IAN Porterfield knew the score the instant Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney paired Leeds with Wanderers in the Fourth round FA Cup draw.

Just four days after stepping into the Burnden breach he was resigned to being pestered to death with reminiscences about THAT goal - the strike that secured pole position in the giant-killing Hall of Fame.

Sunderland's 1-0 victory over Leeds in 1973 still stands as arguably the most sensational upset in Cup Final history. It still pains them at Elland Road to recall the day when the Second Division upstarts beat Don Revie's revered team, which most people regarded as the best club side in Europe. Porterfield, who is hoping to spike Leeds' cup guns again tomorrow, understandably harbours fond memories of his moment of glory but he has long since consigned it to its place in history.

Wanderers v Leeds is about the here and now.

The Burnden chief coach confesses: "When the draw was made I thought 'Oh, no! Not Leeds!'

"I knew I'd be asked for my reaction and my memories but, as far as I'm concerned it's just a good draw for us, not for me. Leeds is just 40 miles down the road; there'll be a full house and a great atmosphere and, importantly, I believe we can win it. "Leeds are a very talented side but we're not facing an impossible task because after what I've seen already I'd say on our day we are capable of a good result against any team in the Premiership.

"Make no mistake, this is a big game and, if we could win it, who knows ...M-V?"

Despite his initial reluctance, Porterfield has allowed himself to be drawn into the nostalgia game.

He says: "I've been lucky enough to be involved in winning other things in football but the Cup Final goal is the only thing people ever highlight. "It's lovely for me and it's lovely for my family but the fact is that there were a lot of other people involved. It was about Sunderland, the club and the supporters - they are what the game is all about.

"The Cup Final was about Jim Montgomery, the best uncapped goalkeeper in Britain who made the greatest save ever in a final; about players like Richie Pitt, who was a Sunderland-born lad; good players like Billy Hughes, Bobby Kerr, Dick Malone and Dave Watson, who was the best centre-half in England, Dennis Tueart and Micky Horswill. I was the passer in midfield and Micky was the destroyer.

"They said Leeds were the best in Europe in those days and, yes, they had a lot of quality players. But you could never underestimate the quality of that Sunderland team."

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