Thursday 17 September 2020

1986/87: Manchester United v Chelsea

Throughout the elongated 2019/20 Premier League season there seemed to be four words that were never far away from live reports, match commentary and social media updates: penalty to Manchester United. Awarded a record 14 penalties for a Premier League campaign - I've put feelers out to try and see if this is an all-time top-flight record - people will no doubt be scrambling to get Bruno Fernandes into their Fantasy Football teams.

Ron Atkinson could certainly have done with a player of Fernandes' composure during their stuttering start to the 1986/87 season. Five defeats in their opening seven matches had already ended any realistic hopes of the Division One title coming to Old Trafford for the first time since 1967, and with their next home fixture against Chelsea being screened live on ITV on Sunday September 28, United's next embarrassing episode would be a very public affair.

After an impressive 1985/86 campaign that had seen Chelsea finish sixth and win the Full Members' Cup at Wembley, manager John Hollins must have held high hopes as the new season commenced. But a similar start to United - albeit with a couple of extra draws - meant that both managers were feeling the strain in the lead-up to the clash of the struggling clubs.

Chelsea had lost 6-2 at home to Nottingham Forest in their previous league match, and then suffered a 1-0 defeat to Third Division York in the first leg of the League Cup second round; they would go on to lose to Fourth Division Cardiff City in the next round. United had at least enjoyed a relatively comfortable 2-0 win over Port Vale, but a missed penalty from Bryan Robson would be a sign of things to come.

Chelsea's hero at Old Trafford may not have played that day, in fact if things had been different then he could have been wearing a Manchester United shirt. Goalkeeper Tony Godden had been dropped after the Forest thrashing, but with Eddie Niedzwiecki returning from a knee injury for the York match and unable to play two games in a week, Godden regained his place.

Available for a free transfer in the summer, Atkinson had been close to signing his former keeper at West Brom, as Gary Bailey recovered from his second knee operation. But Godden went to Chelsea, a club he had been loaned to at the end of the previous season. With his luck running out, Atkinson's decision would come back to haunt him.

Another man who Atkinson had considered signing would deliver the knockout blow at the other end of the pitch. Throughout the previous season rumours circulated that Kerry Dixon would be joining United, reports stating that a £1.25 million bid had been tabled. Yet Dixon's recent form was far from impressive; in 1986 alone, he had only managed four league goals.

Sadly for Atkinson, two of Dixon's goals had come in Chelsea's 2-1 win at Old Trafford in April 1986, a damaging reverse in United's hunt for the title. The win maintained Chelsea's impressive record at the ground; in 12 league matches since 1966 Chelsea had won six and drawn six. Another win followed in September 1986, but under dramatic circumstances.

 

 

Inevitably it seemed, Dixon put Chelsea in front after just two minutes, running on to Nigel Spackman's through ball in the huge gap between John Sivebaek and Paul McGrath, before firing past Chris Turner. David Speedie would miss a good opportunity to double the lead ten minutes later, yet from this point on it would be a case of holding back the red tide.

United probed and threatened constantly but could not find a way past Godden. The closest they came to an equaliser in the first half was when Godden managed to keep out a sliced clearance from teammate Colin Pates, although United claimed that the miskick had actually crossed the line. Yet as the second half progressed, it looked as if the pressure would tell.

Referee George Courtney offered United a lifeline in the 59th minute, awarding a soft penalty for a Godden push on Bryan Robson. Yet Courtney had given with one hand and taken with the other; had he delayed his decision slightly then Peter Davenport would have levelled matters, the centre forward firing past Godden just after the referee had pointed to the spot.

"And what has he given? He's given a penalty. Has he given a penalty? He's given a penalty," a confused and startled Brian Moore stated in commentary. "I think he's completely wrong," co-commentator David Pleat responded. Understandably Chelsea's players were furious, Doug Rougvie protesting too much and earning a booking.

Nevertheless, United had an opportunity to draw level, as Jesper Olsen placed the ball on the spot in front of the Stretford End. The Dane, who had just replaced Remi Moses, had enjoyed success against Godden, scoring a penalty in Chelsea's win at Old Trafford in April. This previous meeting had left a lasting impression on Godden.

"I decided to stay on my line when Jesper Olsen took the first," Godden commented. "He always waits for the keeper to dive. I didn't commit myself and he shot straight at me." Godden saved Olsen's weak effort with his legs, leaving Atkinson exasperated. Just two minutes later, he would have thought the whole world was against him.

Eager to make amends, Olsen burst into the Chelsea box before tangling with John McNaught. Courtney had no doubts about giving United their second penalty in two minutes, even if Moore and Pleat felt it was a 50/50 call. Gordon Strachan stepped forward, telling Courtney to keep an eye on Godden moving early on his line.

Strachan struck his penalty firmly to Godden's right, but the keeper pulled off a fine one-handed stop. "I had it in my mind he was going to blast it and I went the right way," Godden later revealed. Moore was unable to contain himself: "Saved again! Miraculous play from Godden. You would not believe it. How can you miss three penalties in a week?"

Godden may have moved early on both spot kicks. Yet he deserved the praise that would later come his way, even if he was modest in his assessment of the afternoon. "I have quite a good record for penalties - 80 per cent success rate - so it was no surprise that I saved two. But I made better stops. There were three reaction saves to keep them out."

A last-minute reflex save to keep out a Frank Stapleton was just as crucial, allowing Chelsea to snatch a win that increased the pressure on Atkinson. "We need a lucky break," he claimed. "We're getting punished for mistakes at both ends. Now we need to keep our nerve and believe in ourselves."

As Chelsea fans sung about United's manager getting the sack, some of the home fans applauded in agreement. "Their confidence is draining away like water through sand and Atkinson, for all the players' loyalty, seems incapable of doing anything about it," Stephen Bierley wrote in the Guardian. Time was running out for Big Ron.

"He should have signed me in the summer when I was on a free, then it might have been different today," Godden said after his heroics. The 31-year-old would depart during the following summer, but at least he had helped to create a memorable away day for Chelsea fans. As the 1987/88 season developed, happy memories like this seemed a million miles away.

 

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