Season 1978/79: Midweek Pink round-up #2: Leeds downed by old boy McQueen; Aston Villa spoil Spurs’ night

BY STEVE MITCHELL

McQUEEN RETURNS TO HAUNT HIS OLD CLUB AS UNITED CLAIM THE POINTS AT ELLAND ROAD

Scotland international centre-half Gordon McQueen returned to Elland Road to score for Manchester United in a five-goal thriller against Leeds United. The country’s most expensive defender, along with Sammy McIIroy and Lou Macari, was on target for Dave Sexton’s side as they kept up their 100 per-cent start to the new campaign.

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In a volatile Elland Road atmosphere, the Red Devils edged a thrilling game which saw the player that replaced McQueen in the starting XI, Paul Hart, and Frank Gray score for the home side. However, it was not enough to prevent United heading back over the Pennines with two points.

SPURS HUMBLED BY VILLA AT WHITE HART LANE

If last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Nottingham Forest gave Tottenham Hotspur fans hope for the new season back in the top-flight, then they were brought down to earth with a shuddering thump after being taken apart by Aston Villa in front of nearly 48,000 spectators. Allan Evans, John Gregory, Brian Little and Gary Shelton did the damage for the visitors with the highly-rated Glenn Hoddle grabbing a consolation for Spurs from the penalty spot.

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Spurs boss Keith Burkinshaw gave home debuts to both Ricky Villa and Osvaldo Ardiles but the two Argentines, who were playing their second game in four days, found the going tough and were unable to get a stranglehold on the contest. Spurs will have to take stock after this defeat or it could be a long hard winter in North London.

FIRST DIVISION RESULTS WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23^rd 1978:

Leeds United 2-3 Manchester United (Hart, Gray F pen; McQueen, Mcllroy, Macari)

Tottenham Hotspur 1-4 Aston Villa (Hoddle pen; Evans A., Gregory, Little, Shelton)

 

UPCOMING FIXTURES:

SATURDAY AUGUST 26^th

Birmingham City v Derby County

Bristol City v Aston Villa

Coventry City v Norwich City

Everton v Arsenal

Ipswich Town v Manchester United

Leeds United v Wolverhampton Wanderers

Manchester City v Liverpool

Q.P.R. v Nottingham Forest

Southampton v Middlesbrough

Tottenham Hotspur v Chelsea

West Bromwich Albion v Bolton Wanderers

FOLLOW THE WHOLE 1978-79 SEASON IN THE ENGLISH FIRST DIVISION WITH STEVE MITCHELL HERE ON THE FOOTBALL PINK. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @barafundler