CITY 1 WATFORD 1
FA Cup 4th Round
25th January 1986
attendance 31,632
Scorers
City Davies(53)
Watford Jackett(61 pen)
Ref Malcolm Heath
City Nixon, Reid, Power, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, May, Davies, McNab, Simpson – sub Kinsey(unused)
Watford Coton, Gibbs, Rostron, Talbot, Terry, McClelland, Sterling, Callagha, West, Jackett, Barnes – sub Lohman
FROM AN ARTICLE BY JOHN MADDOCKS, PUBLISHED IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 18TH APRIL 1987
Manchester City and Watford had never met prior to the 1982-83 season, remember Bobby McDonald’s super stint in goal after Joe Corrigan was iniured, yet last season they met in all, five times. There were, of course, the two League matches, and then today’s featured game…
…The day dawned bright and crisp, the early morning temperature in Manchester had been -4 degrees C, yet because of City’s undersoil heating and the superb care lavished on the pitch by Stan Gibson and his staff, the playing surface was in perfect condition. There was a large contingent of Hornets’ fans in the crowd, both sets of supporters providing plenty of atmosphere.
In the early stages it was Paul Simpson who caught the eye, twice leaving Nigel Gibbs floundering in his wake as he sought the strikers in the centre. His first contribution, from the left wing, was headed wide by an off-balance Gordon Davies; his second, from the opposite wing, was volleyed just past the far post by David Phillips.
These attacks set the pattem of play for much of the first half, yet McClelland, Talbot and Terry in the Watford defence soaked up virtually everything City threw at them. City’s finishing left a lot to be desired and Watford did look dangerous on the break. John Barnes had been showing iust why he was in the England squad for a forthcoming lntemational game, and just before half-time Worrell Sterling hit the City woodwork.
It was Nigel Callaghan who pressurised the Blues early in the second half. He instigated a move which flowed via Sterling and West to Bames, whose shot was cleared by Phillips. Callaghan again found Bames with a crossfield ball and the City keeper, Eric Nixon, caught the ball under pressure.
No-one expected the game to remain goalless, the League game at Vicarage Road having produced a 3-2 scoreline when Gordon Davies had made his City debut, and Simpson almost broke the deadlock when he beat two Watlaord defenders in a tight space and had his shot headed away by McClelland for a corner.
It was David Phillips in the 53rd minute who sparked off the opening goal. His shrewd pass from a Mick McCarthy clearance found Mark Lillis and the City leading scorer set off on a gallop. From inside the Watford penalty area he released a perfect cross and it was bravely headed home by Davies.
City’s lead lasted iust nine minutes. Watford were awarded a corner and as the ball curled into the City penalty area, McCarthy was adjudged to have pushed McCleland, a hotly disputed decision and one not borne out by TV evidence. Jackett whacked the ball home into the bottom right-hand comer, Nixon going the wrong way.
The drama continued seven minutes later when a Neil McNab free kick found Mark Lillis, wrhose turn appeared to be illegally impeded by Steve Terry. Terry complained bitterly that Lillis had held his shirt but in the event, as far as Watford were concemed, it didn’t matter. Lillis himself took the penalty, it rebounded from the foot of Coton’s right-hand post and Simpson hit the ball over the bar.
John Barnes remained Watford’s main threat but smart handling by Nixon had foiled all his goal-bound efforts. There were bookings for Gibbs and McClelland (Watford) and Kenny Clements….
