1980 Wolves 1 Nottingham Forest 0
In a tweet:
Forest's quest for 3-in-a-row ended after a calamitous Shilton/Needham mix-up lets in Gray to score one of the easiest Wembley winners ever
Key man:
Jimmy Gordon. The 65-year-old Nottingham Forest trainer was chosen by Brian Clough to lead out the side, just reward for a man who had been there for his boss during the highs and lows of his managerial career.
MBM:
GOAL! Wolves 1-0 Nottingham Forest 0 (Gray 67')
Oh dear. Oh no. Any Forest fans, look away now. A through ball by Peter Daniel causes confusion between Needham and Shilton who end up colliding on the edge of the box, leaving Andy Gray with the simplest of tap-ins to give Wolves the lead. Who do you blame for that cock-up? For me, Shilton should have stayed at home, but I suppose if there was any doubt then Needham should have launched the ball into the terraces. Wolves fans will not care either way.
What they said:
"I blame myself entirely. I shouted for the ball but, in the roar of the crowd, David did not hear me and Gray was left on his own". Peter Shilton's assessment of the goal that won the cup for Wolves.
Facts:
By winning the 1980 League Cup, Wolves' skipper Emlyn Hughes completed his collection of domestic honours. Four days later, Forest brushed themselves down and won 3-1 at Dynamo Berlin (winning the quarter final 3-2 on aggregate) on their way to retaining the European Cup.
Number one:
Together We Are Beautiful - Fern Kinney
1981 Liverpool 1 West Ham 1 (aet) Replay Liverpool 2 West Ham 1
In a tweet:
Liverpool's class eventually tells in a replay at Villa Park, as a brave effort by 2nd Div West Ham falls just short.
Key man:
Referee Clive Thomas. Never one to shrink into the background, Thomas over ruled his linesman who had flagged Sammy Lee offside, to allow Alan Kennedy's 117th minute strike to stand in the first match. West Ham's players were furious, even Trevor Brooking picking up a booking in the aftermath.
MBM:
GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 West Ham (Kennedy 117)
It may have taken nearly two hours, but we now have talking points galore at Wembley. After some pinball in the West Ham area and a poor Alvin Martin clearance, Alan Kennedy thumps in a right-footed effort from the edge of the box and wheels away in delight. The only issue is that Sammy Lee was laying in an offside position when Kennedy shot, the linesman apparently flagging only to be over ruled by Clive Thomas. West Ham are understandably a little bit peeved it has to be said, and I possibly wouldn't take a stroll down Green Street later tonight if I was Mr Thomas.
What they said:
"I didn't call him (Thomas) a cheat. There were two club officials present when all this happened. It's not my style to get involved in this sort of thing. I was never even booked as a player, let alone a manager. But I apologise if I have upset Clive or anyone else". John Lyall reacts strongly to Thomas' accusation that the West Ham manager had called him a cheat after Kennedy's controversial goal.
Fact:
This was Liverpool's first League Cup win, a competition that they would go on to dominate in the early part of the 1980s.
Number one:
Jealous Guy - Roxy Music (first match)
This Ole House - Shakin' Stevens (replay)
1982 Liverpool 3 Tottenham 1 (aet)
In a tweet:
A late Whelan equaliser takes the match into extra-time where there is only one winner; Spurs' marathon season begins to catch up with them.
Key man:
Ronnie Whelan. The young Irishman had only been too Wembley once before - watching his team mates draw with West Ham in the previous final - but putting pre-match nerves aside, Whelan's display on the day is masterful, his two goals crowning a fine afternoon.
MBM:
GOAL! Tottenham 1-1 Liverpool (Whelan 87)
Never write off Liverpool! Seemingly down and out with their grip on the League Cup loosening, somehow they have found a response. After an Ian Rush break, Tottenham appear to have dealt with the threat, yet a David Johnson cross from the right is swept in by 20-year-old Ronnie Whelan, and extra time is now looming. Whelan immediately runs off, bouncing up and down like a joyful rabbit in spring time. Tottenham must be feeling like a physical and emotional wreck after that hammer blow.
What they said:
"Whelan's goals, one three minutes from the end of normal time and another in the second period of extra-time, demolished Tottenham's dream of a four-trophy grand slam. Wembley has been the scene of many pulsating occasions. And this one can be ranked alongside the best. It put heavy demands on the hearts and minds and bodies of those taking part". James Mossop in the Sunday Times.
Fact:
This was the first final to be sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board.
Number one:
The Lion Sleeps Tonight - Tight Fit
1983 Liverpool 2 Man Utd 1 (aet)
In a tweet:
Liverpool make it 3-in-a-row, needing ET again to see off their Mancunian rivals. Injuries + a controversial Courtney decision hit Utd hard.
Key man:
George Courtney's decision to book Bruce Grobbelaar after his wild lunge on Gordon McQueen brought heavy criticism in the papers, many feeling that the referee should have sent the keeper off for a professional foul. It may not have been in the league of Willie Young on Paul Allen in the 1980 FA Cup final - Courtney had officiated during that match too, but the professional foul rule was not in place back then - yet in the climate of the time, Courtney's actions were lambasted.
MBM:
GOAL! Manchester United 1-2 Liverpool (Whelan 98)
It has been coming. United are simply out on their feet, the injuries to Moran and McQueen finally taking their toll (not to mention the absence of their Captain Marvel). After makeshift defender Frank Stapleton blocks an attempted pass by Ronnie Whelan on the edge of the box, the hero of last year bends a curling effort round his international team mate and past a sprawling Gary Bailey, to surely win the cup for Liverpool. It's tough on United, but a goal worthy of winning any final.
What they said:
"Lou Macari was having a try to do a George Cohen at right-back and Frank Stapleton went into defence to play like Charlie Hurley". Manager Ron Atkinson bemoans Manchester United's injuries on the day that saw Kevin Moran limp off with an ankle strain and Gordon McQueen having to hang around up front after pulling a hamstring.
Facts:
This was the second season in a row that Liverpool would win the League and League Cup double (they would repeat this in 1984), the retiring Bob Paisley sent up the Wembley steps by Graeme Souness to collect the trophy.
Number one:
Is There Something I Should Know - Duran Duran
1984 Liverpool 0 Everton 0 (aet) Replay Liverpool 1 Everton 0
In a tweet:
Hansen's sleight of hand earns Liverpool a second bite at the cherry. A Souness thunderbolt makes it 4-in-a-row + slows the Everton revival.
Key man:
Graeme Souness. His replay thunderbolt would eventually separate the sides, the Daily Express' Steve Curry stating that Liverpool's skipper "raised his game like a commander taking charge in the heat of battle".
MBM:
7 mins Liverpool and Alan Hansen appear to have got away with one here. Adrian Heath manages to beat Bruce Grobbelaar to a loose ball on the edge of the area, one that the Liverpool keeper should really have claimed, and whilst on the floor, the diminutive striker scoops a shot towards goal. Alan Hansen has spotted the danger and is able to block the effort, but in doing so the ball appears to strike his hand.
How is that not a penalty? Everton fans who have barely had time to get over Bryan Hamilton's disallowed goal in the last minute of the 1977 FA Cup semi may well spontaneously combust come the end of the match if Liverpool keep the trophy.
What they said:
"I felt sorry for Everton but the last two clubs we have beaten in the Milk Cup, Spurs and Manchester United, have gone on to win the FA Cup in the same season". Liverpool manager Joe Fagan after the replay win at Maine Road. Everton would indeed follow the lead of both and go on to end their 14-year trophy drought.
Facts:
Liverpool's third Milk Cup victory meant that they kept the Milk Cup. The two matches were contested in front of 152,089 supporters, with gate receipts reaching £920,000. This was the first League Cup final to be shown live on television.
Number one:
Hello - Lionel Richie
1985 Norwich 1 Sunderland 0
In a tweet:
Chisholm's chest the difference as Sunderland pay the penalty for Walker's missed spot kick.
Key man:
Clive Walker. The man who had scored goals in the previous three rounds - including a fourth round replay win over Tottenham, and the semi-final against Chelsea - fluffed Sunderland's best chance from the penalty spot, after Dennis van Wijk had been penalised for handball.
MBM:
GOAL! Norwich 1-0 Sunderland (Chisholm o.g. 46)
What has David Corner done here? Attempting to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick, Corner is pick pocketed by John Deehan on the by-line. The ball comes back to Asa Hartford, who sees his side footed effort deflected into the net via Gordon Chisholm's chest. The Norwich players are delighted; the Sunderland defenders conversely look shocked at the catalogue of errors that led to that goal.
What they said:
"And now I believe I can turn a little club like Norwich into a big one, just like Brian Clough did at Nottingham Forest, Bobby Robson at Ipswich and Lawrie McMenemy at Southampton". Norwich manager Ken Brown had big plans for the club, yet by May he was having to revise those a little.
Facts:
Both clubs would be relegated from the top flight come the end of the season. Norwich did not even have the consolation of playing in Europe during 1985/86 after events at Heysel saw English clubs banned from playing on the Continent.
Number one:
Easy Lover - Philip Bailey and Phil Collins
1986 Oxford 3 QPR 0
In a tweet:
Oxford upset the odds with a Trevor Hebberd inspired display easing them to a win over a woeful QPR. A penny for Jim Smith's thoughts.
Key man:
Trevor Hebberd. The man who played in every round of the 1978-79 competition but was then left out of Southampton's final line-up finally made up for his disappointment, running QPR ragged as Oxford ran out easy winners.
MBM:
GOAL! Oxford 3-0 QPR (Charles 87)
Game, set and match. John Aldridge breaks down the right and exchanges passes with man of the match Trevor Hebberd before unleashing a shot from 18 yards out. In truth Barron should have done better with Aldridge's attempt, only parrying the ball into the path of a grateful Charles, who can't miss from inside the six yard box. That rounds off a marvellous day for a club that two years ago was playing in the third division, and completes the misery for Jim Smith and his men.
What they said:
"We were diabolical. We just froze - we were frightened of the occasion". Jim Smith gives an honest assessment of QPR's performance at Wembley.
Facts:
Oxford manager Maurice Evans sent up 72-year-old trainer Ken Fish to collect his winners medal. Oxford would go on to avoid the drop from the first division, beating Arsenal 3-0 on the last day of the season to send Ipswich down.
Number one:
A Different Corner - George Michael
1987 Arsenal 2 Liverpool 1
In a tweet:
It's Champagne Charlie's day at Wembley, as another case of one-nil down two-one up for Arsenal mucks Rush's record up.
Key man:
Charlie Nicholas. The forward may not have fully justified the hype that had surrounded his arrival from Celtic in 1983, but on that glorious sunny April day in 1987 he was Arsenal's hero.
MBM:
GOAL! Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal (Nicholas 83)
Perry Groves may not be the greatest player to have ever worn an Arsenal shirt, but he has just played a massive part in possibly ending the club's eight year trophy drought. After receiving a pass down the left from Kenny Sansom, Groves skins Gary Gillespie before cutting the ball back to Charlie Nicholas. In all honesty, Nicholas' side footed effort is pretty tame, but a deflection off of Ronnie Whelan sends the ball past the wrong footed Grobbelaar, and George Graham punches the air in delight. I think I may have also spotted Bob Wilson celebrating to the side of the goal as the ball hit the net. So much for BBC impartiality, although we can probably forgive him in the circumstances.
What they said:
"Arsenal manager George Graham will have to come up with a king's ransom to make Bonnie Prince Charlie stay at Highbury after his startling two-goal winning performance". The Daily Mirror's Harry Harris discusses Charlie Nicholas' ongoing contract negotiations with the club, hinting that Arsenal's match winner may well be on his way to Liverpool. Nicholas' days were numbered though, and next January he was sold to Aberdeen.
Facts:
This was the first final to be sponsored by Littlewoods. For the first time Liverpool lost when Ian Rush scored, a run that had lasted 144 matches before Arsenal's victory (Norwich would repeat the feat a week later).
Number one:
Let It Be - Ferry Aid
1988 Luton Town 3 Arsenal 2
In a tweet:
Luton shock the holders as Arsenal are left to rue missed chances. Dibble saves from the spot, Caesar is toppled, Stein nets last min winner
Key man:
Gus Caesar. Maybe unfairly blamed for Arsenal's defeat - Martin Hayes missing from a yard and Nigel Winterburn failing from the spot could also shoulder some responsibility - the Arsenal defender will be forever remembered for his Littlewoods Cup final display.
Described by Nick Hornby in Fever Pitch as "looking like somebody off the street who has won a competition to appear as a centre-half in a Wembley final", I still believe to this day that he was actually fouled in the lead-up to Danny Wilson's equaliser.
MBM:
79 mins PENALTY MISSED!
Andy Dibble has kept Luton's hopes alive, saving a penalty from Nigel Winterburn - a strange choice surely for a spot kick - and preventing another Simod Cup type disaster. The penalty was not particularly well struck, and someone as left footed as Winterburn always looked likely to put it to the keeper's left, but Dibble predicted/guessed correctly, and the man who wasn't even sure of his Cup final place until yesterday has at least maintained the suspense for a little longer.
What they said:
"Luton Town, the little club that plays on a wall-to-wall carpet and refuses to accommodate visiting supporters, yesterday won the Littlewoods Cup in a match as unpredictably dramatic as the FA Cup Final of 1979". The Times' Stuart Jones highlights the frenetic ending to the match.
Fact:
Luton won their first major honour in their 102-year history, a month after losing the Simod Cup final 4-1 to Reading.
Number one:
Theme From S'Express - S'Express
1989 Nottingham Forest 3 Luton Town 1
In a tweet:
Clough's nine-year wait for a major trophy ends after Forest's second half comeback loosens Luton's grip on the Littlewoods Cup.
Key man:
Nigel Clough. Scorer of two goals, Clough was voted man of the match, although Neil Webb was probably not far behind. Webb's display was one of many impressive performances during the season, and in the summer he was on his way to Manchester United for £1.5 million.
MBM:
GOAL! Nottingham Forest 1-1 Luton (Clough pen 55)
Les Sealey has just made an error of judgement that could have changed the course of this final. Neil Webb played a sublime through ball to Steve Hodge, but the England midfielder was being tracked by Steve Foster. Sealey decided to charge off his line, however, and clearly fouled Hodge as the ball was knocked past him.
Nigel Clough calmly steps up and rolls the ball into the same corner of the same goal that Nigel Winterburn put his penalty last year. Where is Andy Dibble when you need him?
What they said:
"Nigel Clough yesterday served his famous father with the only thing that could compensate for missing his favourite Sunday roast - the Littlewoods Cup". The Daily Express' Steve Curry is one of many journalists to reference the father-son relationship between the manager and two-goal hero.
Fact:
Luton's defeat was their first loss in the League Cup since October 1985. They were excluded from the 1986-87 competition due to their ban on away fans attending Kenilworth Road, and won the cup the following season.
Number one:
Like A Prayer - Madonna
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