The Rod Wallace goal: Leeds vs Spurs, April '94
In the build up to the game Howard Wilkinson was eating at Flying Pizza, when a woman at a nearby table slumped, as the Daily Mirror put it, 'lifeless to the floor.'
Winning the title in 1992 surprised Leeds and almost getting relegated in 1993 shocked them. How had Leeds become so bad? And just how bad had they become?
At Elland Road, thoughts of badness seemed unreal. The First Division was won without a single home defeat, bettering the Second Division that was won losing one. Even while Leeds couldn't win away in 1992/93, Elland Road stayed secure: won twelve, drew eight, lost one, only three points short of the season that won the title.
On the road no wins, seven draws and fourteen defeats meant 1993/94 called for cathartic necessities. A win at Southampton in September proved it could happen, but only four more wins followed. That was more understandable now as the team was changing in ways it hadn't after the title win. Elland Road, though, remained the home of reassurance: while the team strived to exorcise demons at away grounds and hotels up and down the country, by the time Tottenham came to Leeds in April 1994, the Peacocks had only lost once there in 61 matches.
In the build up to the game Howard Wilkinson was eating at Flying Pizza, when a woman at a nearby table slumped, as the Daily Mirror put it, 'lifeless to the floor. Eyewitnesses who thought the woman had suffered a seizure say Wilkinson restored her breathing and comforted her until an ambulance arrived.' One of those eyewitnesses had a name to inspire joy in newsrooms down south: Jack Pickles told the papers, "I'm sure he saved her life."
Wilko was having none of it. "It was nowt special," he said. "I'm no hero."