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Duffy: Our Biggest Game |
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Darryl Duffy has a video tape in his collection of Glasgow Rangers beating Leeds 4-2 on aggregate in the Champions League 15 years ago. Leeds were then Champions of England, Rangers their Scottish counterparts and they were drawn together in what was described as "the battle of Britain" And to the young Duffy, an avid Rangers fan it created memories that he has not forgotten. And now, 15 years on, he has the chance to emulate his Ibrox heroes when he appears at Elland Road on Saturday for a League One game with the Swans. It’s a been a sharp drop from Leeds who were Champions League semi finalists just 5 years ago but now find themselves at the wrong end of League One having started the season with a 15 point disadvantage. And Duffy and his team mates will be out to stop them recording a record 7th victory at the start of a league campaign that would cut the gap between the two sides to just four points. Speaking ahead of the game, Duffy said "This is our biggest game of the season, without a doubt "There’s a lot of talk and expectation surrounding Leeds but the Swansea fans are expecting big things from us, and we know that we’re one of the clubs being tipped to go up. "Swansea opened their new stadium a couple of years ago, and the potential down here is massive. We’ve got a strong squad and an excellent manager, and I think there’s a feeling that we’ve maybe outgrown this division. "That doesn’t mean that we’ll get promotion this season, but it means we should be aiming for it. Leeds are in the same boat and they’re serious contenders now, if not favourites to win the league. Saturday is a massive game between two ambitious clubs. "Elland Road’s a fantastic stadium, and it’s actually strange to think that I’m going there in League One. I’m a Rangers fan, and one of my favourite memories as a boy was the ‘Battle of Britain’ in the Champions League. They were special games – the sort of games that come around once in a blue moon – and I enjoyed them so much that I went out and bought the double video afterwards. "I’ve lost it now, but I can remember the best moments – Gary McAllister’s goal at Ibrox, and Ally McCoist’s diving header at Elland Road. "It was a surprise to me to see Leeds fall into the Championship, and dropping down to this level was completely unthinkable. But their form is unbelievable at the moment, and we’ll need a top-class performance to win there. "It’s a very big season for us, and we know what we’re aiming for. "Our results have been a little bit mixed so far, but our performances have been excellent. We’re playing some really nice stuff and we’ve set quite high standards for the rest of the season. The fans will expect more of the same, so it’s a bit of a rod for our own backs. "The margin for error in this league seems pretty small. We were down in mid-table a couple of weeks back, but two victories have lifted us up to fourth. It’s going to be very competitive and Leeds are proof of that. Their 15-point deduction seemed like a big problem at the time, but they’ve gone through it so quickly. "Six wins on the bounce is superb form and they deserve all the praise they’re getting. I think a lot of people have got one eye on them." What are your thoughts? Share your views on the Message Board |
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