Time is GMT + 8 hours Posted: 1-Dec-2008 11:06 hrs
Leeds United's Elland Road Stadium. Just when Leeds fans thought their team had endured every possible indignity, they suffered a new low as a humble postman helped non-league Histon hand the fallen English giants a shock 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup second round.
Just when Leeds fans thought their team had endured every possible indignity, they suffered a new low as a humble postman helped non-league Histon hand the fallen English giants a shock 1-0 defeat in the FA Cup second round.
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Former English champions Leeds were playing in the Champions League only seven years ago but now they languish in League One - the country's third tier - and were unable to avoid an embarrassing exit from the Cup on Sunday.
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Leeds had never lost to a non-league team but that record was destroyed by Matthew Langston, who headed home to send the Conference club, who play in a tiny Cambridgeshire village, through to a third round clash with Swansea.
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The rain-lashed Glass World Stadium was a far-cry from the European and top-flight stadiums that Leeds competed in under Don Revie and more recently David O'Leary.
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They looked nervous from the start and paid the price for poor finishing against a team 42 places below them in the English football set-up.
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They perished when Langston, who works as a postman during the week, headed in Gareth Gwillim's cross in the 39th minute.
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Leeds were denied a face-saving equaliser when Lubomir Michalik twice failed to convert good chances. He hit the post with a fierce drive, then saw his shot headed off the line by Jack Midson.
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It was a defeat that conjured memories of Leeds' famous FA Cup exit at Colchester in the 1970s, but at least Revie's team were still a force in England then.
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Now they are a shadow of that great side and Histon manager Steve Fallon piled on the misery for Leeds boss Gary McAllister by insisting his team were worthy winners.
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"We deserved that victory. This will do this club the world of good," he said.
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"It was a magnificent rearguard action in the second half. We had a bit of luck when we needed it but we were magnificent."
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While Histon celebrate their moment in the spotlight, Leeds - three times English champions and four times FA Cup finalists - trudged back to the Elland Road looking further than ever from recapturing their former glories. — AFP
