What are the best limbs you’ve ever been a part of? Beckford (19’)? Beckford (63’)? Chapman at Bournemouth? Becchio against Millwall? Rod Wallace at Sheffield United? Pablo against Swans— oh no. Even if you were at any, or all of those, it’s unlikely you’ve ever seen one man’s limbs cover the entirety of a terrace.

But the fans who travelled to Oxford on 10th March 1990 did. Or at least some of them probably did, those who weren’t caught up in their own convulsions of ecstasy. Thankfully for those who were too addled by drink or delirium at the time and those of us who weren’t there that day, there’s video evidence.

If you pause the film at the perfect moment, you will see a sprawling Breugel-esque image with chaos to be explored in every corner. Here, a man loses his mind. A figure attempts to extend their arm further out of the shoulder socket than anyone has previously attempted. But there is one true star. This unknown hero. A cartwheeling masterpiece, capturing the true essence of the football fan experience. The hours spent travelling, the pain of the first half, the anticipation at the prospect of the comeback and the elation at its completion. He is all of us. He is Vitruvian Man (A).

That was the last time Leeds played Oxford United in the league. Leeds went into that game on 10th March 1990 top of the league, two points clear of… ahem, Sheffield United. Dave Bassett’s men though, had two games in hand, meaning anything but a win for United would put them firmly behind in the title race. And given that Leeds had taken just three points from their previous four games, such a scenario wasn’t exactly unlikely.

In the first half, Oxford literally played up the hill at the Manor Ground. Metaphorically speaking, Leeds gave themselves a mountain to climb. Perhaps fortunate to go in at only 2-0 down though, Wilkinson’s side came out firing in the second half, eventually getting their reward when Mel Sterland’s cross was controlled and fired back across the ‘keeper by Chapman.

That was followed by three goals in five minutes. The first from Imre Varadi, tapping home a cross that was probably a shot. Next, Chris Fairclough headed home John Hendrie’s overhead kick that was definitely a cross. It’s not something you see everyday, and if we’re being charitable perhaps our man in the stands was simply trying to re-enact the assist to his mates. More typically seen several hours later in The Peacock, maybe he simply decided to do it there and then on the terrace. Hendrie’s effort was more graceful, but fundamentally less dramatic. 3-2 Leeds. Top of the league. Limbs.

United’s fourth was straight out of the Bielsa playbook, a strong high press to win the ball back high up the field and a cross to the back post for Chapman to tap home his second.

If you were worried that Leeds United fans, players and managers complaining even when everything is basically fine is a new phenomena, then don’t panic. Chapman, eager for his hat-trick, pulled rank on Strachan to take a late penalty. Predictably, he missed. Worried goal difference would play a part at the end of the season, Wilkinson wasn’t impressed and Strachan said after the game: “There was a word in my ear about it.”

The game also produced an incredible photo of Lee Chapman jumping, legs akimbo, to block what appears to be a fairly hopeful ball forward. It’s not clear from the photo exactly where it caught him as the ball has already ricocheted away, but it’s fair to say he’s exposed, and his face tells a story.

If I were picking the player most likely to put his body on the line in this fashion on Saturday, I’d probably choose Rodon, with Ampadu perhaps a close second. In truth, though, this splayed, desperate defending feels like a thing of the past in today’s cultured, data driven world. In some ways, the game has gone. In others, Saturday’s clash looks very much like a repeat of 1990. Who fancies winning the league ahead of Sheffield United on goal difference? ⬢