A Coventry fan reacts after seeing a 'goal' from Coventry City's Danish striker #29 Victor Torp disallowed after a VAR (Video Assistant Referee) review for an offside in the build-up during the English FA Cup semi-final football match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium in north west London on April 21, 2024. (Photo by Ian Kington / AFP) / NOT FOR MARKETING OR ADVERTISING USE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Matchday Memories: On This Day 1979 – Sky Blues End 40 Year Saints Hoodoo At Soton
On this day (13th October) in 1979 CCFC Manager (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne took his side to Southampton for a Division One game. The Dell had been the site of many a thrashing by the Saints in the past with no win there since 1939. Additionally, the Sky Blues had already lost all their away games so far (sometimes heavily) at Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Manchester City and Bristol City so there was naturally some trepidation, especially as the south coast club were currently in the top four with the Sky Blues mid-table.
However, it was the men from Coventry who came out on top by the odd goal in five as the Sky Blues’ battling performance ended that dreadful away run! It also dealt the Saints their first home defeat of the season to boot! However, things were looking ominous (after a goalless first half) when the home team’s forward Phil Boyer notched their first just after the break.
A brace from now CCFPA member Ian Wallace demonstrated to all, if that was needed, how lethal a finisher he had become. ‘Wally’ scored two opportunistic goals in the 56th and 62nd minute to snatch the lead for the Sky Blues. Though Charlie George equalised with twenty minutes to go City took the win with a beautifully chipped winner from CCFPA member Ray Gooding after ‘Wally’ had set him up!
