It would prove to be a pivotal match in the 1989/90 season for both Aston Villa and Everton. A crossroads during the campaign where one team took a wrong turn and the other joined the road that led to a title race. And all of this was played out in front of a live ITV audience on the Big Match.
There was a sense of anticipation as the opening credits rolled and that classic theme tune played on Sunday November 5, 1989. Aston Villa and Everton were potential title challengers, and it was hard to disagree with co-commentator Ian St John when he predicted a score draw between two teams that looked evenly matched.
Everton had topped the table two weeks before their visit to Villa Park, and a win would see them return to the summit. Colin Harvey had spent over £8 million in the past two years in an attempt to bring the title back to Goodison Park and there were signs of encouragement at the start of the 1989/90 campaign.
£1.1 million signing Mike Newell was top scorer in the First Division and had been called up to England's squad for their crucial World Cup qualifying match in Poland, with his early season form keeping £2.2 million man Tony Cottee out of the Everton side. But Newell's fortunes would sadly reflect those of his team; his next league goal would come on the final day of the season.
Being involved in a title tilt seemed a distant dream for Graham Taylor and Aston Villa after a poor start to the season. Finishing 17th the year before, pressure was growing on Taylor, with the team sitting in the same position after seven matches of the new campaign. He was seemingly dropping down the pecking order in the list of managers predicted to succeed Bobby Robson as England supremo.
But then everything seemed to click. Four successive league wins pushed the club up to fourth place, and a win against Everton would see Villa go just a point behind leaders Chelsea. Summer signings Kent Nielsen and Paul McGrath started to bed in, yet it was the form of David Platt that was beginning to attract attention.
Released from Manchester United as a free transfer in 1985, Platt's form at Crewe Alexandra had seen Taylor beat off challenges from Terry Venables and Brian Clough to sign the midfielder for £200,000 in February 1988. Playing as a forward during Villa's recent revival, Platt's six league goals had pushed him into contention for a place in the England squad.
"Platt was worth every penny," Taylor stated before the Everton match. "I wouldn't want to sell him, but in today's market he must be worth £1.5 million." Platt's performance in front of the TV cameras added to his growing reputation.
With Andy Gray joining Elton Welsby for an early appearance as a pundit, the players made their way on to the pitch, Villa sporting their glorious Hummel kit as opposed to the less than appealing grey and white striped effort of Everton. The superiority in kits would soon be reflected in the extraordinary events of that afternoon.
Villa took a 6th minute lead when full back Chris Price played a lovely through ball to Gordon Cowans who thumped a right footed finish past Neville Southall. With the gangly Ian Ormondroyd providing a constant threat on the left wing, Everton struggled to hold back the constant swarm of attacks.
Ormondroyd would play his part in the second goal in the 20th minute, as his cross found Platt, who turned a clever volley towards goal. Southall saved the initial effort before spilling the ball, allowing Ian Olney to bundle home. Olney was another thriving in Villa's upturn in form, having won the Young Player of the Month award in October.
Everton's frustration was clear to see when Norman Whiteside took out Ormondroyd with a late challenge to earn his sixth booking of the season. Shortly afterwards, Whiteside would foul the same player, with the resulting free kick leading to Villa's third after just 25 minutes. Platt's superb header from Cowans' set piece was a clear demonstration of his ability to time his runs to perfection.
Half-time saw Whiteside and the injured Dave Watson replaced by debutant Peter Beagrie and Graeme Sharp. Everton's shaky defence, already without Kevin Ratcliffe, Ian Snodin, and Neil Pointon, was reshuffled. Midfielder Stuart McCall moved to right back, John Ebbrell switched across to the left, and Neil McDonald slotted alongside Martin Keown at centre back.
Poor Keown. Leaving Villa in the summer, he suffered at the feet of his former teammates and the majority of the 17,637 fans present revelled in his discomfort. "Keown, Keown, what's the score?" enquired the joyous Villa faithful, as the second half threatened to get out of hand.
Within seven minutes Villa made it 5-0. Full back Kevin Gage darted forward and fed Platt in the box, and his sublime drop of the shoulder turned Keown inside out before he fired past a helpless Southall. Two minutes later, Southall parried Ormondroyd's effort and although Platt could not turn in the rebound, Olney followed up to send the Holte End into delirium.
Everton's misery was complete in the 68th minute when Nielsen outjumped an unusually out of sorts Southall to make it six from another Cowans free kick. With over twenty minutes remaining there was a real danger of Everton suffering their biggest defeat since their 7-0 loss to Portsmouth in 1949. But there was a tiny bit of light in the darkness.
Newell and Pat Nevin would strike the woodwork, and at least two late strikes from Cottee and a thumping own goal by McGrath limited the damage. But the goals barely papered over the cracks. "Never mind about management," Harvey admitted. "It was one of my worst days in football."
Understandably Taylor was excited after the 6-2 thrashing. "We were exceptional. This result should give the whole club confidence." Villa's title odds were immediately slashed from 50/1 to 33/1, and the dismantling of Everton made a lot of those watching open their eyes to the fact that Taylor's team could be a contender.
"Remember, remember the fifth of November," wrote Stephen Bierley in the Guardian. "Neither Aston Villa nor Everton will quickly forget this one. Gory for Everton, glory for Villa." The victors, and Platt in particular, would go from strength to strength. But in truth, Harvey and Everton never recovered.
Ten days after Villa's memorable display, Platt earned his first England cap as a substitute against Italy, and after scoring 19 league goals in the season he was named as PFA Player of the Year. And then came Italia 90, three goals, and a tournament that would change his life forever. In the right place at the right time once again.
Ultimately Taylor's Villa could not stay the course with champions Liverpool. Yet their transformation from relegation candidates to title contenders proved enough for the FA to seek Taylor's services when a successor for Robson was needed. We all know how that ended, and the pain he had to go through. But Villa fans will forever be grateful for the rejuvenation of the 89/90 season.
There was no such joy for Everton fans after the Villa defeat. By the end of the year the club had slumped to 10th in the table and although they eventually finished sixth, the writing was on the wall for Harvey. A poor start to the next campaign saw him replaced by Howard Kendall, as Harvey returned to the position of assistant.
That match at Villa Park was an entertaining way to spend a Sunday for any neutrals. But for Everton fans either at the ground or at home, it should have come with a public health warning. Hit for six on national television, the glory days of the past did not look likely to continue as a new decade dawned.
No comments:
Post a Comment