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The Ultimate Fantasy FA Cup Competition Welcome to the Football England Fantasy FA Cup competition. This is a select invitational event. Football England have chosen 64 of the most famous football teams thoughout the history of the English game and invited them to pit their skills against each other in a fantasy FA Cup competition. The games are played under the laws of the game as they were when the home team was playing so home advantage could prove extremely important. Players can only play for one team but managers can take charge of more than one side. Brian Clough, for instance, has three teams in the competition. Can he finally grab that elusive FA Cup winners medal? The teams chosen to take part in this select event are: Preston North End (1888-89) Quarter Final Draw Manchester United (1967-68) v. Tottenham Hotspur (1961-62) Manchester United (1967-68) v. Tottenham Hotspur (1961-62) Man United: A.Stepney, S.Brennan, T.Dunne, P.Crerand, B.Foulkes, N.Stiles, G.Best, B.Charlton, D.Law, D.Sadler, J.Aston. sub: B.Kidd. Tottenham: B.Brown, P.Baker, R.Henry, D.Blanchflower, M.Norman, D.Mackay, T.Dyson, J.Greaves, B.Smith, J.White, C.Jones. sub: T.Marchi. att: 68,155 (6,974) This game was wide open from the first minute as Paddy Crerand swept the ball straight out to George Best on the right wing and he waltzed past Ron Henry to start an all out United attack. Dave Mackay came across with a fierce challenge on the Irishman but Best was able to ride this before cutting inside to fire a shot inches wide of the far post. John Aston then showed that he could take on Peter Baker and beat him down the other flank as well and it was Best on the end of his centre with a header that Bill Brown just about managed to scramble behind for a corner. Brown had to make another sharp save when Bobby Charlton sent in a low drive from 25 yards as the Spurs goal continued to come under fierce pressure. Spurs, on the other hand, were struggling to get any joy down the flanks in the early stages and despite the best efforts of Mackay and Danny Blanchflower it was difficult to make headway down the centre of the pitch as Crerand, David Sadler and Nobby Stiles covered with enthusiastic zeal. Blanchflower managed to chip one precise pass over Bill Foulkes onto the head of Bobby Smith but there was no real pace on the ball and Alex Stepney had a comfortable save from the header. When John White was able to glide away from Sadler to float an inviting ball to the far post there was greater danger but despite the fact that Smith and Cliff Jones both flung themselves at the ball along with Stepney and a couple of defenders nobody actually managed to get a touch and the ball drifted just wide of the upright. United were not on the back foot for long. Crerand slid a beautifully weighted ball through for Denis Law who looked a certain scorer with his true low shot but again the ball was marginally off target. Then Charlton rose prodigiously to meet a cross from Best but Brown was equal to the header. Little had been seen of the mercurial Jimmy Greaves and when Blanchflower tried to bring him into the game Stiles went barging in with a challenge that gained him the ball and left his opponent flat out on the turf. The referee allowed play to continue and when Stiles sent the ball forward to Law his first time flick sent Best racing away from Mackay and swerving beyond Brown to roll United into a deserved lead. United, roared on by the vast crowd, roared forward. Charlton thudded a header against the bar from Aston's corner and then saw Brown fling himself to his right to tip away one of his specials from 35 yards. It was becoming a personal mission with Charlton to add his name to the scoresheet and just past the half hour he did so. Receiving the ball in midfield the hotshot decided he should get a little closer to goal before unleashing his next missile and the theory was a sound one. Having exchanged passes with Law he took the ball to the edge of the area before ripping a right footed drive high into the roof of the net with Brown motionless. This was not the first time Spurs had found themselves trailing in this competition but on this occasion they looked in danger of being swamped. Best danced his way into the box again before shooting weakly at Brown and Law was inches away with a glancing header from the Irishman's centre. Action was required from the visitors and Dave Mackay was the type of man to provide it. A couple of forthright challenges stopped Law and Best in their tracks when United tried to come forward again but something was needed further up the pitch to inspire his team. Another pass went in the direction of Greaves but Stiles was there again to snap the ball away from him. United's guard dog only dwelt on the ball for a second to weigh up his options but this delay was long enough. Mackay appeared like a tank to level Stiles completely and suddenly he was leading a Spurs attack. Mackay ignored the run of Smith to play in Jones, cutting in from the left, and his rising drive forced a flying save out of Stepney. When the corner came across United's keeper got no distance on his punch under pressure from Smith and when White knocked the ball back into the goalmouth Greaves flicked out an instinctive boot to deflect the ball past a cluster of defenders into the net. The last few minutes of the half passed without incident but the atmosphere inside Old Trafford had clearly changed with a certain apprehension replacing the earlier euphoric confidence. Were Spurs going to engineer another thrilling comeback? Half Time: Man United 2 Tottenham 1
Newcastle United (1954-55) v. Nottingham Forest (1978-79) Newcastle: R.Simpson, B.Cowell, A.McMichael, J.Scoular, B.Stokoe, T.Casey, L.White, I.Broadis, J.Milburn, G.Hannah, B.Mitchell. Notts For: P.Shilton, V.Anderson, F.Clark, I.Bowyer, L.Lloyd, K.Burns, M.O'Neill, A.Gemmill, T.Francis, T.Woodcock, J.Robertson. att: 63,895 (4,881) Ipswich Town (1980-81) v. Chester City (1985-86) Ipswich: P.Cooper, G.Burley, M.Mills, F.Thijssen, K.Beattie, T.Butcher, J.Wark, A.Muhren, P.Mariner, A.Brazil, E.Gates. sub: S.McCall. Chester: J.Butcher, D.Glenn, M.Lane, A.Holden, B.Coy, G.Abel, J.Kelly, M.Graham, S.Rimmer, M.Speight, D.Murray. sub: P.Houghton. att: 32,000 (4,000) Wolverhampton Wanderers (1953-54) v. Everton (1969-70) Wolves: B.Williams, E.Stuart, B.Shorthouse, B.Slater, B.Wright, E.Clamp, J.Hancocks, P.Broadbent, R.Swinbourne, D.Wilshaw, J.Mullen. Everton: G.West, T.Wright, K.Newton, C.Harvey, B.Labone, H.Kendall, A.Ball, J.Husband, J.Royle, J.Hurst, J.Morrissey. att: 57,366 (8,067)
5th Round replay Everton (1969-70) v. Blackpool (1952-53) Everton: G.West, T.Wright, B.Labone, J.Hurst, K.Newton, A.Ball, H.Kendall, C.Harvey, J.Husband, J.Royle, J.Morrissey. sub: T.Jackson. Blackpool: G.Farm, E.Shimwell, H.Johnston, T.Garrett, E.Fenton, H.Kelly, S.Matthews, E.Taylor, S.Mortensen, J.Mudie, B.Perry. sub: A.Brown. att: 54,804 (3,991) This 5th round replay was the first time Blackpool had played away from Bloomfield Road in the competition so nobody could guess how they would adapt to playing in the future. There was no doubt that Everton would be keen to test the visitors early to see if they had acclimatised. From the kick off Howard Kendall pushed the ball forward to Alan Ball who sidestepped Jackie Mudie and pushed a quick ball out to Jimmy Husband. Husband feinted to go outside his full back before nipping inside Tommy Garrett and there was immediately a huge gap for the winger to run into. Harry Johnston was unsure whether to move across and challenge or stay with his man, Joe Royle, in the middle. Johnston finally decided to go to Husband but was too late. The winger darted clear into the box before drilling a low shot past George Farm to give Everton the lead inside twenty seconds. When Stanley Mortensen tapped the resulting kick off to Ernie Taylor it was the first time a Blackpool player had touched it and before many other people in tangerine had managed one Everton were pressing again. This time Husband did go on the outside to beat Garrett and Johnston was inches away from an own goal as he headed the centre behind for a corner at the near post. Johnny Morrissey went across to whip in a fast inswinger which Farm and Royle leapt for but both missed and when the ball dipped at the far post the diminutive Ball was standing unmarked to head home from five yards out. Two goals down inside three minutes Blackpool badly needed a response but looked incapable of finding one. Ernie Taylor, their main schemer, was being outplayed by the Everton trio of Harvey, Kendall and Ball and consequently Stan Matthews was being starved of possession. Stanley Mortensen remained a willing runner but nobody was able to provide him with any sort of a decent pass. Everton continued to purr and moved forward consistently with measured passing movements and the odd rapid burst from either Husband or Morrissey. Kendall drove just wide from the edge of the box while Royle headed narrowly over the bar from Husband's centre and Farm had to save smartly from Ball, Royle and Morrissey. On 25 minutes Mortensen sent in Blackpool's first worthwhile effort but his stinging drive from 30 yards flashed just past the base of the upright with Gordon West struggling to get across in time. The home side remained in almost total control, however, and John Hurst was desperately unlucky when his towering downward header from Husband's corner rebounded out from the foot of the post. Blackpool were also fortunate when a shot from Ball took a wicked deflection off Ewan Fenton and bounced just wide of the post with Farm completely wrong footed. The Blackpool keeper then caught Royle's weak header comfortably after a clever chip forward by Kendall had taken Johnston out of the game. The pressure had been almost constant but was building to a real crescendo as half time approached. Royle stabbed wide from close range and Husband drilled a cross shot just past the far post cutting in from the right. Then Blackpool somehow survived a huge goalmouth scramble after Farm had dropped Morrissey's corner and both Ball and Royle saw shots blocked on the line before Eddie Shimwell finally booted clear. Three minutes from the interval, however, the pressure told. Kendall strode forward to exchange passes with Husband before lifting his shot beyond the advancing Farm from just inside the area. With Blackpool looking totally dispirited Everton mounted one final attack and when Royle nodded down Tommy Wright's centre Ball was arriving on cue to smack a fierce volley beyond Farm from 20 yards out. A packed Goodison Park rose to acclaim a magnificent first half display from the home team. Half Time: Everton 4 Blackpool 0 Blackpool spent the first few minutes of the second half trying to mount some pressure of their own but were getting nowhere and when Hurst punted a ball out of defence Hugh Kelly and Johnston got themselves into an almighty tangle to leave Royle through on goal. Royle looked to be trying to round Farm but then shot from the angle and the goalkeeper was down in a flash to save. This incident seemed to harden the visitors' resolve and perhaps instill some confidence and their next attack was their most coherent so far. Taylor sidestepped Harvey before feeding Mortensen and moving on for a return which was duly delivered. Taylor looked ready to shoot from the edge of the box but as defenders moved to cover he slipped a clever ball through to Jackie Mudie who was better placed and in space. To the massive frustration of the Blackpool contingent his shot was off target at West's near post, however. Matthews tricked Keith Newton for just about the first time all night but his centre was too high for everyone and when Bill Perry drove in a low cross from the other flank the lunging Mortensen missed it by a shoe size. Then West had to make his first real save of the match when Taylor chipped in a shot from the edge of the box which the keeper only just clawed out as he backpeddled smartly. Everton still had their moments and Farm produced a wonderful save high up to his right when Royle met a fine Morrissey centre squarely with his forehead. At the other end Hurst slipped to leave Mortensen in space but Brian Labone covered superbly to snuff out the danger and the England defender also headed out from underneath his own bar when Fenton moved forward to beat West to a teasing Matthews centre. For all their second half improvement Blackpool remained four goals down and now there was little over 20 minutes to go. Suddenly it was the home side attacking again as Kendall intercepted a pass forward and instantly sent Morrissey racing into the Blackpool half. The winger breezed away from Fenton before squaring to Royle on the penalty spot. Johnston lunged desperately as the striker shaped to pull the trigger and Royle went crashing to the ground. Without a moments hesitation the referee ran forward pointing to the spot and Everton had a penalty. Alan Ball stepped up to hit a crisp shot low to Farm's left but the keeper was down in an instant to parry the ball to safety. The dust had barely settled on that incident when a long ball forward by Garrett skidded under Hurst's foot and this time Mortensen was away before Labone could blink. Having raced to the edge of the box the dynamic forward smashed in a rising drive that West might have smelt but never saw. 4-1. Two minutes later Matthews sauntered away from Newton and, unusually, cut inside. Having sidestepped Kendall and entered the box the winger then went down as he looked to go past Hurst. Again the referee had no qualms about pointing to the spot and Mortensen stepped forward to smash a ferocious drive into the roof of the net with the spectators behind the goal ducking for cover. West neither smelt nor saw that one. 4-2 and game on? A suddenly frantic Ball brought Taylor down just outside the area but this time Mortensen's drive was too high and the fans had to take real evasive action. Then Johnston came up for a corner and met Matthews' centre firmly but West was able to tip the ball over the top. Finally Matthews came infield again to try his luck with a curling shot but the effort was wide of the far post. With four minutes to go Matthews set off on a mazy dribble that took him beyond Harvey and Newton for a centre which evaded the lunging Mortensen and Labone only to bounce beyond West at the far post off an unsupecting Tommy Wright. 4-3. There was a mixture of disbelief and panic around the terraces now with the band of Tangerine clad supporters finally making themselves heard. Johnston pumped the ball forward towards Mortensen but this was meat and drink to Labone who headed away and suddenly the Everton midfield clicked into gear again. Harvey passed to Kendall who passed to Ball who slipped it back to Harvey and when he rolled a pass forward to Kendall he stepped over it and Ball was running clear in the middle of the Blackpool half. Johnston made his decision early this time and moved in to challenge but this simply allowed Ball to knock the ball through to Royle who was clean through on goal. This time the striker took the ball forward a couple of steps before lashing a low drive beyond Farm for the killer goal. In the last minute Morrissey hammered in an angled drive that had the crossbar shaking but the scoring was now finished and, despite Blackpool's unlikely fightback, Everton had a deserved place in the quarter finals and another trip back to the 1950's to take on Wolves. Full Time: Everton 5 Blackpool 3 5th Round Leeds United (1971-72) v Newcastle United (1954-55) Leeds: G.Sprake, P.Reaney, J.Charlton, N.Hunter, T.Cooper, P.Lorimer, B.Bremner, J.Giles, E.Gray, A.Clarke, M.Jones. sub: P.Madeley. Newcastle: R.Simpson, B.Cowell, B.Stokoe, A.McMichael, J.Scoular, T.Casey, L.White, J.Milburn, V.Keeble, G.Hannah, B.Mitchell. sub: I.Broadis. att: 47,968 (11,212) This was just the kind of cup away day the 1950's vintage Geordies lived for. The special train booked to ferry most of their supporters to Leeds was so long that when it pulled into the platform at its' destination 34 carriages had still not cleared the boundary of Newcastle. It was a long walk down the train for the fans in these back carriages and despite a delayed kick off many thousands of black and white clad spectators found that the gates of Elland Road were locked by the time they arrived at the ground. Most of them were too drunk to bother by this time and at least they had the consolation of claiming the best seats for the journey home. Leeds, having rested several players in the previous round, were now back to full strength and obviously anticipating a real test from their opponents. The home side controlled the early stages, however, with some measured passing that kept the ball away from the eager visitors without presenting too much of a threat on their goal. Johnny Giles and Billy Bremner were the men in charge as Leeds switched play from side to side in some style. Peter Lorimer flashed a drive wide from 25 yards and Mick Jones sent a header wide from Eddie Gray's cross but Ronnie Simpson was not called into action until the 12th minute when Bremner's low drive from the edge of the area gave him a routine save. Newcastle finally threatened when Jackie Milburn seized on a loose ball and tore past his nephew Jackie Charlton to fire in a shot that rose just too high and cleared Gary Sprake's crossbar with the keeper flapping. This seemed to give Leeds a wake up call and their play became more incisive. Bremner played in Allan Clarke who rode Bob Stokoe's challenge before skidding a low drive just wide and Simpson was at full stretch to keep out another header from Jones. When Stokoe upended Clarke almost 30 yards from goal Lorimer left the crossbar shaking with his ferocious free kick. Bobby Cowell was the next Newcastle defender forced to bring his man down as Gray cut inside dangerously and this time Giles stepped forward to take the free kick and his curling effort went just the wrong side of the post with Simpson standing watching. Milburn made another burst but saw his shot blocked after once again skinning his lanky relation but this was an isolated interruption to the Leeds pressure. Simpson reacted superbly to tip a close range effort from Clarke over and then managed to get his body in the way of another Lorimer piledriver. Jackie Charlton came forward to make a nuisance of himself at a corner which resulted in a terrific scrammble in which two goalbound efforts were blocked by flailing Newcastle limbs. The pressure had to tell and on 35 minutes Leeds took the lead. Giles chipped a delightful ball over Stokoe and Clarke was onto it, checking back inside Jimmy Scoular before lashing a rising shot beyond Simpson for the opening goal. The goal did nothing to dampen the home sides' attacking intentions. Lorimer sent a wicked low centre across the face of goal that Jones met at full stretch but could only glance wide and when Gray crossed from the other wing the Frank Spencer lookalike centre forward had a far clearer chance but again headed wide of the upright. Oooh Betty! Bremner was sent clear by a clever flick from Clarke but Simpson smothered at his feet as he attempted to go round the keeper and then the Newcastle custodian covered himself in glory with a brave double save to deny Clarke and Lorimer. The half time whistle brought an end to the siege and the visitors, and their subdued supporters, could feel mighty thankful that they were only one goal in arrears. Half Time: Leeds United 1 Newcastle United 0 It had almost looked as though the visitors had been hypnotised by the measured passing of the home side before half time and their performance had been muted in the extreme. Some choice words in the dressing room at the interval had obviously revived them and Scoular and Tommy Casey began the second half in determined mood. Challenges quickly began to fly in and while this did not unduly worry the home side it did break up the flow of their football and chances became fewer. Jones broke away from Stokoe on one occasion to flash a shot wide of the far post but in general Newcastle were keeping the home attack at a safe distance from Simpson who was now mainly employed in collecting a series of hopeful centres. Gradually the visitors began to force their way further up the pitch and by the hour mark Scoular and Casey could be seen in Leeds territory for the first time. This pair had now got a real taste for the action and they were a formidable pair when in the mood. Scoular dumped Bremner onto the seat of his shorts with one bulldozing challenge and when the fiery Scot next took possession Casey flattened him with an even more ferocious tackle. Suddenly the home side looked to be feeling the exertions of their 3rd round marathon with Liverpool. Norman Hunter slipped to allow Vic Keeble his first sight of goal but the shot was too high and then Paul Reaney was grateful for his express pace when he got back to clear a shot from George Hannah off the line after Sprake had got a hand to the ball but couldn't collect. The full back was beginning to have troubles of his own, however, as Bobby Mitchell warmed to his task on the left wing. The winger could not beat his man for pace but his elusive dribbling was confounding Reaney time and again. Suddenly it was Newcastle pouring forward and the Leeds goal under siege. Mitchell sent a low ball across the six yard box that evaded both Milburn and Sprake and when it reached Len White at the far post a goal looked certain but the winger shot feebly into the side netting. Then Keeble produced a weak header from another Mitchell centre and Sprake saved easily. Milburn belted a free kick just wide after being felled by his nephew and headed agonisingly wide from yet another Mitchell cross. Leeds had completely run out of steam and were now hanging on desperately as the visiting hoardes roared their team on from all quarters of Elland Road. Mitchell's next centre looked less dangerous but Sprake managed to completely misjudge the flight and suddenly the ball was loose and the goal vacant. Milburn launched himself at the loose ball but Hunter was able to block. When the ball ran free again, however, Hannah was on hand to slam home the equaliser. Just under twenty minutes remained and the intentions of both teams became clear as they made their substitutions. Newcastle brought on the scheming Ivor Broadis in place of Keeble and sent Milburn to play centre forward whereas Leeds withdrew their attacking spearhead Jones and brought on Paul Madeley to bolster the midfield. The move did nothing to wrest the initiative from the visitors as Broadis immediately began to spray passes around to keep the Leeds defence at full stretch. The speedy running of Milburn was also far more of a problem to Hunter and Charlton than Keeble's more physical approach. Reaney had to cover behind his centre halves to stop Milburn on one occasion and then Sprake got a hand on another effort and turned the ball onto the post. Broadis took time out from feeding others to drift away from Giles and slam in a shot that rebounded from the angle of post and bar as Newcastle continued to threaten a winner. Eddie Gray broke the siege with a solo dribble down the left wing but he was finally crowded out without support on the edge of the box and the visitors were quickly back on the attack. Scoular tried his luck from distance and the nervous Sprake needed two attempts to save properly and then Mitchell cut inside to rap in a cross shot that rebounded back across goal from the inside of the far post with Milburn lunging in unsuccessfully in an attempt to convert. Six minutes remained when Uncle Jack finally got the goal his performance warranted. Broadis slid a perfect ball down the side of Charlton and Milburn veered away from Hunter in one sweet movement before crashing a comprehensive drive past the floundering Sprake. Leeds desperately needed an instant response but this was beyond them. Their earlier trials had left them a spent force and Newcastle swarmed forward in an effort to put the game to bed. The goal was not long in coming. Milburn made a burst from the halfway line before feeding Mitchell who shimmied his way to the goalline before squaring a precise ball between a trio of desperately retreating defenders to present Milburn with the easiest of chances. Oh how the Blaydon Races chimed out into the early evening Leeds sky as almost 12,000 Geordies readied themselves for a long, drunken journey back to the 1950's with the prospect of a quarter final at home to Nottingham Forest to look forward to. Happy days. Full Time: Leeds United 1 Newcastle United 3 4th Round Leeds United (1971-72) v. Preston North End (1888-89) Leeds: G.Sprake, P.Madeley, J.Charlton, N.Hunter, T.Yorath, P.Lorimer, M.Bates, B.Bremner, E.Gray, J.Jordan, A.Clarke. sub: R.Belfitt. Preston: Dr R.Mills-Roberts, B.Howarth, D.Russell, B.Holmes, S.Robertson, J.Graham, J.Gordon, J.Ross, J.Goodall, F.Dewhurst, S.Thomson. sub: G.Drummond. att: 26,502 (2,660) This 4th round tie had been a long time coming with Leeds needing four games to dispose of Liverpool (1981-82) in the previous round. The Preston side of the previous century had made it to Elland Road in good time despite having been on a barge for what seemed like an eternity and having drunk their body weight in alcohol (mainly mild) several times over while waiting to find out who their opponents would be. Leeds probably didn't expect too much trouble from their long shorted opponents and had rested several players ahead of their potential 5th round tie which would have to be squeezed in before the quarter finals took place, not withstanding the possibility of another replay here. Perhaps Leeds were expecting an easy ride because there was a strange lethargy about their early play which encouraged the visitors and soon Preston were knocking the ball around Elland Road pretty much at their ease. Sandy Robertson soon made it clear that he would not allow Allan Clarke much room while his half back partner Johnny Graham set about linking neatly with his forwards. Several times the visitors eased their way forward from deep with clever, short passing moves and when Graham exchanged passes with Fred Dewhurst before playing in Jimmy Ross for a shot that scraped the crossbar on twenty minutes the home fans became audibly restless. "Get a grip on that number six will ya? He's runnin' the show!" bellowed one of the more astute home fans but the men in white were finding it difficult to obey orders. Terry Cooper was also finding life difficult against Jack Gordon who tricked his man before putting over a fine centre for John Goodall but his header flashed just wide of the upright. Next up it was Graham again at the heart of a sweeping Preston move and when he slipped the ball through Jack Charlton's legs Goodall was able to smash his shot past Gary Sprake from eighteen yards to give the visitors a well deserved lead. Eddie Gray centred for Joe Jordan to head goalwards but Dr Robert Mills-Roberts was well placed to field the effort and the half ended with Preston back on the attack. Sam Thomson belted a shot high and wide from a promising position and then Ross sent Gordon clean through on goal with a subtle flick. Sprake advanced but the wingers' shot beat him low down only to flash the wrong side of the post. With half time imminent it was an important reprieve for the home side. Half Time: Leeds United 0 Preston North End 1 After having watched his team slog through four gruelling games with Liverpool and then come out and give such an insipid display in the first half here there can be little doubt that Don Revie would have had some harsh words to say to his players during the interval. The first sign of a more purposeful effort from his team was the sudden sight of Jackie Charlton surging forward down the inside left channel to slide over a dangerous low ball that just clipped the studs of a lunging Joe Jordan as it flashed across the face of goal. Perhaps a more meaningful sign of intent came as Billy Bremner finally got in a telling challenge on Johnny Graham and came away to set up another Leeds attack. With Mick Bates also managing to get into the game for the first time the home side were suddenly calling the tune in midfield. Bremner offered Clarke a half chance and Mills-Roberts had to scramble across his line to save by the foot of his post and then Bates forced his way through two challenges inside the box but, off balance, could not get enough power on his shot to unduly trouble the Preston keeper. Jack Gordon still had the ability to trouble Terry Cooper, however, and when he made his way to the byeline and screwed the ball back into the path of Jimmy Ross the rising drive that followed looked a winner but the ball just flicked off Norman Hunter's head to clear the bar by a fraction. Hunter's next contribution was to ping a ball forward onto Jordan's head and his neat headed flick dropped invitingly for the onrushing Peter Lorimer who slammed in a fierce half volley from 25 yards. The ball was past Mills-Roberts in a flash and as the startled keeper turned his head to check for damage he was just in time to see the ball rebounding from the crossbar, thud into his left leg and bounce back into the net. Further inspired Leeds now went about their task with real gusto. Lorimer whipped over a centre that Jordan guided just the wrong side of the post and Bremner sent in a clever chip from outside the box that Mills-Roberts tipped onto the top of the bar at full stretch. From the corner Charlton soared for a header that smacked against the post before being hacked clear. For a while it looked as though the visitors had weathered the storm and after a spell of possession John Goodall burst away to hammer in a shot that Sprake could not hold but saw bounce wide of the post and behind for a corner. Then Graham fashioned another chance for Ross and this time the Welsh keepers' reactions were electric in getting down to save. After Eddie Gray had produced his one telling dribble which ended with a fierce, but wayward, cross shot Revie decided to withdraw his winger and send on an extra forward in the shape of Rod Belfitt and the move soon had Preston under increased pressure. Cooper got forward to cross and it was Clarke launching himself into a header that Mills-Roberts turned aside in nonchalant fashion. How agile the Preston custodian might be was debatable but there was no questioning his positional sense. Belfitt's first act was to produce a muscular turn and low shot which was goalbound before the intervention of the magnificent Graham, covering back behind his keeper. Ten minutes remained and the unwelcome prospect of another replay was looming large for Leeds. Jordan barged his way through to try and remove the necessity but having created the chance he then wasted it with a ballooned shot and Lorimer was also off target with a header from Cooper's deep cross. With the pressure now intense, however, a goal seemed increasingly likely and with five minutes left it duly arrived. Jordan and Clarke both saw efforts blocked in a goalmouth scrimmage but when the ball then fell for Bremner the Leeds' skipper made no mistake with a crisp low drive. Two minutes later Clarke thumped home an emphatic drive from Belfitt's inviting pass and the tie was done and dusted. This had been a good effort by the team from Victorian times but in the end they returned to their barge a tired and defeated side. They were consoled by the lavish helpings of fish and chips awaiting them on their vessel courtesy of match sponsors Harry Ramsden's and the several crates of beer compliments of some thoughtful contemporary Preston fans who had travelled over to watch the game. It would be a long time back into the past on the journey home before the North End party could afford to buy their own ale, even though they were the original professionals. As for Leeds, they had a few days to recover before playing hosts to the 1954-55 Newcastle United side for a place in the quarter finals. Full Time: Leeds United 3 Preston North End 1
5th Round Wolverhampton Wanderers (1953-54) v. Yeovil Town (1948-49) Wolves: B.Williams, E.Stuart, B.Wright, B.Shorthouse, B.Slater, R.Flowers, J.Hancocks, L.Smith, R.Swinbourne, D.Wilshaw, J.Mullen. Yeovil: S.Hall, A.Hickman, L.Blizzard, R.Davis, B.Keeton, N.Collins, B.Hamilton, A.Stock, E.Bryant, R.Wright, J.Hargreaves. att: 52,559 (2,604) It certainly looked as though the famous Wolves side of the 1950's was enjoying some considerable luck of the draw in this competition. Yeovil had also had their share in the two previous rounds but now travelled a little way into the future for a daunting test. Within minutes the Yeovil goal was under siege. Hancocks and Mullen were quickly in action raiding keenly down either flank and sending a torrent of service into the box. Stan Hall tipped over one header from Roy Swinbourne and then got down well to save a snapshot from the same player. Les Smith, given a start in place of Peter Broadbent, sidefooted wide from penalty spot range and Dennis Wilshaw saw a fierce effort flash wide in a storming opening. On eight minutes the pressure told on the non leaguers as Ron Flowers, also drafted into the side, strode forward to collect Wilshaw's knockdown and bury a low shot past Hall from the edge of the box. Four minutes later and Wilshaw was again the provider, slipping the ball through for Mullen who came racing in from the left to slam a comprehensive cross shot into the far corner. There looked no way back for Yeovil as the gold shirts continued to win every midfield challenge and give their side a complete monopoly on possession. Even Bill Sater was able to step forward almost at will and tested Hall with a drive from just outside the box. The goalkeeper was then grateful to Arthur Hickman for booting off the line to clear Swinbourne's goalbound header. Wilshaw saw another effort cannon back from the angle of post and bar before making no mistake when Flowers put him through the bedraggled defence. Apart from one determined run and shot from Jack Hargreaves which brought a routine save out of Bert Williams it was Wolves who continued to do all the attacking. Smith, Mullen and Swinbourne all went close to increasing the lead before the centre forward Swinbourne finally found the target twice in quick succession leading up to the interval. With half the game still to play there was no chance of a giant killing in this one whatsoever. Half Time: Wolverhampton Wanderers 5 Yeovil Town 0 The Wolves relaxed slightly after the break and to their credit Yeovil showed some decent passing moves when allowed a little more time and space. There would be no consolation goal, however, as Eric Bryant missed the target with his two big opportunities and Williams displayed his razor sharp reflexes to deny good efforts from Ray Wright and Alec Stock. At the other end when Wolves did venture forward they remained a real menace. Hall distinguished himself with flying saves to deny Flowers, Wilshaw and Mullen but was helpless as other efforts from Hancocks, Smith and Swinbourne, for his hat trick, flew past him. The visitors battled gamely to the last whistle and received the plaudits of the crowd but at no stage had they been able to make this game a real contest. Full Time: Wolverhampton Wanderers 8 Yeovil Town 0
Huddersfield Town (1924-25) v. Ipswich Town (1980-81) Huddersfield: T.Taylor, N.Barkas, T.Wilson, S.Wadsworth, R.Goodall, B.watson, T.Richardson, D.Steele, G.Brown, C.Stephenson, B.Smith. Ipswich: P.Cooper, M.Mills, R.Osman, T.Butcher, K.Beattie, F.Thijssen, J.Wark, A.Muhren, E.Gates, P.Mariner, A.Brazil. att: 60,501 (1,804) Cup fever had certainly gripped this part of West Yorkshire, just plain Yorkshire by the time Bobby Robson's Ipswich side rolled into town, and Leeds Road was absolutely heaving. These two teams had perhaps been the most impressive of all in the previous rounds. Huddersfield had scored a magnificent victory away from home against the 1970 Chelsea side in round 3 while this Ipswich side had accounted for the Everton team of 1985 and the Arsenal double winning side of 1971. This was also the third round on the trot that Ipswich had been drawn away from home. There is no doubt that Huddersfield were expecting home advantage to be of huge significance, however. Going back to 1971 was one thing but this was an altogether different challenge for Robson's side. Torrential rain had left the pitch a quagmire and the infamous old case ball would surely prove a problem for these southern softies from the future. As Huddersfield warmed up they were somewhat taken aback to find the Ipswich team trot out in old fashioned heavy duty shirts, baggy shorts and the formidable boots of the period. The visitors were evidently well prepared for the job in hand, the experience many of the squad had gained from starring in the film Escape to Victory proving invaluable as an historical reference point, and John Wark had even gone so far as to slick back his hair and trim his 'tache to make him feel the part. Bobby Robson had been shuffling his pack to accomodate the fearsomely talented Kevin Beattie throughout this competition and this time George Burley was the man to make way with Mick Mills moving over to right back and Beattie slotting in on the left. This gave the Ipswich side a decidedly powerful look and the visitors started with evident confidence. Eric Gates conjured a memorable spot of ball juggling to escape Roy Goodall and Ned Barkas but Paul Mariner's shot was too close to Ted Taylor who got down well to save. Next to show slick footwork was Alan Brazil who turned away from Bill Watson sweetly before sending a low drive a foot the wrong side of the post. Mariner's next effort came from Arnold Muhren's corner but his header glanced the bar before disappearing into the vast crowd behind the goal. Huddersfield lifted the spirits of the home crowd with a patient build up through the midfield which was orchestrated by Goodall and also involved David Steele, Ted Richardson and George Brown before Clem Stephenson was offered a shooting chance which he slammed straight at Paul Cooper. Ipswich remained generally in control with their more direct passing towards the front three which took the heavy pitch out of the equation. Mariner fought for the balls up the middle but Gates and Brazil were a bigger threat breaking into spaces down the channels, especially with the Dutch duo of Muhren and Thijssen picking out their runs with instinctive ease. Gates tried his luck from the angle of the penalty area and forced Taylor into a leaping save before clipping a smart ball to the back post from a similar position which Wark could only head into the side netting at full stretch. Then Beattie made his first surge forward from full back which ended with him slamming over a centre at waist height that several people lunged at but without true conviction. Perhaps the tank had hit his cross just a little bit too hard. Wark forced Taylor into another smart save with a downward header from Thijssen's centre before the game became somewhat bogged down in midfield and Huddersfield emerged from the battle to finish the half the stronger. Richardson gave Brown his first real opportunity with a superb centre that left Russell Osman completely stranded but the centre forward was a yard wide with his header and then Stephenson created a great chance for Steele but the more defensively minded inside forward wanted too much time and Beattie roared in to shut down the danger. With half time looming Cooper was at full stretch to keep out a cross shot from Richardson but when the ball was lifted forward Mariner's flick saw Gates and Brazil racing away in a two on two situation. Gates was the man in possession and he held the ball long enough to allow Wark to get up in support but having created the overlap he then decided to go himself and saw his shot fizz wide of the upright to his teammates' despair. Half Time: Huddersfield Town 0 Ipswich Town 0 At the start of the second half the home side looked more assured than at any time before the break. Barkas and Sam Wadsworth began to get a lot tighter to Brazil and Gates and with Tom Wilson mastering Mariner in the air little was seen of the Ipswich attack. Moreover, Clem Stephenson and Billy Smith began probing the right hand side of the visitors' defence and began to make headway. Smith centred narrowly beyond the straining George Brown and then stung the fingertips of Paul Cooper with a rasping drive. Stephenson also provided Roy Goodall with a rare scoring opportunity but the wing half dragged his shot across goal and wide. This more positive start roused the home crowd and the atmosphere became intensely expectant as the visitors from the future began to struggle on the sapping surface. Stephenson was at the heart of everything and looking ever inch an earlier, English version of Arnold Muhren with his left footed passing but he also showed himself to be energetic in his running on and off the ball. He glided one sublime ball over the Ipswich defence for Brown at the far post but the volley, although fierce, was wayward and then forced himself into a shooting position only to find Cooper leaping to the task of turning the ball over. One position where the home side were not enjoying any success was their right flank where Beattie was in command over Ted Richardson. When Goodall looked to feed the winger the Ipswich full back roared into the challenge and came away with clean possession and space to run into. Beattie did not hesitate and was quickly well beyond the halfway line and still unchallenged. Barkas had to come across to cover the run and although the home defence adjusted to keep all the forwards covered Beattie's deep cross escaped everyone except Wark, steaming up in support, and his header had the net bulging high above Taylor's clutching fingers. The crowd was stunned and it took the home side some time to recover but after Taylor had made a good save to deny a curling Muhren effort Huddersfield began to regain their earlier impetus. Billy Smith ignored another flying lunge from Mick Mills to clip over a tempting centre but George Brown was having a day when he simply could not buy a finish and Cooper was out quickly and bravely to take the ball off David Steele's feet as he looked to reach another cute ball from Stephenson. It was becoming a crusade with Stephenson to drag his side level and the fact that the goalscorer Wark was now detailed to shadow him had little effect. Stephenson ran at Wark and forced him right back into his own box before sidestepping his challenge to crash in a low drive that rebounded from the inside of the post and was somehow missed by Brown as it flashed back across the box. Then when the hapless centre forward finally made telling contact with a through ball from the schemer the shot slammed against the crossbar. Billy Smith was also being spoonfed by Stephenson and provided a stream of inviting centres but Osman, Butcher and Beattie were not to be found wanting in the air very often. Brown got his head to one under challenge but the ball looped over the bar and when another dropped nicely onto Steele's head his effort was sent limply wide of the far post. Stephenson tried a snap shot from outside the box which Cooper gathered low to his left and then exchanged passes with Bill Watson to try his luck from closer range but this time the keeper was springing high to keep the ball out. When Steele then passed to Stephenson just outside the box it looked a waste as the player was hemmed in by three defenders. Suddenly the ball had been transferred through the throng, however, and Brown was in clear possession just inside the box. There was no time for Cooper to narrow the angle and although Beattie came charging across he was never going to be able to prevent the shot which whistled towards the top corner but over and beyond it. Frans Thijssen managed to relieve the pressure with a sweet ball over Barkas which had Gates cutting into the box from the left of goal but whether he intended to shoot or cross for Brazil it was impossible to tell as the ball skidded to safety along the six yard line. Back came the Terriers and Richardson managed to escape Beattie long enough to supply a deep cross which Smith brought down on his chest at the far post rather than head first time and Osman was able to block the ensuing shot with a brave lunge. Smith then returned the compliment with a wicked centre that arched and dipped away from Cooper and was begging to be finished underneath the angle but Beattie rose dramatically above Brown and Richardson to head to safety. Stephenson was offered a shooting chance from a free kick after Butcher was harshly penalised for climbing over Brown but the attempt flashed narrowly wide of Cooper's left hand post with the keeper stationary. In the next assault a shot from Brown was blocked by Butcher but the deflection sent the ball high into the box and when Cooper came but failed to collect a huge scramble ensued in the mud with bodies piling in from both sides. Steele saw a shot charged down and Smith went flying under challenge but no penalty was forthcoming and Mills eventually booted clear. Then a series of corners had the visitors under even more severe pressure and from the fourth they had Mariner to thank for being in the right place to head Brown's effort behind from underneath the bar. As the ball was hastily ferried back to Billy Smith to send over another corner the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of the game. This action seemed to take everyone by surprise. In the heat of this most arduous of battles even the visitors had apparently been unaware of how close they had been to victory. When the realisation sank in they were too tired to do anything but shake hands and commiserate with their vanquished opponents and salute the sporting crowd which, swallowing their own disappointment, proceeded to cheer both teams from the field. This had, perhaps, not been the classic hoped for but it had certainly been gripping and maybe an epic. There is probably a difference. Whatever the merits of the game there could be no doubting the merits of the victory. Could anybody stop this Ipswich side? Full Time: Huddersfield Town 0 Ipswich Town 1
Newcastle United (1995-96) v. Tottenham Hotspur (1961-62) Newcastle: S.Hislop, W.Barton, S.Howey, P.Albert, J.Beresford, K.Gillespie, R.Lee, L.Clark, D.Ginola, L.Ferdinand, F.Asprilla. subs: P.Srnicek, S.Watson, D.Peacock, S.Sellars, P.Kitson. Tottenham: B.Brown, P.Baker, M.Norman, R.Henry, D.Mackay, D.Blanchflower, T.Dyson, J.White, B.Smith, J.Greaves, C.Jones. subs: J.Hollowbread, M.Hopkins, T.Marchi, T.Medwin, L.Allen. att: 36,588 (1,993) Of the many great sides in this competition these were perhaps the two most attack minded of all and a veritable feast might reasonably be anticipated as they went head to head. Unfortunately St James' Park was at just about its' lowest ever capacity at this time as the ground could easily have been filled three times over such was the demand. As it was it was a good day for the publicans of Geordieland as long as they had stocked up with a months worth of Newcastle Brown. There was plenty being supped as the rest of the Geordie nation settled down to watch the game live on the tele. Newcastle were eager to make a statement of intent and David Ginola skipped away from Peter Baker all too easily and was perilously close to the angle with his dipping cross shot and then Les Ferdinand brought a fine save out of Bill Brown from Keith Gillespie's centre. Tottenham had shown themselves to be vulnerable at the back in the two previous rounds but Dave Mackay showed that he was up for the contest the next time Ginola came inside Baker with a juddering challenge that relieved the Frenchman of the ball and most of his wind. From that moment on Ginola concentrated on taking his full back on the outside and Tottenham had scored an important moral victory. Spurs were, surprisingly, not clicking in attack and it took a solo effort from Cliff Jones to test Shaka Hislop for the first time but the big keeper was equal to the wingers' shot on the run and he also claimed two centres ahead of the bustling Bobby Smith. With twenty minutes played Brown came to claim a similar centre at the other end only to be left astonished as Ferdinand rose high above him to send a towering header into the unguarded goal. Still Tottenham could not click and the home side continued to come forward as the visitors' attacking moves quickly broke down. Rob Lee was just wide from the edge of the box after Ferdinand chested down into his path and then Faustino Asprilla sent an impudent back heeler, executed in mid air, sliding just by the upright. Phillipe Albert also brought Brown into action with a decent effort from thirty yards. Finally Danny Blanchflower managed to link with John White before giving Smith a shooting chance which was lashed too high and then Mackay bulldozed forward to shoot low and Hislop had to get down smartly to keep his goal intact. Having weathered this little spell of Tottenham pressure Newcastle ended the half hunting another goal with Ginola and Asprilla narrowly off target and Ferdinand forcing one effort past Brown in a goalmouth skirmish only to find Mackay back on the line to boot clear. As the half time whistle sounded the only thing to worry the Geordie faithful was that they only led by the one goal. Half Time: Newcastle United 1 Tottenham Hotspur 0 A more positive attitude might well have been expected from the visitors after half time and inside two minutes Blanchflower had split the Newcastle defence wide open and given Smith the chance to stride forward and shoot past Hislop for the equaliser. Within a minute, however, Asprilla had wriggled away from Ron Henry and Blanchflower to dig out a cross that saw Ferdinand head home with another prodigious leap. These quickfire goals did not light the touchpaper for a stirring second half, however. The home side now became more cagey, having surrendered the lead once they seemed nervous about doing so again. Steve Watson was brought on for Gillespie in a bid to become more solid but Kevin Keegan might have been better off withdrawing the enigmatic Ginola who was becoming less of an influence by the minute. This encouraged Tottenham to attack and having given up the initiative Newcastle would find it impossible to wrest it back. Smith headed narrowly over from Terry Dyson's centre and then John White, a growing influence, clipped a fine ball through for Jones who hammered a low drive into the side netting at Hislop's near post. Little to nothing had been seen of Jimmy Greaves but when White slipped another ball down the side of Steve Howey the finisher supreme stroked the ball beyond Hislop without fuss. There was more fuss about his protests when he realised a linesmans' flag was raised to disallow the effort, however. Greaves's next chance was more difficult as he had to arch backwards to get a header onto Dyson's centre but with a sharp turn of the neck he managed to guide his effort over Hislop only for the woodwork to deny him. There was little respite for the Newcastle defence now and Dave Mackay was the next to threaten with a determined run into the box that was only halted at the expense of a corner by Howey's last ditch tackle. Keegan now withdrew the anonymous Lee Clark and brought on Darren Peacock. Albert moved into midfield to accomodate the replacement as Newcastle became ever more negative. Cliff Jones slid in to meet a low ball across the box from White but saw his effort slide back across goal and wide of the far post and Greaves was frustrated by a splendid save from Hislop after spinning to get his shot away inside the box. Les Ferdinand slammed a shot narrowly over the bar from thirty yards but this was about as close to the Spurs goal as Newcastle could now get. Ten minutes remained and Blanchflower carved out another chance and this time it was White being denied by a sprawling Hislop. From Dyson's corner kick the unlikely figure of Maurice Norman appeared in the box and his strong header ripped into the top corner with the keeper helpless. At this stage Newcastle would gladly have taken a replay at White Hart Lane but two minutes later Mackay stormed into the box to meet White's lobbed pass and having taken a perfect touch on his chest he rammed his shot beyond an exposed Hislop. Keegan tried to redress the balance of his side by sending on Scott Sellars for Albert and the sub fashioned one half chance for Asprilla but from the angle the Columbians' shot flashed wide and with the game massively stretched White was able to release Greaves clean through the middle for a chance which he finished in comprehensive fashion. Despite the six goals this game had never quite lived up to expectations and the home supporters left frustrated and somewhat perplexed at the negative changes made by their manager during the course of the disastrous second half. Full Time: Newcastle United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 4
Nottingham Forest (1978-79) v. Manchester United (1956-57) Notts Forest: P.Shilton, V.Anderson, L.Lloyd, K.Burns, F.Clark, M.O'Neill, A.Gemmill, I.Bowyer, J.Robertson, T.Francis, T.Woodcock. sub: G.Birtles. Man United: R.Wood, G.Bent, M.Jones, R.Byrne, E.Colman, D.Edwards, J.Berry, L.Whelan, T.Taylor, D.Viollet, D.Pegg. sub: J.Blanchflower. att: 49,000 (7,000) These two sides had both impressed in the earlier rounds and now went head to head at a packed to capacity City Ground to see who would take a quarter final place. Whoever won through would become one of the favourites to take this ultimate footballing prize. Brian Clough had made his side more compact after their easy victory over Middlesbrough in round 4, evidently expecting a tougher test against the famous Busby Babes. There was no thought on Busby's part of changing tactics and his young side headed into the future for the first time in the competition happy to stick to the formation they knew best. It was the vibrant United side that showed up to advantage in the early stages. David Pegg tricked Viv Anderson before crossing for Tommy Taylor to head fractionally over and then Johnny Berry raced beyond Frank Clark on the other flank to drill in a low cross that just escaped the lunging Denis Viollet in front of goal. Forest retaliated with Archie Gemmill bursting forward to exchange passes with Tony Woodcock on the edge of the box but a perfectly timed challenge from Duncan Edwards cleared the danger as Gemmill was about to shoot. Edwards was soon showing his ability at the other end with a storming run and low shot that Peter Shilton only just shovelled round the post. From the corner Taylor rose mightily to head goalwards but Clark was in position to clear off the line. The game was very open in these early stages but the assurance of United had Forest looking to close up the midfield and stem the visitors' rhythm. With Trevor Francis drifting out to the right to allow Martin O'Neill inside to bolster the centre this did begin to stifle some of the United attacking threat and Shilton remained untroubled as a couple of hopeful shots from distance cleared his bar. Having increased their share of possession Forest began to test the United defence more consistently and, as usual, John Robertson was the main focus of their attacking ideas. The tubby winger was up against a reserve full back in Geoff Bent and quickly looked a real danger. Twice Robertson went outside his man to centre dangerous balls, Francis heading wide at the near post and Woodcock hooking a volley over at the far, before cutting inside to test Ray Wood with a stinging drive. When Robertson came inside his man again and shot low towards Wood's near post the keeper could not hold the effort and Woodcock was there in a flash to lift the loose ball high into the roof of the net. United tried to respond but Forest now looked solid. Eddie Colman slipped an enticing pass through for Taylor who slammed in a rising drive having escaped Larry Lloyd but Shilton was equal to the task and flicked the ball to safety. With the game increasingly a midfield battle Gemmill suddenly skipped away from Edwards before sending Woodcock completely clear of the United defence. The strikers' crisp low shot sped past the advancing Wood in a blur but also flew past the outside of the post and United went in at the break only one behind. Half Time: Nottingham Forest 1 Manchester United 0 United came out and went about their task in the only way they knew how, all out attack. It became impossible for Forest to keep their opponents contained in a midfield battle but while they now had to defend more desperately opportunities became increasingly frequent on the break. Taylor was proving a real handful for Lloyd and scraped the crossbar with a soaring header from Berry's centre before unleashing a thunderbolt of a shot from Colman's pass that thudded into Shilton's midrift and stayed there. When Colman then chipped a teasing ball over Lloyd's head Taylor managed to flick a header over the advancing Shilton only to see the ball drop onto the roof of the net. In response Francis combined with Woodcock to create an opening and when Wood could again only parry the resulting shot an almighty scramble ensued in the United goalmouth which saw three shots charged down before Edwards booted the ball clean into the River Trent to relieve the pressure. Denis Viollet had been mainly quiet but suddenly ghosted to the near post to meet Pegg's fine low centre and the United players and supporters alike were aclaiming a goal until Shilton somehow jacknifed to claw the ball to safety. Edwards then sent Pegg racing through on goal with a towering header and the winger managed to sidestep Shilton but could then only screw his shot across the face of goal from a narrow angle. Liam Whelan was the next to threaten after playing a one two with Berry but Shilton was down smartly to his right to gather the attempted cross shot. Another Forest counter attack then had the United defence stretched. Mark Jones made a last gasp tackle to deny Woodcock but the ball rolled loose to Ian Bowyer whose first time drive deflected high into the air off Edwards and when it dropped Francis launched into a spectacular overhead attempt that cleared the crossbar by inches with Wood completely out of position. More and more United players were joining in the attack. Roger Byrne raced forward from left back before drilling a diagonal ball to the far post which found the head of the diving Whelan but Shilton was there once again to pull off a dramatic diving save. Then Kenny Burns put his body on the line to block a rasping drive from Edwards that looked destined for the net. Robertson got the better of Bent once again to provide Francis with a clear chance but the striker was wide of the mark and this miss almost proved costly as United went straight to the other end for Colman to jink away from Burns and Bowyer and then chip Shilton from the angle only to see his effort come back off the bar. Edwards then caused panic in the Forest box with a surging run that took him deep into the area and saw Lloyd, Burns and Shilton challenge him together in a bid to end his charge. The ball broke loose towards a host of white shirted United attackers but somehow evaded them all and Clark was able to hoof clear. The punt forward looked to be Jones' but Francis got in front of the defender to claim possession with his chest and an instant ball forward found Robertson running at a totally exposed Bent. The winger dropped his right shoulder then his left and with his defender completely off balance finally cut inside in decisive fashion. Wood came out but found himself sitting on the seat of his pants as well after another feint and Robertson was able to roll the ball home into the unguarded net. Eight minutes remained and United continued to press forward but there was no way back. Shilton denied Taylor once again with a plunging save and then displayed his reflexes to keep out a deflected shot from Whelan to complete a consumate goalkeeping display. As might have been expected this had been a fantastic game between two superb footballing sides and United could feel truly hard done by to find a goalkeeper in such inspired mood. As could also have been anticipated, however, this magnificent young team took defeat in a wonderfully sporting manner. It was Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest, however, who remained in the hunt for this most coveted of titles. Full Time: Nottingham Forest 2 Manchester United 0
Blackpool (1952-53) v. Everton (1969-70) Blackpool: G.Farm, E.Shimwell, H.Johnston, T.Garrett, E.Fenton, H.Kelly, S.Matthews, E.Taylor, S.Mortensen, J.Mudie, B.Perry. Everton: G.West, T.Wright, B.Labone, R.Kenyon, K.Newton, A.Ball, H.Kendall, C.Harvey, J.Husband, J.Royle, J.Morrissey. att: 36,805 (11,503) Blackpool were happy to be drawn at home for the third time in succession in this competition and were certainly fancying their chances against anyone at Bloomfield Road. This tie with the Everton side of 1970 threatened to be more challenging than their previous two games, however. This did not represent such a big step back in time or distance for a side that had travelled to play Corinthians in the 1800's in the 3rd round and Everton also had the backing of a massive following from Merseyside for this tie. Bloomfield Road was packed to almost ridiculous proportions and the huge terrace behind the goal at one end seemed to be a swarming mass of blue. Encouraged the visitors started brightly with Alan Ball lively on his return to his old stomping ground. Ball shot narrowly over and then slotted a pass through for Joe Royle to shoot on the run. The shot was firm but too close to George Farm who tipped the ball over. The pattern of play was altered completely the first time Stanley Matthews was brought into the game, however. Matthews sauntered up to Keith Newton, apparently with little intent, but in the blinking of an eye the winger was gone and pulling the ball across goal from the byeline. Gordon West dived out bravely to gather the ball ahead of Stan Mortensen but warning had been served. For ten minutes Matthews plagued his full back with a series of jinking runs to the goalline and even when Colin Harvey and Johnny Morrissey began dropping back to support their colleague in distress Matthews still found he could pick his way to the byeline almost at will. Mortensen blazed over with one great chance but was also desperately unlucky to see West claw out a snap shot at the near post and then Brian Labone slide back to clear a glancing header off the line. Bill Perry was narrowly wide with one shot and West had to be alert to deny Jackie Mudie as Matthews continued to wreak havoc along the right. The next pass out to the winger was more hopeful and Newton spotted his chance, launching a furious challenge that sent the ball clear of the startled Matthews. The ball dropped nicely for Howard Kendall who instantly spotted a gap in the Blackpool defence and sent Jimmy Husband racing through it. George Farm came out but could do nothing as Husband slipped his low shot past his left foot and into the net. This goal had come ridiculously against the run of play but that fact did not unduly bother the massed ranks of Evertonians celebrating wildly on the vast open terrace. Blackpool simply renewed their attacking efforts and Everton were soon defending deeply again. Three, four even five men would drift out to the right to confront Matthews who would still look dangerous but Blackpool were struggling to disturb the Everton defence in any other areas. Brian Labone was having a majestic game against the dynamic Mortensen, Kendall was making things difficult for the chief schemer Ernie Taylor and nothing at all was being gained out of Tommy Wright. Mortensen wriggled away from Labone to squeeze in a low shot that West did well to smother but it was symtomatic of Blackpool's plight that Matthews then felt the need to dribble inside and try his luck himself, the ball flying wide of the far angle. Hugh Kelly, recalled to the Blackpool ranks, came forward to try his luck but the save was comfortable and Labone was in the perfect place to clear when West came to collect another Matthews centre only to find the ball escaping his grasp ten yards from goal. Right on half time Alan Ball led another swift Everton counter and with the Blackpool defence backing off to cover the runners the red haired midfielder was able to carry the ball to the edge of the box before slamming in a drive that glanced the crossbar on its way over. Half Time: Blackpool 0 Everton 1 Everton were now attacking the end at which their supporters were mainly gathered but the action was almost exclusively at the other as Blackpool continued to look for an equaliser. Mortensen managed to burst clear of Labone for the first time and his spanking drive looked a winner only to flash by the post and do some damage to a slowly reacting fan behind the goal. Morty's next shooting opportunity came from a free kick and this time it was Tommy Wright reeling under the impact as the ball thudded into his rib cage. It was several minutes before Wright could stand to his full height again. Matthews remained the main source of danger although Everton appeared to be building a human fence around the winger to prevent any supply reaching him. Ernie Taylor could unpick most defensive locks, however, and with the effects of last nights' beer perhaps wearing off the impish Blackpool playmaker began finding his colleague at will. Twice Matthews burrowed his way deep into the Everton box but was unable to locate a colleague with his cut backs. Then he sent a low ball skidding right across the six yard box and Mudie made contact at full stretch only to see the ball glance the outside of the post. Blackpool had not threatened from any of their corners but when Perry drilled one in from the left Ewan Fenton rose highest to plant a header towards the top corner. Labone reached it under the bar but could only send the ball back into the box. Mortensen raced forward to head goalwards again and this time Roger Kenyon leapt on the line to prevent a certain goal. At last the visitors maanged to break the siege with Morrissey making a break down the left to cross for Royle who should have done better, unchallenged, than head wide of the far post and then Ball linked well with Husband to get into the box but Farm was down quickly to take the ball off his toe as he looked to sidestep the keeper. The last twenty minutes saw Blackpool camped in the Everton half searching desperately for the equaliser. Still the ball refused to drop to anyone in tangerine inside the box, however, and despite many scrambles ten minutes passed without Gordon West being called into action. Then Everton's task was made more difficult when Colin Harvey emerged from a challenge with Mortensen with a deadleg and was left a passenger for the final minutes. Matthews went past Newton, Kendall and Kenyon in scintilating style only for Labone to intercept his cross yet again with Mortensen pulling the trigger. Ernie Taylor then tried his luck from outside the box and West was at full stretch to turn the ball behind. With three minutes remaining Mortensen tried to turn Labone deep inside the box and went flying as the defender thrust out a leg to challenge. There were loud claims for a penalty but these were completely ignored by the referee as West dived out to gather. Still Blackpool pressed and Perry got away from Wright for the first time all afternoon to try his luck and West had to be at his best to turn the ball behind underneath the angle at his near post. When Kenyon hoofed the resulting corner clear it seemed as though Everton were home and dry but there was still one last chance for Matthews to run at the defence when Taylor once again threaded the eye of a needle with his distribution. Matthews went by Morrissey with ease and ran at Newton who backed off right into his own box, apparently unwilling to risk a challenge. Matthews looked to go onto his right foot and stumbled to the floor. It still appeared as though Newton had simply stood his ground but this time the referee saw something amiss and pointed to the spot. There were vociferous Everton protests but these were to no avail and when the dust had settled Mortensen stepped forward to drill his shot into the bottom corner and send the tie back to Goodison Park for a replay. Although the penalty award seemed generous in the extreme there was no doubt that Blackpool had merited at least a draw over the course of the game. Full Time: Blackpool 1 Everton 1
Manchester United (1967-68) v. Arsenal (1988-89) Man United: A.Stepney, S.Brennan, B.Foulkes, N.Stiles, T.Dunne, G.Best, P.Crerand, B.Charlton, J.Aston, D.Law, B.Kidd. sub: D.Sadler. Arsenal: J.Lukic, L.Dixon, S.Bould, T.Adams, N.Winterburn, D.Rocastle, M.Thomas, K.Richardson, P.Davis, P.Merson, A.Smith. sub: B.Marwood. att: 64,377 (2,259) This was the first major test for both these sides. United had been pushed hard at Wrexham in the previous round only to win through in a late blaze of glory. Arsenal had been given perhaps the two easiest ties of any side in the competition thus far. As Arsenal were going back in time they obviously knew plenty about the United side they were to encounter. They were also taking some baggage with them. This was the first Arsenal team to truly become enemies with the Old Trafford club and most of the bad blood had been caused by their left back Nigel Winterburn. Winterburn was evidently keen to extend his grievance with the Red Devils back into the 1960's and at the earliest opportunity launched an ugly challenge on George Best that had the United star flat out on the turf. The anger of the home players and supporters was very clear and the atmosphere was immediately one the Gunners were accustomed to. What the visitors might not have been prepared for, however, was the response of this particular United side. There was more leeway allowed for physical contact in 1968 and the home side were not shy in "putting it about". Paddy Crerand was just one of the United players annoyed at the challenge on Best and, not knowing who Arsenal's star player might be, simply took the earliest opportunity of exacting revenge on anyone. Paul Merson was the unlucky man who was first in his vicinity and ended up nursing a badly grazed thigh. Nobby Stiles was looking for Winterburn and having ventured into his area came across Paul Davis in possession instead. Stiles' boot was raised above knee height as he went into the challenge but the referee saw nothing amiss as the ball ran loose and Davis hit the deck. The ball ran towards Winterburn who had begun by voicing his displeasure at the apparent foul but suddenly found himself having to go into a challenge with Stiles himself. Stiles went in lower but possibly harder and Winterburn found himself joining his colleague on the Old Trafford turf. This time the ref saw fit to give a free kick. Tony Adams was keen to redress the balance in what was quickly becoming a war but after a couple of unsuccessful hacks at United players he found himself grounded and dazed also after copping a stray and unidentified elbow off the ball, the owner of which was actually Denis Law. If this physical battering wasn't enough the visitors soon found that their opponents could play a bit as well. John Aston flew past Lee Dixon to whip in a dangerous centre and Best was quickly making Winterburn pay for his earlier aggression in a more acceptable way. Best was happy to beat his full back two and three times over before finally leaving him behind as punishment for the foul he had taken. Time and again he stopped to take his man on again rather than look to create danger. The crowd was loving this but little threat had been put on the Arsenal goal until Bobby Charlton suddenly latched onto a loose ball in midfield, strode forward ten yards and belted in the opener high to the keepers' right. Reminded that there should be a point to the trickery Best then waltzed past Winterburn before cutting in for goal and by the time he was slipping the ball past John Lukic for the second goal Adams and Steve Bould were both also marooned on the Old Trafford grass. Lukic made his first real save to beat out a powerful shot from Brian Kidd but in the next attack Law left him completely helpless with a shot of much less power but absolute precision. Suddenly, after half an hour, Arsenal found themselves three down and their opponents looked in no mood to relax. Stiles piled into a midfield melee and emerged with the ball and when he fed Charlton another thunderbolt left Lukic grasping thin air only to flash just over. Best chipped a delicious ball onto Kidd's head but the effort flicked just wide of the far post and then Aston crossed from the other flank and Best came charging in to head goalwards and was only denied by a desperate save underneath his bar by Lukic. With half time seconds away Aston raced away from Dixon again and although Lukic was able to keep out another Kidd header the ball dropped to Law whose instant shot on the half turn fizzed into the bottom corner through a sea of Arsenal legs. It was a totally demoralised looking set of visitors who trudged somewhat gingerly from the pitch moments later. Half Time: Manchester United 4 Arsenal 0 For a quarter of an hour after the interval it looked as though United were prepared to rest on their laurels but the mood was suddenly shattered when Best got in one more spot of revenge on Winterburn with a fierce tackle that left his man writhing in agony and unable to continue. Brian Marwood came on as a replacement with Michael Thomas given the thankless task of marking the Irishman. This setback actually inspired Arsenal to produce their best spell and Alex Stepney had to save from Alan Smith and David Rocastle while Adams came forward for a corner and scraped the bar with his header. The mistake the Gunners made was to actually convert one of their chances, Merson drilling home after Stepney had made a hash of collecting a hopeful effort from Marwood. Stung into action United retaliated in determined mood. Charlton carved open the defence only for Law to lift his shot wastefully over and then Aston sliced clean through the Arsenal rearguard to smack a low shot against the far post. When Adams was penalised for climbing on Law thirty yards from goal the Arsenal defence stopped to contest the decision and were punished by Crerand who stepped forward to chip a sly ball to the far post where Law had somehow ghosted to head home. Best was finding Thomas just as easy to fox as he had Winterburn and entertained himself in a variety of ways at the makeshift defenders' expense. On one occasion the winger cut inside having beaten his man and looked set to repeat his individual goal of the first half. Having sidestepped Lukic, however, Best declined shooting from a narrow angle and began beating opponents he had gone past already only in the opposite direction as he headed away from goal. Having reached the edge of the box, however, Best suddenly back heeled the ball through to Stiles who found himself completely clear and unmarked ten yards out. Stiles had Old Trafford roaring with laughter as he ballooned his shot way over with Lukic stranded. Brian Kidd, having an awful time in front of goal, spurned two more clear chances but was at least involved as United completed the scoring five minutes from time, heading on for Law to swerve away from Adams to score at the second attempt after Lukic had managed to block his first effort. So this made it 23 goals in 3 games in the competition for this United side and Arsenal's last remaining representatives bowed out with their tails very much between their legs and taunted by the cries of "Bertie Mee said to Matt Busby" ringing around Old Trafford. Full Time: Manchester United 6 Arsenal 1
Manchester City (1967-68) v. Chester City (1985-86) Man City: H.Dowd, T.Book, M.Doyle, G.Heslop, G.Pardoe, A.Oakes, C.Bell, T.Coleman, M.Summerbee, F.Lee, N.Young. sub: J.Crossan. Chester: J.Butcher, D.Glenn, B.Coy, W.Gage, M.Lane, J.Kelly, G.Abel, M.Speight, M.Graham, S.Rimmer, D.Murray. sub: G.Bennett. att: 47,148 (8,367) The competitions' most notable giant killers headed back in time for a local derby at Maine Road. This was City's first home tie in the competition and the first game in easy distance for Chester's travelling fans and with both sets of supporters out in force and there was a lively atmosphere. Chester sprang a couple of surprises as boss Harry McNally continued to shuffle his pack. Graham Abel was moved into midfield and joined by the experienced Mick Speight, probably with more than one eye on keeping tabs on the energetic Colin Bell. Would this be another master stroke or a game too far for McNally? The early stages suggested Chester's manager had got it right again. City took the intiative and pressed forward but the Chester defence was diligent and there was no room to breath in the midfield. Then when Chester attacked Dave Murray confirmed his growing reputation with a magnificent volleyed pass which sent Milton Graham sprinting down the left. Graham fed the ball inside to Stuart Rimmer who had Murray supporting and completely unmarked in the centre. Rimmer shot himself only to see Harry Dowd get down well to save at his near post. The youngster Murray looked ready to land a blow on his colleague for not passing and had to be dragged away, eyes bulging and moustache twitching, by John Kelly. Finally City began to make some half chances. Franny Lee launched himself into a header from Tony Book's cross but the ball flew straight at John Butcher and the keeper was also able to drop on an effort by Neil Young from a narrow angle. Bell was being shadowed everywhere by Abel and unable to significantly impose himself on the game. There was space for Tony Coleman, however, and he managed to create openings for Lee and Mike Summerbee. Lee was under pressure and could only shoot tamely at Butcher but Summerbee had no excuse for blazing over when clear of his marker. Chester were not just sitting back, however. Kelly broke from midfield to send in a dipping drive from 30 yards that had Dowd arching backwards to no avail only for the ball to shave the top of the bar. Then Rimmer sped away from Mike Doyle to shoot narrowly wide of the far post from the right hand side of the box. With City becoming increasingly frustrated it looked as though the first half was going to end goalwards until the home side won a corner with the game entering added on time. Summerbee whipped the ball across and Lee went flying to the ground as he looked to get on the end of it. The referee pointed to the spot to send the Chester players and supporters alike into a frenzy. It looked a clear cut case of "Lee Won Pen" but as the official pulled Dave Murray to one side and booked him while Lee was lifted gingerly from the field for treatment it began to look as though the ref might have got it right. Closer scrutiny did reveal the forwards' fist making effective contact with his tubby opponents' ribcage. With Lee patently unable to take the spot kick Mike Summerbee stepped forward to send Butcher the wrong way but it was Chester celebrating as the ball rolled wide of the left hand post. Half Time: Manchester City 0 Chester City 0 Chester had defended with great organisation as well as spirit and approached the second half confident that they could continue to frustrate the home side. Within seconds of the restart they were given added incentive to keep things tight as they struck at the other end to take a shock lead. The move started with another piece of Dave Murray magic. Martin Lane drilled a fierce ball into his chest from the left back position and Murray somehow flicked the ball some thirty yards down the left flank with his torso to send Milton Graham racing away. Graham centred low on the run and although the ball escaped the lunging Rimmer John Kelly was arriving beyond the far post to bury a fine shot into the roof of the net beyond the diving Dowd. Oh my God! Bedlam. It's not often Chester have taken over the ground of one of the countries' giants but here was one. Their wildly cedlebrating fans seemed to be everywhere and the song they spontaneously began chanting showed who their hero was. "David Murray's magic The young idol raised a clenched fist towards the bulk of the Chester fans dancing on the Kippax and the watching Franny Lee involuntarily winched again at the sight of that spade like appendage. Heaven forbid thst this character should ever get involved in any fisticuffs with Norman Hunter. City came back but Chester's defending remained of the highest quality. Neil Young was getting nowhere against Wakeley Gage and Bobby Coy was coping manfully with Lee. Mike Summerbee was roaming everywhere in an attempt to make a telling influence but found himself shackled at every turn. Colin Bell continued to find his every move dogged by Graham Abel and Butcher showed safe handling and sound positioning as a series of hopeful shots from distance came his way. On one occasion Lee forced his way past two challengers but having been forced wide had to centre low across goal rather than shoot and there was no obliging colleague on hand to turn home his cross. Alan Oakes also played a neat give and go with Coleman to find some room inside the box. Coy lunged to block his shot and only managed glancing contact. All eyes were diverted towards the far post as the ball looped goalwards but the trajectory took it over and Chester breathed a collective sigh of relief. Chester weren't content to sit back and defend, however. Rimmer sent Murray clear with a neat headed flick but George Heslop was able to get back and block the lumbering forwards' shot. There was more danger when Murray returned the compliment and Rimmer sped completely clear. Faced with Dowd the striker struck a fierce drive that left the crossbar shaking as it rebounded to safety. Suddenly Colin Bell was also running clear at the other end, having finally lost Abel, and from the edge of the box he struck low and true for the bottom corner. Butcher plunged dramatically to his right and somehow got a fingertip to the ball to send it sliding behind for a corner. With heads in hands all over Maine Road it seemed as though the home side realised at that moment that this was not their day. Butcher had to make another decent save to deny Young's drive from outside the area but with nine minutes to go the result was sealed in the most magnificent style. Graham sedt off to run the ball out of trouble for Chester and was approaching the halfway line before City looked to have him hemmed in. Looking up Graham spotted his teammate Murray loitering infield some twenty yards further forward and lofted the ball towards the youngsters' chest. Murray was stationed fifteen yards over the halfway line, with his back to goal and two defenders in attendance. Four touches later and the ball was in the City net, nobody else had touched it and the ball hadn't hit the ground. Murray's first touch, with his chest, sent the ball looping over his own and Heslop's head. His second, with his head as he turned away from Heslop, lifted the ball beyond the covering Mike Doyle and his third, with his left thigh lifted the ball high into the air and towards goal. Murray strode forward with stealthy intent and as the ball dropped, still some thirty yards from goal, he unleashed the most ferocious left footed volley imaginable and the ball tore into the top corner before Dowd could register even a token response. Special. Having milked another round of adulation from the ecstatic Chester fans Murray was withdrawn by Harry McNally and Gary Bennett was given a late run out. Chester's great day out was crowned just two minutes later when a shellshocked City saw Speight put Rimmer away and this time the pacy striker found the bottom corner with his finish. By this stage there were proabably more Chester fans left in the ground than City supporters and the last few minutes was played out against the backdrop of possibly the worlds' biggest ever Conga bobbing around the vast Kippax terrace. Unfortunately neither Roy Castle or either of the McWhirter's were there to verify this as a genuine world record although Eddie Large did at least go on record to say it was the biggest one he had ever seen. Another triumphant day then for Harry McNally and his buoyant side and another couple of noughts onto the price tag of the competitions' phenomenon, David Murray. Full Time: Manchester City 0 Chester City 3
5th Round Draw Nottingham Forest (1978-79) 2 v. 0 Manchester United (1956-57)
3rd Round Third Replay Leeds United (1971-72) v. Liverpool (1981-82) Leeds: D.Harvey, P.Reaney, P.Madeley, N.Hunter, T.Yorath, P.Lorimer, B.Bremner, J.Giles, E.Gray, M.Jones, J.Jordan. sub: A.Clarke. Liverpool: B.Grobbelaar, P.Neal, A.Hansen, M.Lawrenson, A.Cohen, S.Lee, G.Souness, R.Whelan, K.Dalglish, D.Johnson, I.Rush. sub: H.Gayle. attendance: 52,232 The two teams tossed a coin to see who would decide the date and venue for this third replay. Leeds called correctly and chose to take the game back to 1968 and opted for Hull City's Boothferry Park as the venue. Having sought to gain an advantage in this choice the men from Elland Road must have been disappointed to enter an arena in which Liverpool supporters outnumbered their own fans by around two to one. The Liverpool fans were creating a wall of sound as the teams came out and would keep this up for most of the night. It was encouragement their side would need as another gruelling night unfolded. Both sides had made several changes from the previous game. Leeds were without the suspended Jack Charlton and also omitted Sprake, Cooper and Clarke. David Harvey was brought into the nets with Terry Yorath taking over at left back, Johnny Giles returning into the midfield and Joe Jordan given the nod over Sniffer Clarke. It was hard to tell whether Bruce Grobbelaar had got over the concussion sustained in the previous meeting as his erratic behaviour could still be passed off as normal. With the reserve Steve Ogrizovic representing Coventry in this competition Bob Paisley had little choice but to put his trust in his eccentric keeper. Avi Cohen and David Johnson were also given starting roles in place of Phil Thompson and the injured Terry McDermott. Leeds had filled their side with as much energy as they could muster and made a roaring start. Yorath bombed past Eddie Gray and when the winger slipped him in his driven centre just evaded the lunging Jordan and Lorimer smashed a typical drive just over after surging clear of Cohen. Leeds obviously reckoned the centre of the Liverpool defence was vulnerable to high balls and both full backs were quick to launch centres from deep towards Jones and Jordan. Jones nodded one down for Bremner whose instant shot brought a superb reaction save out of Grobbelaar and then Jordan glanced a header just wide after Jones had again got the better of Hansen in the air. Ronnie Whelan almost got David Johnson in on goal but Paul Madeley intercepted at full stretch and Sammy Lee blasted straight at Harvey from 30 yards but these were rare ventures into Leeds' territory. Gray stepped inside Phil Neal and also drifted away from Whelan before grazing the far post with his low drive and Cohen had to clear off the line following an almighty scramble at a corner which ended with Jordan forcing a shot under Grobbelaar. Liverpool were so far off the pace they could not even stem the tide of Leeds' pressure by foul means. Time and again Souness and Whelan were left floundering by the Leeds midfield as they looked to put a foot into a challenge. Mark Lawrenson produced a perfectly timed challenge to rob Jones as he ran onto a Jordan flick and Grobbelaar dived out bravely to deny Lorimer as he tried to reach a pass from Giles. Leeds claimed a penalty as Bremner went down under a challenge from Phil Neal but the referee waved play on as the Liverpool defence continued to come under severe pressure. With five minutes remaining to half time Eddie Gray won another corner for Leeds and from his centre Paul Madeley rose unmarked to head firmly past Grobbelaar from twelve yards to give Leeds a richly deserved lead. Two minutes later the Liverpool keeper was unable to hold a low drive by Lorimer and Jones was on hand to force home the rebound to put real daylight between the two sides. Worse was still to follow for Liverpool. As Leeds looked to mount yet another attack Avi Cohen managed to take the ball away from Lorimer in a midfield skirmish but was immediately hit by a fierce challenge from Johnny Giles. The Liverpool defender was left writhing in agony and things looked extremely bleak when he was eventually strapped to a stretcher and carried from the field with what would later be confirmed as a broken leg. Half Time: Leeds United 2 Liverpool 0 Liverpool were forced into moving Ronnie Whelan to left back with Howard Gayle coming on to play on the left wing and Dalglish dropping deeper to support Souness in the centre of the park. Initially Leeds remained in total control with Jones and Jordan both testing Grobbelaar with headers and Giles drilling a shot just wide from the edge of the box. Gradually, however, Dalglish began to get to grips with his midfield role and Liverpool came more into the game than at any stage previously. It was Dalglish who slipped a perfect through ball into David Johnson only for the striker to send his shot wide of the post and then the canny Scot curled in a shot from 25 yards that had Harvey at full stretch to save. The Liverpool supporters recognised their teams' improvement and began roaring their men forward. Harvey had to save efforts from outside the box by Souness and Sammy Lee before Rush struck a post with an instinctive shot from ten yards. Eddie Gray broke away one occasion to send a cross shot narrowly wide of the far post but it was now mainly all Liverpool. Johnson caught a first time drive from the edge of the box sweetly but the ball flew straight at Harvey and Rush glanced a header inches wide from Whelan's cross. Leeds brought Allan Clarke on for Jones in an effort to hold the ball up more consistently in the Liverpool half but the impetus was now comprehensively with the men in red. Souness grazed the bar with a snap shot from just outside the box and Harvey got lucky when Johnson's glancing header slipped from his grasp and bounced just wide of the post. Dalglish then split the Leeds defence wide open with a chipped pass to Gayle but the substitute blazed wildly over from a great position. Gayle's next contribution was spectacularly effective, however. Picking the ball up well inside his own half the winger surged past Paul Reaney and set off for goal. Cutting inside he brushed off Bremner and sidestepped Madeley before slamming a rising drive across Harvey into the top corner. Ten minutes remained and Liverpool were right back in it. Dalglish engineered a shooting chance for himself inside a packed penalty area but could only squeeze his shot wide of the far post and Rush was denied by Harvey's outstretched leg with another close range effort. The Leeds' penalty area was now a sea of bodies and when Dalglish went tumbling under a combined challenge from Hunter and Yorath the referee pointed to the spot. If Phil Neal was nervous he didn't show it as he stepped forward to plant the penalty high into the net to bring this tie level yet again. Only two minutes remained to another period of extra time but still Liverpool poured forward in search of a winner. Rush flicked on a centre from Gayle towards Johnson but Hunter was there to intercept with a huge boot downfield. Alan Hansen went to control the clearance but the ball escaped under his foot and Clarke was onto the error in a flash. The forward set off for goal but, with Lawrenson closing in rapidly, decided to shoot from 25 yards. The effort was not struck with great power but was perfectly placed and Grobbelaar, at full stretch, could not reach it. There was a collective holding of breath as the ball bounced on towards goal before an eruption from the Leeds camp as the ball struck the inside of the post and bounced into the net. Several Liverpool players slumped to the ground and this time there would be no way back. Finally, after four games, this epic tie had been settled and the Preston North End squad of 1888-89 could get back on their barge and set sail for Leeds. Whether the 83 year journey would allow them time to sober up after three weeks solid boozing was another matter, however. Full Time: Leeds United 3 Liverpool 2
3rd Round Second Replay Leeds United (1971-72) v. Liverpool (1981-82) Leeds: G.Sprake, P.Reaney, J.Charlton, N.Hunter, T.Cooper, P.Lorimer, P.Madeley, B.Bremner, E.Gray, M.Jones, A.Clarke. sub: J.Jordan. Liverpool: B.Grobbelaar, P.Neal, A.Hansen, P.Thompson, M.Lawrenson, S.Lee, T.McDermott, G.Souness, R.Whelan, K.Dalglish, I.Rush. sub: H.Gayle. Att: 48,662 This was always going to be a difficult game to stage and Football England perhaps didn't get the logistics exactly right. This second replay not only had to be on a neutral venue but also in a neutral year. Football England studied the options and decided the game would be played at Stoke City's Victoria Ground in 1975. This ended up causing certain problems. Both participating teams fetched the best part of 20,000 fans with them, there was a decent contingent of Stoke fans wedged inside their home ground looking to repel all boarders and the Manchester United hooligan element, at its' peak in 75, had also come to soak up the "atmosphere". Perhaps the most problems were caused by the small, but determined, possee of Port Vale fans who seemed intent on riding roughshod over allcomers. Stoke city centre was not the place to do your shopping on this day and the ground simmered with an air of tension as the teams took to the pitch. Both sides had selected more attacking substitutes than in the previous two encounters which at least suggested they might be looking to provide a more open game than before. Leeds had also recalled Norman Hunter, the club psychiatrist deeming him to be over his trauma from the first game, with Paul Madeley retaining his place at Johnny Giles's expense in midfield. The first to attack were Leeds with Billy Bremner breaking from midfield on two occasions. On the first he tried to play in Allan Clarke only for Alan Hansen to intercept but on the second he tried his luck himself and was grabbing at his orange hair in frustration as Bruce Grobbelaar took off to his right to tip the ball behind. Ian Rush evaded Jack Charlton's challenge running onto a fine pass from Graeme Souness but the angle was against a shot and when he played the ball across the area both Kenny Dalglish and Terry McDermott were inches away from converting. Ten minutes played and it was a good, open game with no serious violence as yet. The omens were promising. Gary Sprake saved well from Ronnie Whelan's curling shot and then plunged at the feet of Dalglish to smother as the forward turned away from Hunter inside the box. Grobbelaar then made another good save to deny a Peter Lorimer drive but could only watch as Mick Jones got above Phil Thompson to head goalwards. To his relief the ball glanced wide of his left hand post. Eddie Gray had been getting less joy out of Phil Neal than in the earlier games but when fed by Bremner he suddenly lost his man and was away down the left wing. Gray centred deep towards the far post and Grobbelaar decided to come and claim. Despite producing a prodigious leap, however, the Liverpool custodian was underneath the ball and when it dropped Lorimer smashed in an effort that resulted in a spell of pinball which ended with the ball at the feet of Jones who slammed an effort high into the roof of the net. This was the signal for the game to revert to type. With a lead to protect Leeds immediately changed into their hob nailed boots and began kicking lumps out of everything that moved. Bremner sailed into Souness, Hunter went through Dalglish and Paul Reaney, more surprisingly, levelled Whelan. Liverpool could not leave resist bait with Whelan exacting revenge on Lorimer, Souness going over the top on both Clarke and Gray and Thompson leaving Jones in an untidy heap after an aerial challenge. In amongst the kicking McDermott landed a delicate chip onto the top of the netting but the game was now generally compressed in the midfield areas and more like open warfare than football. Right on half time Jackie Charlton waded into another midfield melee and almost severed Terry McDermott in two. The referee, who was yet to actually book anyone, suddenly snapped and sent Charlton straight from the field. It was probably some satisfaction to the old school centre half that McDermott followed him moments later on a stretcher. Howard Gayle came on to play on the left wing with Ronnie Whelan taking over in the centre. For Leeds Paul Madeley dropped back into the back four with Allan Clarke dropping deeper to play a sort of advanced midfield role behind the lone striker Mick Jones. Nothing meaningful happened before half time so Leeds led at the interval but faced playing the second half a man short. Half Time: Leeds United 1 Liverpool 0 Liverpool pressed urgently at the start of the second half with Leeds deep in defence and snapping into tackles ferociously in midfield. Possession was hugely in favour of the men in red and they probed every area of the Leeds team searching for a weakness. Despite having the extra man they found it difficult to penetrate the white blanket thrown across the pitch. Howard Gayle ran enthusiastically at Reaney a couple of times but he had neither the pace or the guile to trouble the cultured full back. Hunter was coping well with the threat of Dalglish while Ian Rush was basically in Paul Madeley's pocket. On the Liverpool right Sammy Lee and Phil Neal were still mainly employed trying to keep Terry Cooper and Eddie Gray in check. Only in the centre of midfield did Liverpool have a noticeable advantage. Bremner was gamely trying to do the work of two men but, with infrequent support from Lorimer and Clarke, he was struggling to contain Souness and Whelan. Souness broke away to send a low drive inches wide and Whelan engineered a fleeting chance for Rush which was snuffed out by a perfectly timed challenge from Madeley. Set pieces also offered Liverpool hope with Thompson heading over from a right wing corner and Lawrenson forcing Sprake into a low save following a free kick from the other flank. The first clear cut chance of the second half came at the other end as Cooper sped forward to overlap Gray on a sudden break and the full backs' low centre evaded Hansen to reach Mick Jones beyond the far post but his shot, back across the face goal, flashed wide with Grobbelaar stranded. This seemed to inspire Leeds and for ten minutes they coped with Liverpool's efforts comfortably. Clarke seemed to be getting a taste for the midfield scrap, managing to rob Souness on one occasion to lead a brief counter before coming in from behind on the Scotsman to stall another attempted Liverpool attack. This relaxed spell was ended when Sprake misjudged a hopeful centre from Gayle and ended up palming the ball against the crossbar. Bodies launched themselves at the rebound from all angles but after an almighty scramble Dalglish's shot bounced wide off Hunter's body. Liverpool drew strength from the incident, however, and attacked with renewed vigour. Rush poked an effort wide from Whelan's centre and Sprake was glad to see a header from the centre forward drop kindly into his arms. Twelve minutes remained when Lawrenson strode forward into a huge space before finding Dalglish on the edge of the box. The crafty forward burrowed into the close marking Hunter before turning sharply and driving a crisp low shot beyond Sprake into the bottom corner. Before Leeds could draw breath Dalglish had collected a pass from Neal on the angle of the area and, with Hunter standing off this time, turned onto his left foot to arrow a drive across Sprake into the top far corner. Suddenly Liverpool led, had an extra man and there were less than ten minutes remaining. Leeds threw Clarke back up front and also sent on Joe Jordan in place of Eddie Gray. Terry Cooper was pushed forward to man the left flank by himself in a vague 3-3-3 formation. Liverpool immediately began to tear holes in the undermanned Leeds defence but Rush, twice, and Whelan both shot wide when well placed to finish the tie. Cooper launched one high ball into the box that Jordan reached ahead of Hansen but Grobbelaar was able to clutch the ball safely underneath his crossbar. Peter Lorimer then sent another high ball in from the other flank. Grobbelaar decided to come and deal with this one but spilled the ball under Jordan's robust challenge. The ball was loose and once again bodies launched at the ball from all quarters. Thompson went in to deny Clarke but the ball rolled loose towards Jones with the goal gaping. Grobbelaar dived bravely back to try and claim possession and did so, taking a hefty knock not only from Jones but from Jordan also in the process. The Liverpool keeper kept hold of the ball but did not move an inch after the Leeds players had disentangled themselves. Frantic teammates began waving on Ronnie Moran who arrived to adminster his sponge and smelling salts but when he finally gained a response from the stricken keeper and managed to get him to his feet it was a Bambi on ice moment. The antics Grobbs would get up to in the penalty shoot out against Roma in the 1984 European Cup final were nothing to this. With his legs going in 17 different directions at once the concussed keeper staggered around his goalmouth for a few minutes before being escorted to the dressing rooms. A volunteer was required for the nets and Ronnie Whelan stepped forward. Only three minutes remained for Leeds to test the replacement. Bremner shot from 20 yards but was fractionally high and Lawrenson rose to head clear a corner without Whelan having to leave his line. With the referee checking his watch Madeley found Peter Lorimer in a yard of space 25 yards from goal. The most feared right foot in football snapped into action to send an effort hurtling towards goal. Souness launched himself into an attempted block and managed to deflect the ball which looped high up into the goalmouth. Whelan saw the ball dropping towards Jordan and came out to challenge but he had mis-read the flight and the ball carried on over them both to reach Jones arriving at the far post to nod home and send the game into extra time. Full Time: Leeds United 2 Liverpool 2 Unbelievable. These two teams had now been snapping at each other for 300 minutes and still they could not be seperated. Both teams now faced extra time with only ten men and Liverpool had an outfield player in goal. Leeds had spent too much energy holding on for the majority of the second half a man short to be able to make the most of their advantage now, however. Liverpool were able to keep good control of possession for the most part without looking particularly like creating anything themselves. Norman Hunter sent in one decent effort from 30 yards but Whelan leapt to punch clear in spectacular fashion. Allan Clarke also had one half chance from a narrow angle but his shot skidded beyond Whelan's far post. With the game just into the second period of extra time Howard Gayle suddenly embarked on a run from his own half, brushing aside the tiring Reaney for once, and surging away from Lorimer and Madeley too. Suddenly the winger was clear of the defence and bearing down on goal. Sprake came out to meet him but was powerless to block Gayle's low shot. With the Liverpool fans half way up celebrating the goal the ball fizzed just the wrong side of the upright. Back came Leeds and Sammy Lee had to hack a Jordan header off the line following a corner before Hansen blocked a Jones effort that squirmed through Whelan's gloves also on the goalline. With time running out Clarke went over Thompson's challenge just outside the box and Leeds had themselves a free kick in a central position. Whelan was not absolutely sure where to position the wall which ended up massed right in front of him. Lorimer stepped forward to hammer a blur of a shot over the untidy wall and nobody was totally sure what had happened until the ball landed some 15 yards behind the taker having smashed against the crossbar. Ronnie Whelan was still waiting for the kick to be taken. The final whistle, sounded seconds later, meant that these teams would now have to meet for a third replay and Football England were faced with another logistical nightmare. It was not ourselves or these two teams or even their supporters who you needed to feel sorry for, however. Spare a thought for the Preston North End team of 1888-89 who were still awaiting the winners of this tie. Faced with making the journey into the future to meet one of these two teams the Preston squad had now been shacked up together on a barge on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, just outside Blackburn, for two weeks waiting for news of which way to set sail. By now they had drunk at least three pubs in the vicinity dry and were facing the prospect of setting off one way or the other just to find fresh beer supplies. I hope this waiting won't count against them when they finally come to play their 4th round tie. Full Time (after extra time): Leeds United 2 Liverpool 2
4th Round
Arsenal (1988-89) v. Hereford United (1971-72) Arsenal: J.Lukic, L.Dixon, D.O'Leary, T.Adams, N.Winterburn, D.Rocastle, K.Richardson, P.Davis, B.Marwood, A.Smith, P.Groves. subs: R.Wilmott, G.Caesar, P.Merson. Hereford: D.Icke, R.Griffiths, M.McLaughlin, A.Jones, K.Mallender, D.Tyler, T.Gough, C.Addison, R.Radford, B.Owen, B.Meadows. subs: T.Naylor, R.George, D.Rudge. att: 32,995 (1,866) Having beaten non league Sutton United in the previous round George Graham's Arsenal side were hardly quaking in their boots at the prospect of facing another non league side in Hereford United, conquerors of the 1966-67 QPR side. Hereford had been struck by an injury to their goalkeeper Fred Potter who had a thigh strain and was unable to travel into the future for this fixture, even though manager Colin Addison had suggested there might be miracle cures available in 1989 which would allow him to play. The journey into the future had been something of a traumatic one for Addison and Hereford. When they set off they had had a handy young reserve goalkeeper from Coventry ready to take Potter's place but by the time they arrived in 1989 they had a turquoise clad, highly spiritual, conspiracy theorist who was also apparently a distant relation of God. While recognising that any help from David Icke's "old man" might come in handy against the Gunners Addison was still somewhat perturbed about the change in his stand in keeper. There was faint amusement on the Highbury terraces as the Hereford goalkeeper took his station in his pristine turquoise shellsuit and this increased when he failed to remove it before the game kicked off. Arsenal were soon swarming forward and finding holes in the Hereford defence. Brian Marwood went past Roger Griffiths twice in the first five minutes to send over crosses which Alan Smith could not head on target while Perry Groves shot wide when expertly supplied by Paul Davis. Dudley Tyler managed to slip past Nigel Winterburn on one occasion to send in a hopeful cross shot which was never troubling John Lukic but the play remained concentrated in and around the Hereford goalmouth but when Icke was able to watch a 25 yarder from Kevin Richardson pass harmlessly wide of his post on 10 minutes he had still not been given reason to muddy his shellsuit. The next Arsenal threat came from a series of corners with O'Leary and Adams combining with Alan Smith to provide a genuine aerial threat. Icke was well positioned to tip two efforts over the bar, however, and when Rocastle put a bit too much height on his next delivery the keeper strode confidently from his line to make the ball his own. If Addison had been surprised by the transformation in Icke's personality on their trip to the future he was still more amazed in the transformation in his goalkeeping. Icke was the epitome of confident assurance and this self belief could quickly be seen transmitting itself to those in front of him. Ken Mallender suddenly intercepted a pass meant for Rocastle and immediately set off on the counter attack. The storming full back powered away from Richardson before sending over an inviting centre that Billy Meadows headed flush against the bar. When Tony Gough then forced Lukic into a plunging save the first signs of unrest among the Highbury faithful became evident. Stung into action Arsenal roared back into attack. Brian Marwood shot inches wide after lovely work by Davis and Icke got down comfortably to collect a header from Smith. Suddenly Davis combined with Rocastle whose perfectly weighted ball had Perry Groves running through on Icke. Groves dummied to sh |
