|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
Matches
|
|||||||||
27
April 1968 - Everton 1 Leeds United 0
|
|||||||||
FA Cup semi-final - Old Trafford - 63,000 |
|||||||||
Scorers: None |
|||||||||
Everton: West, Wright, Wilson, Jackson, Labone, Harvey, Husband (Young 87), Kenyon, Royle, Kendall, Morrissey |
|||||||||
Leeds United: Sprake, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, Lorimer, Madeley, Jones, Giles, Gray (Greenhoff 64) |
|||||||||
|
|||||||||
It promised to be a mouth-watering encounter: Leeds were the
team of the season, still in the running for four major trophies,
while Catterick was building a highly promising team, featuring
England World Cup winners in Ray Wilson and Alan Ball and a host
of exciting young players, like Howard Kendall, Colin Harvey,
Brian Labone and Joe Royle. On the day, he was without the suspended
Ball and John Hurst, following an attack of jaundice and replaced
him with 21-year-old Irishman Tommy Jackson, who had only made
his League debut the week previously. Leeds were at full strength, though that had meant being without
both Mike O'Grady and Albert
Johanneson for virtually the entire campaign. Lack of wingers,
though, made for a much more solid look to the team's midfield
combination, where Bremner and Giles were enjoying splendid seasons.
The arrival of England centre-forward Mick Jones in United's first
£100,000 deal in September had brought a keener edge to United's
hitherto limited attack. From the first whistle from referee David Smith it was clear
that this would be a fiery encounter. Both teams were keyed up
for the occasion and launched into some fierce tackles. Within
three minutes, Everton right-back Tommy Wright was the first to
need attention, and he was soon followed by Harvey. As the football began to emerge, Johnny Giles tried a neat lob
for Mick Jones to chase, but he lost out to Labone, who was quick
to turn and recover. Everton broke back into a period of pressure
and it looked like winger Jimmy Husband would get a chance, but
he was snuffed out after some good covering by Bremner. Both sides were determined to give nothing away. At one stage
Paul Reaney passed back fully 40 yards to Gary Sprake and his
Merseyside counterparts were just as ready for safety first. There
was a series of scrappy fouls and even scrappier play, with Jones
suffering at the hands (or feet and shoulders, United started to inject the decent football that the game was
crying out for, with Terry Cooper taking a pass 30 yards out from
Bremner and firing in a sizzling shot, which Gordon West did well
to save. Minutes later the Everton keeper crashed into Mick Jones
as he punched the ball out for a corner. Madeley nodded the flag
kick on to Jones, whose shot as he fell only just cleared the
bar. The game was bogged down for the most part in an untidy midfield
stalemate. It was clear that it would take a flash of brilliance
or else a lack of fortune on somebody's part to break the deadlock. Sadly, it was Gary Sprake who was the day's victim. He had been
favouring his damaged shoulder for some time and was badly restricted
in his movement, unable to throw the ball clear as would be his
normal wont. Royle was taking every opportunity to harass the
Welshman into error and eventually his persistence paid off. Eric Todd in The Guardian: 'Two minutes before the end of a tawdry
first half, Sprake, with Royle dancing harmless attendance, was required
to get rid of the ball near the edge of his penalty area. He swayed, bobbed,
and feinted, and finally kicked it weakly to Husband who was lurking on
the right. Husband lobbed the ball back smartly and I shared Charlton's
view that it would have gone into the net. The Leeds centre-half, hoping
perhaps that Sprake would save the inevitable penalty or that Everton
would miss it, turned the ball away with his hands. Morrissey did not
miss.' Paul Reaney recalled later: 'When the left winger put the ball over I'm
going across the line towards it - but Big Jack's coming back and handballed
it. I'm yelling at him, going, "What you doing?" I could have
got it off the line, but instead it was a penalty and they scored. I gave
Jack some stick for that.' Stung into retaliation, United did all they could to get back
on terms before the break. Cooper was the prime threat as he pierced
the Everton ranks with some delightful dribbling before thumping
a splendid drive which beat West but struck the bar. The second half was all nip and tuck with both sides having chances.
Leeds had the better of things, with some decent passing movements
as Giles started to exercise some influence. Eddie Gray had been left limping from a first half challenge,
and after 64 minutes Greenhoff
was brought on to replace him. The striker brought a little more
zip and zest to United's approach work, though Everton came close
to increasing their lead when Husband hit the best chance of the
match well wide. The play was considerably cleaner than in the first half, though
Everton were making some rugged stops to deny United's football,
which was beginning to flow. It was looking increasingly as if
an equalising strike was not going to come. Desperate times require
desperate measures and Leeds threw Bremner and Charlton
into attack as Everton were content to frustrate United, though they looked
quite dangerous themselves when they chose to mix in the occasional
attack. The Toffeemen resorted to some time wasting and spoiling
tactics, but the Whites had been guilty on too many occasions
of such gamesmanship themselves to have any legitimate complaint. Don Revie's men just did
not have the guile or inspiration to find a way through or round
a committed defensive barrier and they had to give best on the
day to determined opponents. Richard Ulyatt in the Yorkshire Post: 'Everton deserved to win,
but it was a poor exhibition, with Leeds unable to raise their game and
Everton's superiority concealed only by the tremendous amount of running
the young players did, a strange, unreal game won by a penalty awarded
after an unusual situation had developed. The pattern of the match was
set early on by five free kicks for fouls in the first three minutes and
thereafter nearly every time a player was tackled he went down, received
careful treatment and got up refreshed, in search of vengeance. 'Everton scraped to Wembley by a stroke of luck. In the second half they
had only one chance, and that was missed by Royle, and another half chance.
Cooper missed one exciting shot from 30 yards for Leeds which hit the
crossbar and Lorimer made West bring off the best save of the match, but
the vital play was in midfield where the Everton tackling was so quick
and persistent that the Bremner-Giles link was not allowed to develop. 'Everton's outstanding men were West in goal, the magnificent Labone,
who tackled, covered and worked unceasingly, Kenyon, who joined him as
a second centre-half, helping successfully to dominate Jones, the ebullient
Royle and Kendall, who harried every Leeds player with the ball. Leeds
could not rid themselves of these untiring challengers who were frequently
reinforced by Harvey.' Eric Todd: 'Those people seeking excuses for Sprake's blunder pointed
out that he had injured his throwing arm earlier on. That still left him
with one good arm and two sound legs, any one of which surely could have
despatched the ball to comparative safety? Poor, unhappy Sprake! He
threw the ball into his own net in December at Anfield where Leeds lost
0-2 - did he recall that episode on Saturday? - and now this. When
Leeds come to ponder on how and why they failed to win the FA Cup and,
as seems likely, the League championship, they may well have blackness
in their soul when they remember Everton and Liverpool. Sprake's self
analysis does not bear thinking about. 'Sprake nevertheless usually is an accomplished performer, and he must
not shoulder all the responsibility for Saturday's defeat. Leeds played
it too tough too often though some of the injuries to Everton's dignity
and persons were exaggerated by theatrical tumbles and writhings. (Such
tactics always sustain any campaign against baddies and win sympathy for
the alleged injured.) There was, however, no sustained method behind the
Leeds approach and Giles, so often their general, did not remotely approach
commissioned rank this day. Nor did anyone else volunteer to take command.
This as much as Sprake's aberration cost Leeds the game. 'The output of Bremner, Lorimer and Cooper again was tremendous. Beyond
that, the less said the kinder about Leeds, who suffered their tenth defeat
in 61 matches this term. It is a considerable record though its achievement
has not impressed the purists. Thousands of people who watched the League
Cup final and who have seen this hard, uncompromising Leeds side in
action elsewhere, will be relieved that St George, as represented by Everton,
has denied the Leeds dragon a second trip to Wembley. There are, however,
many bunches of sour grapes behind such expressions of relief and if Leeds
can muster sufficient reserves of energy in the Fairs Cup closing stages,
they may yet be in a position to cock a snook at their many critics. And
they won't half enjoy doing just that. 'Everton without question 'There was little thrust and even less finishing power in the Everton
attack, which had to be reshuffled after the late withdrawal of Hurst,
a victim of hepatitis, which will keep him out of the game for the remainder
of the season. But young Kenyon worked magnificently and gave further
evidence that Mr Harry Catterick's kindergarten is as rich in promise
and actual fulfilment as any of its kind in the country. In a year or
two Everton should be a very formidable side. 'No praise could be too high for Everton's backs, who tackled effectively
and who seldom surrendered their initiative in midfield. Labone was the
outstanding player of the game, and Jackson, a Northern Ireland Under-23
international, and Harvey gave fine support. In Jackson's only League
appearance - against Nottingham Forest - he did a good job. Giles now
will vouch for Jackson's devotion to duty. West, too, warrants special
mention for his excellent catching, and a superb save from Lorimer, who
can shoot harder from 30 yards than can some forwards from ten. West,
however, knew nothing about a drive from Cooper, who beat five men in
a brilliant run before letting fly from 30 yards. The ball hit the crossbar.
Sprake had far less to embarrass him. Sad it was that when Fate called
upon him, he was found wanting.' It was a tremendous disappointment for Leeds as they lost at the semi-final
stage for a second successive year. In the space of four short days they
had seen their challenge for both League and Cup come a cropper - a defeat
at struggling Stoke the previous Tuesday had left them struggling to make
up ground in the title chase. The following week Don Revie used his regular Saturday column in the
Yorkshire Evening Post to issue a defiant message to United's critics:
'As manager of Leeds United, I am not worried about being in charge of
a successful club! I am proud of Leeds United and every player. Many critics
and fans outside Yorkshire were delighted at our FA Cup semi-final defeat
by Everton. 'Precious few successful teams are popular among rival fans, and I do
not care what the general soccer public feels about Leeds United so long
as we are still held in high esteem among our own fans. That defeat has
been taken out of all proportion. On grounds all over the country, I 'But we take this with a pinch of salt. I am now heartily sick of denying
that we are an uninspiring, ruthless and unethical side with little or
no individual flair or confidence in scoring goals. Our unpopularity began
when we were branded a dirty side when winning promotion to the First
Division in 1964, and they have gained momentum because of our tight,
tactical approach in away games. In other words, the general soccer public
is too influenced by what it reads about us, and the majority have not
seen the better side to our soccer. 'There are two aspects to every team in the world nowadays - an attacking
face at home and a defensive one away. Surely, we have proved that we
are capable of playing attacking soccer this season in being the only
First Division club unbeaten at home? 'I predicted beforehand that the match against Everton would not be a
classic, and would be decided by one defensive mistake. So it turned out
to be. 'Apart from the fact that United and Everton possess two of the strongest
defences in the country, semi-finals are rarely anything else but close,
cautious and uninspiring from the entertainment point of view.' It all smacked of the rank paranoia that was constantly around
Revie and his club, but he was clearly riled at the criticism
they had faced. United had already secured the League Cup and had a Fairs Cup semi-final
against Dundee to look forward to, but their self confidence had been
badly shaken. Only time would tell whether the blow was mortal. |