Lockwood, Gareth Roberts; James Coppinger, Paul Green, Richie Wellens, Brian Stock; Mark McCammon, Jason Price
Subs used - Matt Mills for Price 80 mins; Mark Wilson for Wellens 82 mins; James Hayter for Coppinger 87 mins;
Subs not used - Lewis Guy, Martin Woods,
Cautions - Stock, Price,