Leeds up for the cup
Leeds go into their plum FA Cup third-round tie against holders Arsenal predicting the encounter could herald the best possible start to 2004.
Eddie Gray’s side are second bottom of the Barclaycard Premiership and did their chances of survival no good whatsoever on Sunday when they lost 3-1 at basement club Wolves.
But league action takes a back seat this week as Leeds square up to the second-placed Gunners, who won the FA Cup by beating Southampton 1-0 at the Millennium Stadium in May.
Some Premiership clubs have been accused of disrespecting The FA Cup in recent years – but Leeds are not among them this weekend.
Centre-back Michael Duberry has emphasised just how important victory would be - predicting a success would rub off on their league campaign.
“The FA Cup is not a distraction,” Duberry said. “It’s a good opportunity to start winning again.
