Leeds have proven to be tricky opponents when we’ve played them, of the 96 competitive fixtures in which the two sides have met Sunderland have won 36, drawn 20 and lost 40. Here are some of the more notable fixtures between us…
LEEDS UNITED 0-1 SUNDERLAND - 05.05.1973 - FA CUP
Starting off with the most famous game in our history, it’s the 1973 FA Cup final. In this game we became the first Second Division side to win the competition and we did so against a Leeds team who were one of the best in the country and had won the same tournament the season prior. Ian Porterfield was the goalscorer in front of a crowd of 100,000 and there was arguably the best double save in football history by Jimmy Montgomery to keep us ahead (the commentator thought that they had actually scored). Our heroics that day meant we made our first, and to date last, trip to the continent for a major European competition in the form of the European Cup Winners’ Cup. Bob Stokoe’s post match celebrations have been immortalised in the form of a statue outside of the Stadium of Light. Although we’ve come close, missing out in three major cup finals since, this remains our most recent major trophy victory.
SUNDERLAND 4-1 LEEDS UNITED - 27.09.1980 - FIRST DIVISION
Promoted earlier in the year, we began the 1980-81 season strongly and this result meant we moved up to sixth in the top flight. We got off to a blistering start, Bryan ‘Pop’ Robson scored twice between the 11th and 14th minutes, however Leeds would get themselves back into the match shortly into the second half via Derek Parlane. Gary Rowell quickly reacted though and re-established our two goal advantage prior to Alan Brown wrapping things up in the dying minutes.
SUNDERLAND 4-2 LEEDS UNITED - 11.01.1986 - SECOND DIVISION
The 1985-86 season wasn’t a fun one, we had been relegated in 1985 and there was more than a small chance we could complete an unwanted second relegation in a row as we languished in the bottom half of the second tier. This was a nice break from our poor form then. Nick Pickering scored a hattrick, sealing it five minutes from time through a penalty and Ian Wallace scored our other one. At one point Ian Baird equalised for the visitors and the Whites pushed us throughout the game, scoring on 71 minutes to make the score 3-2. We did end up avoiding relegation as well, by just four points.
LEEDS UNITED 0-3 SUNDERLAND - 13.09.2006 - CHAMPIONSHIP
After initially struggling back in the Championship, Niall Quinn was replaced by managerial debutant Roy Keane in the dugout. This was our third win in a row after victories against West Bromwich Albion and Derby County (also our third win in a row at Elland Road) and really took us out of the relegation fight for this season. As for the game itself, we took the lead with a Liam Miller goal about half an hour in and we dealt the hosts a deathblow with two goals in three minutes immediately after the interval. Of course, as is widely known, Keane took us up to the Premier League with the Championship title at the end of the campaign.
LEEDS UNITED 0-0 SUNDERLAND - 09.04.2024 - CHAMPIONSHIP
Last time out against Leeds was a hard-fought scoreless draw away from home. With us in terrible form and without a permanent head coach on the touchline, automatic chasing Leeds (and us) were both expecting a Leeds win. Some really solid defensive work, some poor shooting from the home team and Luke O’Nien using his hand to keep the ball out of the back of the net all contributed to a praisable point and Mike Dodds took his fourth point off of Leeds that season.
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