When Luton embarrassed Arsenal in the League Cup final 30 years ago

By -

With 10 minutes to go in the 1988 final, Arsenal were coasting. Then Nigel Winterburn missed a penalty and it all went wrong

By Steven Pye for That 1980s Sports Blog

The warning signs were there for Arsenal before the 1988 Littlewoods Cup final. George Graham’s team were expected to maintain their grip on the trophy they had won the year before against Liverpool – especially when they beat league champions Everton home and away in the semi-finals – but Arsenal had not always coped well as favourites. Swindon (1969), Ipswich (1978), West Ham (1980) and Valencia (1980) had all defied the odds to beat Arsenal in finals; Luton were about to add their name to that list.

George Graham’s first headache came when David O’Leary suffered an achilles tendon injury. His absence would prove crucial. “For me O’Leary is the Arsenal defence,” said Luton striker Mick Harford. “He organises everything. I was delighted when I heard he wasn’t playing, because he is so important to them.” The job of replacing O’Leary fell on the young shoulders of Gus Caesar, who hardly inspired confidence after his mistake gave Watford a 1-0 win at Highbury in Arsenal’s last match before the final.

Continue reading...

from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2018/feb/24/arsenal-league-cup-final-luton-town-wembley

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Newcastle’s transformation and reconnection testament to Howe’s coaching | Andy Brassell

By -
Club’s supporters’ minds will start to wander to potential trips next season after long-awaited return to Champions League The roar at kick-off, the roar that had been there in most of the previous 18 home games of this season, was maybe given a few extra decibels here. Added to renewed hope, present all season, was a touch of yes, this really is happening. Then came the moment, with fireworks being wedged into the tops of milk bottles, at the beginning of stoppage time, when Nick Pope was finally forced into some sort of movement to deny Timothy Castagne, to make sure it did happen. It came after one of the Newcastle keeper’s slowest days of the season, after what had often resembled a half-pitch, beat-the-packed-defence training exercise against a Leicester team largely too meek to threaten Geordie dreams. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2023/may/22/newcastle-champions-league-eddie-howe
Read more

Richarlison’s first Tottenham goals punish Marseille for Mbemba’s red card

By -
There was the obligatory pre-match footage of Lucas Moura’s winner at Ajax and then the declaration on the big screen at Tottenham’s magnificent stadium, one that is built to stage these kind of Champions League nights. “We’re back.” For so long, it appeared that the grand return after a two-season absence would fall flat, even when Marseille were reduced to ten men in the 47th minute following Chancel Mbemba’s last-man foul on Son Heung-min. It was a dreadful misjudgment by the former Newcastle centre-half. Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/sep/07/tottenham-marseille-champions-league-group-d-match-report
Read more

Newcastle v Southampton: match preview

By -
A big day beckons for Adam Armstrong. Born and bred in Newcastle and part of his hometown club’s academy from the age of nine, the Southampton striker was devastated to be told he was not good enough to make the grade at St James’ Park. That was three years ago when Armstrong was sold to Blackburn in a transfer that would prove the making of him and preface this summer’s £15m switch to Southampton. Now he can show his former employer – and Steve Bruce’s side are not only winless so far this season but have scored just two goals in 270 minutes – precisely what they are missing. Louise Taylor Saturday 3pm Continue reading... from Football | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/newcastle-southampton-match-preview-premier-league
Read more