DEFOE ON LEEDS "SPECIAL GAME"
Jermain Defoe needed little reminding of the last time we played at Elland Road.
Turn the clock back three years and we travelled to the famous home of Leeds United for a fourth round replay after drawing 2-2 at White Hart Lane.
An absorbing contest was finely balanced at 1-1 at half-time before Jermain went on to complete a hat-trick as we ran out 3-1 winners.
Now we face the same trip in the same round of the competition as Elland Road braces itself again for another potential FA Cup cracker on Sunday.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing at Elland Road, a fantastic, traditional stadium,” said Jermain. “It was an unbelievable atmosphere and to go there, win and score a hat-trick, I’ll never forget that.
“The first goal was a left-foot volley, but I sliced it a little and it went into the top corner.
“After that went in, I knew it might just be my night because sometimes you can slice a shot like that and it will fly over, but that one flew into the top corner. I remember thinking ‘I’ll take that!’.
“The second goal was a cross from David Bentley and I managed to get in front of the defender and finish and the third goal I went through from halfway, one-on-one, I went around him and I remember scoring and I stood there for ages.
“It was the best feeling – a hat-trick in the FA Cup against Leeds at Elland Road. That was brilliant.
“I love these games. It’s the FA Cup! It’s special. I always look forward to FA Cup games, home or away. It will be a big day and going to Leeds, that will be something special as well.”