OWLS BEAT THE ODDS TO
OVERCOME FAVOURITES!
_ Sheffield Wednesday emerged
Wfrom a haze that had
enshrouded their city of steel for
more than half-a-century, when they
deservedly defeated Manchester
United in this Rumbelows League
Cup Final.
They were still playing with those
udden-like brown, laced footballs
and sporting those voluminous
o s when the people of Sheffield
elcomed home a team with
eo England's top three trophies.
as in 1935, when Wednes-
a e eated W.B.A. in the F.A. Cup
F a
Fro a point, the city that had
given bi h to football had remained
in the misty shadows of the game
whilst others, like Liverpool, Man-
chester, Birmingham and London,
soared above the clouds to earn
success at home and in Europe.
Until John Sheridan volleyed his
splendid winning goal at Wembley,
that is.
That Wednesday should achieve
this distinction as a Second Division
club, and against the hot favourites,
reflects particular credit upon man-
ager Ron Atkinson - the man Man-
chester United sacked as their man-
ager in 1986.
Ironically, it was a former Man-
chester United player, goalkeeper
Chris Turner, who finally ensured
that the Cup would go to Hills-
borough with a splendid flying save
to Brian McClair's powerful header
just seven minutes from the end.
THREATENING
United had been threatening to get
back into the game and, had they
equalised at that moment, they
might well have gone on to win.
Apart from a few phases during the
second half, United rarely got their
game properly together. One of
their former stars, Scotland interna-
tional Paddy Crerand, put it quite
succinctly when he proclaimed:
"There were some players out there
who needed their backsides kick-
ing."
Wednesday, on the other hand,
settled quickly and steadily grew in
confidence. Though they possessed
few individuals to match some of
United's stars, they played better as
a team.
Their two centre-backs, Peter Shirt-
liff and Nigel Pearson, dominated
the air almost totally. Few defences
have managed to subdue so suc-
cessfully the threat of Mark Hughes
and, though McClair did break to
take a couple of chances, he was
generally kept at a distance.
Wednesday's first threat came in
the fifth minute, following a foul by
Gary Pallister. Sheridan's in-swing-
ing free-kick from the left was
punched out by Les Sealey as two
Wednesday forwards made their
challenge.
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