Rotherham v Leeds - Memorable past meetings

Rotherham take on Leeds on Saturday afternoon in a clash that takes on extra significance given events at both clubs over the last couple of months.

The Millers will be seeking any crumb of comfort going into the game and will be buoyed by the fact they took four points off Leeds last season and are unbeaten in three games at Elland Road.

Although their paths have not frequented too often, with Leeds spending the majority of their history in the top two divisions and the Millers the bottom two, there has still been some classic meetings over the years.

Here are some of the better matches.

Leeds 3 Rotherham 2 – FA Cup third-round replay (18/1/1971)

Rotherham were a mid-table third tier side when they travelled to Elland Road in 1970-71 and almost pulled off an FA Cup giant-killing against a Leeds side who were flying high in the top division.

They drew 0-0 in the original third-round tie at Millmoor in front of 24,000 fans – a home attendance which is yet to be topped since – and they could have even won it had Leeds defender Jack Charlton been rightly given his marching orders.

Jimmy McAnearney’s men were given little chance in the replay, which was played at the second attempt after fog had postponed the first game an hour before kick-off.

And those predictions seemed astute as the legendary Peter Lorimer put Leeds ahead early on.

But the Millers rallied and sniffed an upset when Trevor Womble and Dave Bentley overturned that deficit and gave their side a surprise half-time lead.

Leeds were a side full of internationals, though, and proved too strong for their visitors with another Lorimer effort and Johnny Giles’ winner sending the Whites through in front of an attendance close to 37,000.

Leeds were surprisingly beaten by Colchester in the fifth round, but went on to finish as runners-up of Division One and win the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup – the Europa League of its time – by getting the better of Juventus on away goals.

Rotherham finished eighth in the third division.

Leeds legend Peter Lorimer scored twice to knock the Millers out of the FA  Cup

Leeds 2 Rotherham 2 – Division Two (14/5/1983)

In each of the last three seasons where they have been in the same division prior to this one the Millers have been handed a trip to Elland Road on the final day.

In 1983 the Millers, under George Kerr, made the short trip up the M1 in the relegation zone but knew that a win could see them overhaul upto seven clubs.

And everything was going to plan when Joe McBride, scorer of a Boxing Day winner at Hillsborough, put the visitors ahead in the first half.

The hosts, managed by Eddie Gray, improved after the break, though, and levelled through John Donnelly just after the hour. 

And United then broke Rotherham hearts in the 88^th minute when Aidan Butterworth scored to go 2-1 up.

McBride immediately equalised a minute later with his second of the game, but there was not enough time for the Millers to force a winner which would have guaranteed their survival.

Instead they finished third from bottom, two points below Grimsby Town and the famous side including McBride, Tony Towner and Ronnie Moore was broken up the following season.

Two goals from Joe McBride, formerly a coach at Cardiff, were not enough to save the Millers

Rotherham 1 Leeds 0 – Championship (29/11/2004)

The story of this game has been well documented, but it remains the ultimate example of a smash-and-grab victory.

The Millers were having a torrid time of it in the Championship, winless in 20 games and on their way to a relegation that would change the club forever.

Leeds, although having problems of their own, were just out of the Premier League and were Champions League semi-finalists only three years previously.

And the difference between the two sides was immediately evident as Leeds came out of the blocks flying, hitting the woodwork four times in the opening 20 minutes.  Mike Pollitt was also called into action on several occasions and Michael Ricketts missed a sitter after the break.

After defying the laws of possibility by staying on level terms, the Millers, who had beaten some of the biggest clubs in England over a four-year period, had one last giant-killing in them as Martin McIntosh’s scrappy goal from a set-piece 13 minutes from time gave them a famous victory.

Boss Ronnie Moore, who had overseen arguably the greatest period in the club’s history, was sacked just a few weeks later and the Millers suffered a humiliating relegation while Leeds limped to 14^th position under Kevin Blackwell.

Rotherham 4 Leeds 2 – Football League Trophy (8/10/2008)

The Millers were in the first few months of their ill-fated stay at Don Valley Stadium and had initially taken to their new surroundings with aplomb. They were unbeaten in seven games and had seen off Championship outfits Wolves and Southampton in the League Cup at the  athletics stadium. 

And another scalp was on offer when Gary McAllister’s men travelled to Sheffield in the second round of the Football League Trophy.

The Whites arrived in South Yorkshire having won six of their previous seven games in all competitions and flying high in League One, but came up against a rampant Millers managed by Mark Robins.

They went ahead through Ian Sharps’ header in the 17^th minute but were soon pegged back by Jonny Howson’s cool finish.

But the hosts then took firm control with three goals in nine minutes either side of the break. 

First Mark Hudson slotted home the rebound from his saved penalty just before the break and then further headers from Drewe Broughton and Nick Fenton gave them an unassailable lead.

Enoch Showunmi got a consolation for Leeds but the Millers saw it out with ease.

Robins’ men, who knocked Leicester out in the following round, reached the area final but lost to Scunthorpe while McAllister was sacked a couple of months later.