On This Day (29th January 1966): Mulhall's brace for Sunderland scuppers Leeds' title bid!
Yesterday at 01:00 AM
A George Herd masterclass left Don Revie scratching his head in disbelief as Sunderland turned on the style to beat Leeds in a welcome victory.
The local press were not giving Sunderland much chance in the run-up to this game against title-chasing Leeds. Occupying themselves with Sunderland's home form and the four defeats at Roker Park already suffered in thirteen home games this season. One local hack went even further in referencing just five games out of sixty-three lost at Roker Park in the three full preceding seasons. The knives were out after a home midweek defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and defeat was anticipated with the only issue being whether they could keep the score down!
The continued absence of Charlie Hurley and Jim McNab with injuries and young centre forward Gary Moore with a cold was not helping the cause. Former England international Mike Hellawell remained on the injury list too, and youngster Allan Gauden would deputise at right wing. Added to that the mercurial 'Slim' Jim Baxter was suspended.
Transfer listed Nic Sharkey was recalled playing up front with Neil Martin. Despite his four goals in seven appearances thus far this season, Sharkey did not seem to be fancied by McColl and many fans thought the manager had dealt him a rough hand. The diminutive Scot had another chance to win him over.
In Baxter's continued absence Dave Elliott retained his place in his preferred position of left-half. Alongside him Martin Harvey would deputise as skipper and play centre-back, and John Parke would retain his position at right-half.
For Leeds, Don Revie welcomed back international keeper Gary Sprake from injury in place of former Gateshead goalie Brian Williamson. Jimmy Greenhoff had been injured in a car crash earlier that week so Mike O'Grady played on the wing. Paul Madeley would deputise for the injured Jack Charlton. Also in Leeds' squad was future Sunderland player Rod Belfitt, he did not make the twelve for this game but was quietly fashioning something of a reputation.
Don Revie of course was returning to one of his former stamping grounds, but he was a marmite personality not universally appreciated by the Roker Park crowd. His Leeds team and some of their dubious tactics were also not always appreciated by crowds around the country. Adding an extra edge to this fixture apart from the close rivalry that had seen both clubs fighting neck and neck to get out of division two for three to four seasons, was the broken leg and career-ending injury suffered by young star Willie McPheat in the 1962/63 season at the hands of then Leeds skipper Bobby Collins. The memory of this had not dimmed amongst the Roker fans and most certainly not amongst those Sunderland players who played with the talented youngster.
Also returning to his native North East was an Eighton Banks-born defender. Norman "bites yer legs" Hunter had a fearsome reputation, and was known to take the man if he could not get the ball. Many fans appreciated there was more to this half-back than his rough house tackling as he was so often the trigger for many of Leeds' counterattacks with his incisive passing and movement out of defence.
A crowd just short of thirty-six thousand had gathered and the Fulwell End's recently added roof (in readiness for the 1966 World Cup) was again echoing to the Roker Roar as the teams took the field. The local press might be writing off Sunderland's chances, but the fans seemed prepared to give them a fair go!
With the crowd behind them, Sunderland tore into Leeds from the off, and within minutes Mulhall had intercepted a risky square pass across the Leeds box by Bell, beat two defenders, and shot just wide. Right after this Neil Martin then went close, as a bit of George Herd magic fashioned an opportunity, which pulled a marvellous save from Sprake. Martin followed this up on fifteen minutes with another raking snapshot.
Leeds were definitely rattled!
Sprake was in action again on twenty-three minutes as Cecil Irwin charged forward and blasted a great shot that pulled another good save from the goalie.
Two minutes later Sunderland went ahead and it was a brilliantly worked goal from back to front. John Parke won the ball and fed Neil Martin who smoothly slid a cracking pass to George Mulhall on the left wing. In what was described as a "dazzling solo run" and with the crowd willing him to shoot, the flying Scot went past three Leeds defenders before rounding Gary Sprake and hammering the ball right-footed into the empty net. It was an audacious bit of skill from the winger and almost lifted the roof as the crowd roared their approval.
Leeds centre forward Peacock was subbed due to injury on thirty-one minutes, replaced by Rod Johnson.
Leeds then came back and pulled a point-blank save from Jimmy Montgomery as Norman Hunter smashed a shot that looked goal-bound. The resultant corner saw Monty' come for O'Grady's corner and miss it, Madely got his head to the ball and it looked to be looping in, until Cec Irwin rushed in and headed the ball off the line.
Just before half-time Neil Martin burst through two tackles and was bearing down on goal when Hunter caught him from behind. It looked like a good shout for a penalty but referee David Laing was unmoved, triggering much jeering and booing from the Roker faithful... and a big grin from Hunter!
The second half saw the tide of the game tip one way and then the other as both teams went at it. For Sunderland George Herd was covering every bit of the park, in defence and attack as his skill set and phenomenal stamina were displayed in a five-star performance.
On seventy-six minutes and with Leeds in the ascendency, Martin Harvey won the ball and found Neil Martin, who cooly fed Herd. With a dart and a swerve, the little Scot sped forward past two defenders and stroked a beautiful pass to Mulhall lurking with intent on the left wing. Cutting in and with calm accuracy, he placed a left foot shot past Sprake and in at the far post. It was a wonderfully crafted goal at probably the most crucial point of the game.
Leeds though at this time were a dangerous team when wounded and forward they came. With Harvey in commanding form and Parke keeping a good check on Johnny Giles, Dave Elliott too contributed with some timely tackles that drew applause from the Roker crowd. Ashurst and Irwin were also to the fore in this period and made sure O'Grady and Johannson got nothing to ignite a Leeds comeback.
Nonetheless it still required two very good saves from Monty in the dying minutes from Hunter and Giles to make sure Leeds left pointless and without troubling the scoresheet.
There were winners all over the park for Sunderland on this day. Neil Martin and Nic Sharkey had been a constant threat and Allan Gauden had shown enough to warrant another opportunity. Mulhall's two goals had been excellently created and taken but player-of-the-match without doubt was George Herd.
Interviewed at the end of the game, Don Revie expressed his view that Herd surely could not be far away from a Scotland cap. The local press hailed the midfielder as " a pint-sized Scot with magic in his boots and an insatiable appetite for work."
Leeds dropped to fourth in the table as Revie acknowledged the result had put a dent in their title ambitions. They would finish the season runners-up to Liverpool.
Sunderland remained in sixteenth position, but the win and the manner of the performance were cause for hope amongst fans and coaching staff.
Mulhall's goals had taken him to seven for the season and at this point he was Sunderland's leading scorer, indicating to a degree the team's difficulty.
By the following day, the hot news was Sunderland were chasing Joe Baker to pair him with Neil Martin up front. The £80,000 price tag placed on the England international by Arsenal perhaps led to this not occurring, which was a shame as we could have had two forwards who would both go on to score over a hundred goals in the Scottish and English top flights!
Baker did eventually join us for the start of 1969/70 season for £30,000 from Nottingham Forest, we never quite saw the best of him. Sadly, Neil Martin had departed the season before in a £90,000 transfer to Coventry.
Sunderland finished the season in a disappointing nineteenth position. Better things were hoped for in 1966/67. But on this day a win against title-chasing Leeds was well worth the entry fee!
Division One — 29/01/1966 — Roker Park — 35,942
Sunderland 2 - 0 Leeds Utd (Goals - Mulhall; 25 & 76 minutes)
Sunderland - Montgomery; Irwin; Ashurst; Parke; Harvey; Elliott; Gauden; Herd; Martin; Sharkey; Mulhall. Sub - Black
Leeds Utd - Sprake; Reaney; Bell; Bremner; Madeley; Hunter; O'Grady; Lorimer; Peacock (Johnson); Giles; Johannson.
