Matchday Memories: On This Day 1984 – Bobby’s Boys Draw ‘Must Win’ Hatters’ Match

Gould R the ‘gaffer’

On this day (May 5th) in 1984 Sky Blue manager, former centre-forward (and now CCFPA member) Bobby Gould extracted an important point from a Division One game at Highfield Road. Not for the first time the club definitely had relegation jitters having shipped a dozen goals in their last two outings, 4-1 at Manchester United‘s Old Trafford and an embarrassing 8-2 reverse to Southampton at the Dell a week previously, CCFC’s biggest defeat since 1930.

Today’s match against mid table Luton Town had become a ‘must win’ but the 2-2 draw was better than nothing with only a probably fruitless visit to Anfield and a home finish against the Canaries to come. City had some grounds for confidence having defeated the Hatters 4-2 at Kenilworth Road in early December in a game remembered by an unfortunate own goal from our inexperienced young left back Stuart Pearce!

Nicky Platnauer in the Sky Blue

David Pleat‘s Hatters had former Sky Blue ‘keeper (the late) Les Sealey, CCFPA President Kirk Stephens and former City caretaker manager Frankie Bunn in their side on this day! Though the Sky Blues had the encouragement of a fourth minute lead from Nicky Platnauer, which lasted beyond half-time, the Sky Blues point was only achieved late on as they were forced to come from behind. City were in real trouble when the Hatters scored twice, first from Raddy Antic, just after the hour mark, direct from a free kick.The Hatters’ goal tally was then doubled on 75 minutes thanks to a strike from Mark Stein.