Eric Cantona may have only played 15 times and scored three goals during Leeds United's run to the Division One title in 1992, but he was seen as an instrumental figure in their success.
The following season, with the top flight now rebranded the Premier League, while Leeds's defence of the title stuttered, Cantona's positive form continued.
He scored a hat-trick at Wembley as Liverpool were defeated 4-3 in the Charity Shield and then, 22 years ago today, the mercurial Frenchman would become the first player to ever find the back of the net on three occasions in the Premier League era as Tottenham Hotspur were thrashed 5-0 at Elland Road.
In truth, the North Londoners had caught the champions on the wrong night. Leeds were scalded from their 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough last time out (Cantona scored in that game as well) and from the first whistle three days later, they set about taking their frustrations out on Spurs.
A mistake from visiting goalkeeper Eric Thorstvedt presented Rod Wallace with the chance to open the scoring in the first half, which he duly converted. After that, the remainder of the half belonged to Cantona.
His first goal of the night came after he had collected a poor clearance from Justin Edinburgh, before he powered the ball into the net. Then, the centre-forward headed in David Batty's cross to make it 3-0 going into the break.
He would complete his hat-trick just one minute after the restart when Wallace's cross was headed back into the danger area by Lee Chapman for Cantona, who volleyed his shot beyond the reach of Thorstvedt.
Cantona would then turn provider for his side's fifth and final goal of the contest when he picked out his strike partner Chapman to score from close range in the 66th minute.
Speaking after the final whistle, defeated manager Doug Livermore told reporters: "Leeds taught us a lesson in everything they did. After their defeat on Saturday, we caught them on a bad night."
LEEDS: Lukic; Fairclough, Whyte, Newsome, Dorigo; McAllister, Speed, Batty; Chapman, Wallace, Cantona
SPURS: Thorstvedt; Cundy, Austin, Ruddock, Edinburgh; Allen, Sedgley, Samways, Howells, Anderton; Durie
Liam Apicella
