THE F.A. CUP

THE F.A. CUP

Its nearly upon us again - that trophy - the one that we think we could actually win this year. Without reopening old wounds, let's consider why we should not get too excited about it, at least until we've got to the semis:-

Over the last twenty-odd years we've had some disasters, but its easy to forget the highlights when we're knocked out. How much of this catalogue of catastrophe can you (or do you want to) remember

Crap Cup Draws:

Over the period we've been drawn away 32 games out of 47, compared with 19 away draws out of 46 in the league cup.

Amongst the worst draws were three third round ties:

1978 Everton 1-4: We were a better side than the Bluescouse, but they were desperate to avenge the previous season's league cup final and with referee Clive Thomas anxious to make up for losing them the 1977 semi against Liverpool we were over run.

1979 Nottingham Forest 0-2: Forest were the best in the country at the time, and on a freezing night we went down tamely.

1985 Liverpool 0-3: Mark Walters headed our one and only chance over the bar, there was a pitched battle in the Anfield Road end and we were pathetic. Our mid-eighties slide was underway.

Defeats that didn't matter:

1975 Ipswich Town 2-3: We were rapidly climbing division two, they were top four in division one and we won every other away match that season, apart from one (Orient 0-1!). Oh, and by the way, we also won the league cup.

1981 Ipswich Town 0-1: On our way to the championship, even though they beat us three times that season. They lost in the semi and finished runners-up in the league. A good game to lose as it turned out.

1984 Norwich 0-3: We played them four times within five weeks and three of the games were at Carrow Road. This one was a third round replay which saw the apathy factor reaching new record heights.

1988 Liverpool 0-2: We were struggling to get promoted, and proved to Graham Taylor, Doug and everybody else that we were still a big club with over 46,000 for a televised game. Liverpool haven't beaten us at Villa Park since.

1994: Bolton Wanderers 0-1. Being sandwiched between the two legs of the ultimately glorious league cup semi against Tranmere means that this game has largely been forgotten, but it hurt at the time.

Just Unlucky

Not too many here -

1976 Southampton 1-1: We were one up at the Dell and, believe it or not, their fans invaded the pitch to try to get the game stopped. They equalised in the last minute, won the replay in extra time and went on to win the cup (against Manchester United, though, which was some consolation).

1995 Manchester City 0-1: You'll all remember this one - we were a bit unlucky, but we'd have gone out at Newcastle in the next round anyway.

Bloody London

A catalogue of disaster:

1980 West Ham 0-1: last minute, very disputed, penalty.

1982 Spurs 0-1: They always beat us in those days.

1983 Arsenal 0-2: We had the team to do it that season, but froze.

1986 Millwall 0-1: An inevitable defeat - midweek, the Den, John Fashanu.

1987 Chelsea 1-2: Extra-time - they were shit, we were worse.

1989 Wimbledon 0-1: The match was at Villa Park - they kicked us off it.

1991 Wimbledon 0-1: last minute of extra time after a downpour lasting every one of the hundred and twenty minutes - pneumonia at Plough lane.

1993 Wimbledon 0-0: lost on penalties - Bozzie couldn't save them then.

The only high spot was beating Spurs (again) in 1992.

Quarter Finals

We've been in five in the last twenty years, drawn away every time, lost every time.

1977 Manchester United 1-2: Brian scored in the first minute, Lou Macari moved the ball at a free kick and scored. We won the league cup there a few weeks later, which was a bit more consolation.

1980 West Ham 0-1: See Bloody London.

1983 Arsenal 0-2: See above.

1990 Oldham Athletic 0-3: What a let down. Thousands of Villa fans on that freezing open terrace and Mel Holden look the piss out of Chris Price. The only game where I've left early in the last ten years.

1992 Liverpool 0-1: Magnificent support again, and we weren't quite good enough. They got the only goal (offside?) and got past the might of Portsmouth and Sunderland to give Souness more time to really cock things up.

So there you have it - nightmare, or what ? So the next time a Villa supporter wants to discuss with you whether this is going to be our year (and mark my words, they will), I am sure that you can think up a suitable response. If we don't even think about the possibility, then it might just happen. You never know.

Neil Stevens
Taken from issue 40