ON THIS DAY

If you are a VAR sceptic this is an example of why many would consider it a necessity. Picture the scene. Manchester United were playing Tottenham Hotspur in a Premier League match at Old Trafford. In the 89th minute with the score at 0-0 United’s Pedro Mendes spots Spurs ‘keeper Roy Carroll well off his line and fired in an ambitious shot from near the half-way line. Carroll appeared to gather the ball cleanly but then dropped it over the line before clawing it back into play but it was clear that the ball had landed at least a yard into the goal. Well it was clear to everyone except to referee Mark Clattenburg and the relevant linesmen, Ray Lewis, and no goal was given. Spurs were denied 3 points and what would have been their first win at Old Trafford since 1989. And we all started to wonder if touch-line technology would be a way forward

There was a time when Leeds United and the FA Cup just didn't get on, particularly when Cardiff City were their opponents. Three seasons in a row - 1955/56, 1956/57 and 1957/58 - Leeds drew Cardiff at home in the Third Round of the FA Cup, and each time Cardiff won 2-1, the last time being on 4th January 1958. Those results were part of a disastrous FA Cup run by Leeds. After beating Bradford PA in a Fourth Round tie on February 2nd 1952 they didn't manage another win in the competition until March 6th 1963 when they beat Stoke in the Third Round.