Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
Oscar Haley

Ex-Leeds United defender Michael Duberry reveals insight into infamous Cardiff City FA Cup defeat

When Leeds United take on Cardiff City on Sunday afternoon in the FA Cup, it will have been just over 21 years to the day since the Whites shock third round exit to the Bluebirds back in 2002.

Jesse Marsch and co travel to the Cardiff City Stadium this weekend with Leeds looking to book their spot in the fourth round of the cup competition.

However, Leeds supporters will certainly hope their is no repeat of the 2002 clash, which saw Cardiff pull off a shock 2-1 giant killing of the Whites at Ninian Park.

READ MORE: Choose your Leeds United XI for FA Cup clash vs Cardiff City as Jesse Marsch hints at possible debut

Heading into the FA Cup contest, Leeds sat top of the Premier League, with the Whites also having previously reached the Champions League semi-finals a season prior. Conversely, Cardiff sat 10th in the Second Division [now League One], two tiers below the Whites.

While Leeds got off to an excellent start in front of a packed out Ninian Park through Mark Viduka, Cardiff replied around 10 minutes later thanks to Bluebirds skipper Graham Kavanagh fired home a sublime free-kick.

Before the break, tempers then flared, with Leeds midfielder Alan Smith sent off to reduce Leeds to 10 men for the remainder of the contest. The ensuing second half saw the Whites have to adopt a more defensive style in order to stem the blow of Smith's dismissal.

However, with four minutes to go, Cardiff's Scott Young found the back of the net following a scrappy corner to give the hosts the lead, sending Ninian Park into wild scenes.

Standing just behind Young that day on the pitch was Whites defender Michael Duberry, who was only able to watch on as the Cardiff man reacted the quickest in the box to deliver the FA Cup giant killing.

And when reflecting upon the 2002 contest, Duberry revealed the intense atmosphere around Ninian Park on that day gave Cardiff City a major boost against the Whites.

"We were confident," Duberry told the A Bit of Swazz podcast.

"We had a good team, good players, like a confident bunch of players. We weren't arrogant, we didn't think we were just going to walk in and smash it, we took it seriously like we were going there to win. The preparation was on point.

"It's the FA Cup as well and we're all young players so we understood what the FA Cup meant. I remember the game and it wasn't a Premier League team against a lower division side. The FA Cup is a leveller. The energy on the pitch, it was just an even game, we couldn't get a grip on the game.

"The momentum was with Cardiff, everything about it was with them. They never got tired, it was just constant. Don't get me wrong, I loved a battle but the whole atmosphere and environment, I thought this could kick off anytime.

"When they scored the winner to make it 2-1, it was deflating. They did everything, they had 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 extra men on their [at Ninian Park] side."

READ NEXT:

Jesse Marsch opens up on Brenden Aaronson's recent Leeds United struggles

Marcelo Bielsa's highest Mateusz Klich praise a reminder of his key part in Leeds United history

The iconic century-old speech fuelling Jesse Marsch at Leeds United

'One of the best' - West Ham star blown away by Elland Road atmosphere after Leeds United draw

Premier League meeting set for New Deal talks which could affect Leeds United

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.