FA Cup Fifth Round (Last 16)

Notts County 1      Manchester City 0
Lund 89
 
 

Attendance:- 18,979
Referee:- P. Don (Middlesex)
Weather:- Cold and sunny
Corners:- Notts 2 City 6
Goal attempts on target:- Notts 4 City 7
Goal attempts off target:- Notts 5 City 8
Bookings:- Paris & Palmer (Notts) both for fouls
 

Notts County
Colours:- Black and white striped shirts with yellow trim, Black shorts, White socks
League Position:- 4th/24 (2nd Tier)
Manager:- Neil Warnock

1.   Steve Cherry
2.   Charlie Palmer
3.   Paul Harding
4.   Craig Short
5.   Dean Yates
6.   Don O'Riordan
7.   Alan Paris
8.   Phil Turner
9.   Kevin Bartlett
10. Gary Lund
11. Mark Draper *

Sub: Chris Short *90
Sub not used: Tommy Johnson
 

Manchester City
Colours:- Sky blue shirts, White shorts, Sky blue socks
League Position:- 7th/20 (Top tier)
Manager:- Peter Reid

1.   Tony Coton
2.   Ian Brightwell
3.   Neil Pointon
4.   Alan Harper *
5.   Colin Hendry
6.   Steve Redmond
7.   David White
8.   Clive Allen
9.   Niall Quinn
10. Gary Megson
11. Mark Ward

Sub: Adrian Heath *89
Sub not used: Mark Brennan

Video of the match:- BBC Television recorded the tie for highlights to be screened that night on "Match of the Day", see Notts on the box - The 1990's. BBC1's "East Midlands Today" also screened a lengthy three minute report on the following Monday, this shows; Neil Warnock chatting to the players before the match / Bartlett going close / Warnock shouting instructions from the bench / City hitting the post / Cherry making a double save / Warnock shouting more instructions / Bartlett shooting over / 2nd half; City hitting the woodwork twice in quick succession / The Notts goal and the reaction on the Notts bench / City again hitting the woodwork / Final whistle / Dressing room celebrations / Neil Warnock and Gary Lund interviewed in the dressing room / Steve Cherry interviewed pitch-side / Neil Warnock's reaction to the Quarter-final draw (this final section was filmed on the Monday).
 

Nottingham Evening Post Reports

LUND IS MASTER OF COINCIDENCE
NOTTS SINK BRAVE CITY
By David Stapleton

The long arm of coincidence, like that of hero goalkeeper Steve Cherry, could not have stretched much further in Notts County's heart stopping FA Cup revenge win over Manchester City on Saturday.
Gary Lund's 88th minute decider was scored at the same Meadow Lane end, and nestled in the same comer of the net, as Neil Young's only goal of the game for City in the last FA Cup meeting of the clubs in January 1962. Not only that, but Young, too, shot through with his trusted left foot - his right was a swinger symbolic of the times - and there was a masterly goalkeeping performance, from the visitors' great German Bert Trautmann. A big difference, and those now connected with Notts deserve the highest praise, was the condition of the pitch after arctic spells of weather. Twenty nine years ago it was a bog; this time its all-over green made it hard to reconcile that 24 hours earlier it was under five inches of snow. Thus, First Division City could not complain about conditions being a leveller; in fact, their manager and players took what was a cruel defeat with outstanding good grace.

A full blooded, old fashioned cup tie took time to rivet the best crowd at Meadow Lane since Notts' quarter final defeat by Everton seven years ago, but from midway through the first half until the amazing finale the eyes feasted on drama at its finest. The wonder was that there were not goals galore as the action fluctuated at breathtaking pace between the goalmouths. County's Kevin Bartlett and Clive Allen, of City, had more than enough chances to better Spurs' Paul Gascoigne and Cam- bridge's Dion Dublin and collect the only hat-tricks of the fifth round. Bartlett, whose pace and liveliness questioned City's decision to rely on the offside trap, went through an afternoon when he could not hit the target, while the normally prolific Allen was almost as erratic. His one brilliant turn in the 33rd minute forced Cherry into the first of half a dozen tremendous saves; a daring swoop at the striker's feet. Even Cherry could not hold on to the ball which bounced against the post before Alan Paris, successful left back replacement for the suspended Dean Thomas, ushered it off the line and behind for a corner.

The Magpies' goalkeeper, who had conceded 19 goals in five previous losing cup ties against City with Walsall and Plymouth, then sprang to his left to keep out Mark Ward's deliberate shot, made a double save from Steve Redmond and Niall Quinn and parried clear David White's effort in a one-against-one situation. After the interva1 he left his line with impeccable judgement to again block out White, Cherry had the luck he deserved when midfielder Alan Harper's savage 30-yard shot hit the angle of post and bar, Quinn's follow-up rolled against the upright and in injury time, with Notts leading, a header by Quinn bounced to safety off the bar.
However, so strongly did County finish the game, that Cherry had more respite in the last half hour. They made the first of the chances in 19 minutes when Turner's through pass had Bartlett galloping clear, only for City keeper Tony Coton to win this battle of wits. Bartlett, twice, and Turner put more first half shots off target and Notts' interval lament would have been their inability to better employ Coton. Turner, with two firm drives, had done most to remedy the situation when Lund dramatically averted any need of a Maine Road replay. Irish veteran Don O'Riordan, who had a splendid game just in front of the back four and knocked passes about with uncanny judgement, threaded the ball through for Bartlett. The striker collided with goalkeeper Coton and, as the ball ran clear, Turner's positive challenge allowed it to squirm to Lund, who sidefooted low into the corner. Such is the romance of the cup that the winner should have been scored by a transfer listed player, only there because David Regis is cup-tied. Notts' real strength was the teamwork which has made the season such a success story so far. It enabled them to match the First Division's form team in most aspects of the game.
 

NOW FOR GAZZA!
By David Stapleton

FA CUP quarter-finalists Notts County today excitedly looked forward to broadening their soccer education next month against Spurs and Paul Gascoigne - "currently the best player in the world". Notts assistant manager Mick Jones described the draw, which sends them to North London on March 9, as "fantastic". He said that while the club would have preferred being at home, the appeal of White Hart Lane is great for Notts' supporters and players. "It's one of the homes of football and going there will revive memories of Wembley, which we took to like ducks to water in last season’s promotion play-offs," said Jones. "If we want to get out of the Second Division this season the tie will give us an insight into what we are up against. We shall be underdogs, but that's a situation we like and I think we have a realistic chance of reaching the semi-finals. Speaking personally, I feel that Paul Gascoigne is currently the best player in the world. What better experience than to be pitted against people of that calibre."
The England midfielder scored both Spurs' goals as they made progress at Portsmouth on Saturday after being behind at half time. Notts dramatically passed their fifth round test against the First Division's form team, Manchester City, when Gary Lund rounded off a thrilling match with his 88th minute goal.

Said manager Neil Warnock: “It was a marvellous advert for the FA Cup, full of end to end excitement. Though goalkeeper Steve Cherry had a great game for us, I felt we had more chances than City, something not conveyed by BBC television's Match of the Day. We hadn't had a kick on grass since the League match at Portsmouth two weeks earlier, and it was only on Friday that we were able to go through our set piece routine - on several inches of snow on the training ground… without a ball! Every one of my players was magnificent, so much so that I didn't want to make a substitution even in a goalless cup-tie at home which was running out of time. I would love to keep Gary Lund, who scored the winner and is on the transfer list, but he knows at the moment that cup-tied David Regis has earned his place in the side. Yet, it's taken somebody like Regis to bring the best out of Lund, who in company with other lads I left out had gone a bit lethargic."

DOUBLE SAVE BEST
Man of the Match Steve Cherry, who kept a clean sheet after previously conceding 19 cup goals in five games against Manchester City while he was with Walsall and Plymouth: "My double save from Steve Redmond and Niall Ouinn was my best, because I didn't see much of the ball from Redmond's shot. I blocked it, but hadn't a clue where it was going to end up. I managed to get up and save at Quinn's feet."

Alan Paris, who made his full debut for Notts in place of the suspended Dean Thomas: "I was very pleased to keep David White quiet as I knew full well that if you can shut him down there's no crosses for Niall Quinn to exploit. I was delighted and relieved to nick the ball off the line in the first half after Steve Cherry had done so well at Clive Allen's feet."

As for the precious goal, Gary Lund added: “It may have looked easy, but even chances like those have to be put away. And it’s not easy when you know you’re doing it for a place in the last eight.”

City player-boss Peter Reid made no excuses: “Good luck to Notts. Some days it goes for you. That’s when you make the most of it. I have no complaints. It was a fine match and I don’t think anybody who saw it will go home disappointed at the amount of action the tie generated.”
 
 

Up the Maggies footnote:
This was Notts' most celebrated cup win since the 1975 League Cup victory at Leeds United, Gary Lund's late winner is now a part of Meadow Lane folklore. The match would certainly be among my all time top 5 Notts memories and would possibly be the most exciting game I've ever witnessed at the Lane. City were one of the top flight's in-form teams having won all of their last 4 league games whilst Notts had lost their last two in the division below. The FA Cup run continued to distract Notts from the promotion battle (slipping from 4th to 7th between now and the Quarter-Final) but happily there were to be no long term consequences as Notts recovered and went on to win promotion via the play off's.
 

Notts County Season 1990/91
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