Matchday Memories: On This Day 1989 – See Sky Blues Come Close To Vanquishing Villa In Brum
On this day (13th May) in 1989 the Sky Blues under former full back John Sillett were nearing the end of their highly successful Division One season. Though they had lost their penultimate home game of the season at Highfield Road, 3-0 against Queen’s Park Rangers, their last away match (at Old Trafford) saw a great Sky Blue win against Manchester United thanks to a 72nd minute Gary Bannister goal. Today they were again away from home at the ‘old enemy’, relegation threatened Aston Villa with only Nottingham Forest left to play at Highfield Road in a couple of day’s time.
Once more Gary was the Sky Blue scorer, though this time getting CCFC’s equaliser through a smart header in the 67th minute after 29,906 fans at Villa Park saw the home side take the lead from David Platt with a superb volley after only 18 minutes.
Villa could have been safe both in the game and in staying in Division One by half-time, twice hitting the woodwork, but Sky Blues goalkeeper, the fairly recently retired CCFC Legend (and CCFPA member) Steve Ogrizovic, made some superb saves to keep them out.
On the other hand, Gary might also have won it for the Sky Blues later in the game as an increasingly desperate Villa started to wilt.
The 1-1 draw meant that the Villa were forced to wait ten days to see if West Ham United would be able to win their final couple of games to keep themselves up and put Villa down. Spoiler alert, the Hammers didn’t and the Villains stayed up!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Dean Nelson you can watch the action by clicking on the image below:-
Sillett’s Sky Blues that day lined up as follows:-
Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Tony Dobson, Dean Emerson, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, David Phillips, David Speedie, the late Cyrille Regis, Gary Bannister and David Smith.
In fact, City’s goalscorer was the only member of that day’s team and manager not to later join Coventry City Former Players Association!
The haunted Villa team chosen by manager Graham Taylor that day comprised:-
Nigel Spink, Christopher Price, Stuart Gray, Allan Evans, Steve Sims, Martin Keown, Paul Birch, David Platt, Alan McInally (sub. Ian Olney), Gordon Cowans and Nigel Callaghan Referee:- R.Bridges
Sillett’s Sky Blues finished the season in a brilliant seventh place on 55 points. The Sky Blues also got bragging rights over their closest Midland rivals that season getting the draw at Villa Park to add to the 2-1 win over them at Highfield Road in late November.
In the event Villa stayed up in 17th a point above relegated Middlesbrough. West Ham‘s comeback did not materialise and they were a point further behind in 19th. Newcastle United finished rock bottom and were also relegated seven points further back.
Arsenal pipped Liverpool to the Division One Championship on goal difference that season!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the photos.