Matchday Memories: On This Day 1982 – Soton Sizzler (5-5) Sees Sexton’s Sky Blues & Saints Share Spoils

Dave Sexton, CCFC’s gaffer

On this mid week day (May 4th) in 1982 the Sky Blues were fourteen seasons into their top flight career and pootling around the lower reaches of Division One without being in any real danger under ‘gaffer’ Dave Sexton.

They had hit something of a purple patch since losing 1-0 at Ipswich Town at the beginning of April having won four and drawn two of their last six including a 6-1 Highfield Road demolition of Sunderland on 27th April. Though no goals were scored three days ago in City’s home game with Tottenham Hotspur, today’s fixture resumed the goal feast. The Sky Blues visited the Dell with three matches of the season left and came away with a 5-5 draw with Southampton in a thoroughly exciting encounter in front of 18,522 fans.

Sky Blue Steve

Given not just that the Sky Blues had beaten the Saints 4-2 at Highfield Road in September but that the Saints had scored 48 home goals and Kevin Keegan (with 28 goals) was the league’s top scorer the scoreline (the game’s high scoring outcome) was perhaps more predictable than at first sight! The fans went wild, sixteen goals in the two games- wow!

Mark in the Sky Blue

It was hard to keep up, particularly in the second half! Sky Blues winger Steve Whitton opened the scoring after eleven minutes and City held the lead until a 22nd minute equaliser from the Saints’ Kevin Keegan. Young centre-forward and quite recent visitor to the CBS Arena as CCFPA’s ‘special’ matchday guest, Mark Hateley then restored the Sky Blues lead -the first of a hat-trick – two minutes before the break to see the away team go in 2-1 ahead.

The advantage didn’t last too long into the second period once the Saints’ Keith Cassells scored after 47 minutes. Then the Sky Blues roared into a 4-2 lead which they then in turn surrendered. First Mark got his second on fifty minutes and then Steve then got his second on the hour.

The Saints’ Alan Ball pulled it back to 4-3 with a goal only a minute later followed by Keith Cassells‘ second on 69 minutes. Saints thought they had achieved the comeback of all comebacks with only seven minutes to go when Kevin Keegan also got his second to put the home side into the lead for the first time in the game at 5-4.

Then, in a fantastic finale for the Sky Blues, up popped Mark Hateley again in the last minute of the game to complete his treble and ensure a stupendous five all draw. The referee for the game was Mr. T.Bune.

A match report taken from CCFPA’ Chairman Jim Brown‘s book ‘Coventry City The Elite Era’ appears above left with team details but for the record Sexton’s Sky Blues lined up as follows (All later CCFPA members except Les and Steve W.):-

The late Les Sealey, Danny Thomas, Steve Jacobs, Ian Butterworth, Paul Dyson, Gary Gillespie, Steve Whitton, Gerry Francis, Mark Hateley, Garry Thompson and Steve Hunt.

CCFC 1981-82

The Saints had a great season finishing seventh whilst the Sky Blues were seven below them in fourteenth, fully eight points clear of any relegation trouble. The relegated trio this season were Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers and bottom club Middlesbrough.

Liverpool took the Division One title four points clear of runners-up Ipswich Town.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images & graphic.