Sport

Difficult third round tie for Leeds at Derby

JIM SMITH knew Howard Wilkinson had a bright future in the game. After all, he was one of his first signings as a manager.

Fri Jan 05 1996 - 00:00

JIM SMITH knew Howard Wilkinson had a bright future in the game. After all, he was one of his first signings as a manager.

It was at Boston United in the early 1970s when the pair first linked up, Smith in the boss's chair for the first time and Wilkinson a new recruit from Brighton.

When Smith moved into the league a few years later with Colchester, Wilkinson took over at Boston.

On Sunday they meet again in the third round of the English FA Cup with the boot firmly on the other foot.

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Smith's Derby side go into the match at the Baseball Ground against Wilkinson's Leeds, cast in the role of underdogs. But they are top of the first division and Wilkinson's struggling Leeds side could find the going tough on Sunday.

Ambitious non league side Woking received a major boost yesterday as they prepare to tackle Swindon on Saturday.

The club's Kingfield Stadium was assessed by Endsleigh League officials who agreed that it meets the criteria set out for promotion from the GM Vauxhall Conference.

This will be confirmed in writing within the next week and Woking director Terry Molloy said: "Obviously the club are very pleased.

"This is our first victory of 1996 and we hope that the second victory will be defeating Swindon in the FA Cup on Saturday."

Woking will join Sutton and Telford as the only non League sides to reach the last 32 more than once in the last 70 years if Steve McMahon joins Brian Talbot, then of West Brom, among their scalps.

Woking currently lie third in the Conference table, six points behind leaders Macclesfield but with two games in hand.

Denis Law believes Ian Rush can create an FA Cup scoring record no one, will overtake.

The 34 year old Welsh striker needs just one goal to beat the Manchester United legend's record of 41 in the competition.

Rush, who has been out of the Liverpool line up for six weeks following knee surgery, is expected to be in the squad for Saturday's third round clash against Rochdale at Anfield.

"You would bank on Rushie coming on and scoring in that game," said Law. "He'll do it one day, that's for certain, and to be honest, if my record was going to go, it couldn't go to a nicer guy."

Manchester United's captain, Steve Bruce, is on course to return to ease his club's injury crisis for their game against Sunderland.

The 35 year old centre back has missed the last three games after pulling a hamstring in the Christmas Eve defeat at Leeds and was expected to remain on the casualty list for a while longer.