Manchester United continued their mini-resurgence in form with a victory over Leeds United in a pulsating encounter at Elland Road on Sunday.
Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Anthony Elanga were all on the scoresheet for Ralf Rangnick’s side, who built on their midweek victory over Brighton in their pursuit of a top four spot.
It was the club’s first visit to Elland Road in front of home fans (due to the pandemic closing stands last season) since the 2003/04 campaign.
A visit to local rivals Leeds has traditionally been one of the toughest assignments of the season for the Red Devils, regardless of the league form or position of their Yorkshire opponents.
Under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, United had plenty of difficult matches in the stadium – with a red-hot atmosphere often awaiting them.
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Indeed, Ferguson has frequently spoken about Elland Road and Leeds fans creating the most intimidating atmosphere in England which his club faced.
Speaking after United visit to Elland Road in the League Cup in 2011, Ferguson said: "Historically, it has been there for a long time.
"I have always said Liverpool-Manchester United games are fierce in many aspects. Sometimes supporters can play a bad part in that particular game. But it never reaches the levels of Leeds United. Never.
"It was frightening at our hotel. We had seven police vans round the hotel protecting the team. I don't know why it is like that. I don't understand it. But it is there and it is not nice."
Ferguson relived another particularly ‘hostile’ trip to West Yorkshire in his 2013 autobiography.
A passage in the book, regarding United's 1-0 victory against Leeds in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final, read: "Some of the fans would have their kids on their shoulders, radiating the most incredible hatred.
"They did give us a bit of a battering in the second half, but Lee Sharpe had broken away, at 0-0, with two minutes to go, to score. It looked 10 yards offside. I was on the pitch, Eric Harrison was in the dugout.
"A lot of people think Eric looks like me. One Leeds supporter certainly did, because he whacked Eric, absolutely panned him. The guy thought he was hitting me. On came the fans. Pandemonium.
"And yet there was something about the hostile atmosphere at Elland Road that I quite liked."
Manchester United will have been delighted on Sunday not only to get another important three points but to do so at a venue which creates one of the most intimidating atmosphere they can face.
