TOMORROW MARKS A SPECIAL anniversary for Cumbrian football fans. It is thirty years since Carlisle United beat Tottenham Hotspur and so were perched top of the old first division after promotion. On the same Saturday, Leeds United, the English champions, finally eked out a victory, over Birmingham City, after two alarming defeats inflicted by Stoke City and Queen’s Park Rangers.

Of course, supporters of Leeds and Nottingham Forest do not need a history lesson to know that time flies with almost cruel intent. The past, though, remains an impertinent reminder of how dramatically times have changed and how the game is unlikely to witness the likes of a Brian Clough again.

Clough was manager of Leeds three decades ago before being shown the door with indecent haste, just 44 days after succeeding Don Revie. Clough’s departure ultimately saw him move on to Forest with whom he overachieved like no other manager in domestic football. He also secured a record sequence of 42 games unbeaten, one which has been highlighted this weekend by Arsenal’s efforts to try to equal it.

For Kevin Blackwell, the Leeds manager, 42 is also a significant figure. It represents the days, two fewer than Clough’s tenure, in which he has fashioned a squad from the ashes of the club’s summer fire sale. Considering the time-scale, he may feel pleased with himself although on the evidence of this game, there is still much more work to be accomplished.

“Six weeks ago I had two names on the team sheet: (Gary) Kelly and (Michael) Duberry,” Blackwell said. “But three months ago, the club had no money. It was as close to going out of business as any club has been. Our debt was twice the debt of any club that is struggling now. We certainly haven’t done things by half.”

Blackwell was not bemoaning his fate. He insists he wants to enhance his squad, but only with good players. “Elland Road is a cauldron and I have to sign players who can handle that,” he said. “If I could find a 20-goal-a-season man, I probably couldn’t afford him anyway. Until we can address our financial situation fully, we just have to keep ploughing on.”

The visit of Huddersfield Town in the Carling Cup tomorrow and a return to Bramall Lane for Blackwell, where he was the Sheffield United assistant manager, on Sunday should focus the mind and, depending on the outcomes, expedite possible transfer activity. There has been precious movement on that front by Forest this summer with Neil Doughty, the chairman, intent on keeping his hand in his pocket and Andy Reid at the City Ground.

Reid, the Ireland player who has requested a move, demonstrated the solitary guile amid this sterile contest. He kept his nerve to level from the penalty spot in the 78th minute when Steve Guppy clumsily clobbered Paul Evans and might have created the winner with a tad more composure late on. It was Guppy’s final act of the match, the former Leicester City and Celtic winger having already headed Leeds in front in the first half.

An offer of £3 million plus a player has already been tabled for Reid by Tottenham and Charlton Athletic are also interested in the left-footed midfield player. In a game of brinkmanship, however, Doughty is demanding £5 million for the Irishman, a valuation for a player without Premiership experience that is clearly discouraging potential suitors.

It may be a frustrating period for Joe Kinnear, the Forest manager who guided the club out of the relegation equation last season. At least four draws have ensured an unbeaten start to this one. In all it is 12 games since he suffered defeat. Another 30 and Doughty might be tempted to invest in some new blood.