Manchester City v Leeds: When Niall Quinn Stunned Maine Road

The 1991/92 season was the final time that the old format of the old First Division would be seen as the Premier League would begin the following campaign. The race was on to become the last ever champions of the league and that race was being fought by Manchester United and Leeds.

The Reds were one point ahead of their Lancashire rivals with a game in hand and Leeds, who were playing some amazing football at the time, needed to keep pace with United, who looked on course to finally claim the league title.

In April, City would have the opportunity to put a massive dent in both team’s title aspirations as they face both in a matter of days. First up were Leeds United at Maine Road. The visitors needed a win to keep their dreams of winning the league alive. For City fans, the thought of beating Leeds and helping United win the league was unthinkable and many wouldn’t have minded if Leeds had walked away with the three points.

Another event in Moss Side later that day had forced the fixture to be played at an earlier time and Leeds looked like they were still asleep as the teams took to the pitch.

City ripped into them from the outset and took the lead after just 11 minutes. A nice bit of skill on the right involving Niall Quinn and Mike Sheron ended with a cross into the box, which Leeds cleared over the bar. Winger Mark Brennan’s outswinging set piece was met by defender Andy Hill who powered a header into the top corner to set City on their way.

Leeds tried to get back into the game but City were resilient. The previous season, the newly promoted Yorkshire side had won 3-2 at Maine Road and City were determined that wouldn’t happen again. Tony Coton denied Leeds an equaliser and just before the break, City went 2-0 up.

A superb period of passing ended up with Steve McMahon releasing Sheron, and the City man beat the offside trap to clip the ball over Jon Lukic in the Leeds goal and the Blues could see daylight. United manager Alex Ferguson, who had earlier claimed that City wouldn’t want to win to help his team, must have thought his mind games were working, but City didn’t need anything from the Scot – they were determined to finish as high as possible.

The second half saw Leeds come more into the match, but struggled to find the target. And when they did, they found Coton in unstoppable form as the City keeper preserved their two goal lead.

City needed a third and when McMahon broke up a Leeds move, City set off on the counter-attack. But no one would have expected what was to come next.

Sheron played the ball out on the right to Quinn and faced with defender Chris White, Quinn had nowhere to go. A bit of fancy footwork seemed to take White out for long enough for Quinn to try something special and almost from the corner of the penalty area, the striker produced an exquisite lob over the keeper, which hit the underside of the bar and nestled into the back of the goal.

The faithful were stunned into celebration. Quinn was more familiar with using his head than his feet and his finish put the seal on City’s victory.

There was still time for more and, soon after Coton denied Leeds a consolation, McMahon released Brennan after a good period of City possession. The winger raced forward, steadied himself and fired home to give City a memorable victory against the Yorkshire Whites and seriously dent their title hopes.

It wasn’t all bad though. City went to Old Trafford a few days later and, despite going a goal down, then seeing Neil Pointon sent off for mistaking Ryan Giggs’ stomach for the ball, Keith Curle levelled form the penalty spot to give City a point. United would continue to blow it and Leeds were eventually crowned the last champions of the old First Division.