BY STEVE MITCHELL
LIVERPOOL SIMPLY IRRESISTABLE AFTER ANFIELD DESTRUCTION OF DERBY:
Another breath-taking performance by league leaders Liverpool saw the Reds score five unanswered goals against Derby County at Anfield this afternoon. 90 minutes of football that was fit for champions saw Kenny Dalglish and Ray Kennedy help themselves to a brace apiece following David Johnson’s first-half opener to leave the visitors shell-shocked.
The only surprise of the afternoon was that it took the home side nearly half an hour to open the scoring; Johnson latching onto a Steve Heighway cross after Dalglish had caused more chaos in the Derby penalty area.
Liverpool’s second, ten minutes after the interval was simplicity itself. Jimmy Case, another of the star performers this afternoon, knocked a 40-yard pass straight into the path of Ray Kennedy as the Derby defence went AWOL; the England man coolly heading over the hapless John Middleton in the visitors’ goal.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe floodgates were about to open and just six minutes later Dalglish got his first of the afternoon with a delicate chip over Middleton which mirrored his European Cup Final winner against Bruges in May. The Scottish wizard had a helping hand in Liverpool’s fourth too; teasing the Derby defenders to leave Kennedy with an open net to chalk up his second of the match.
Two minutes later, central defender Alan Hansen found himself clear in the visitors half of the pitch and unselfishly squared the ball to Dalglish who tapped in his second and Liverpool’s fifth. When referee Mr. Styles blew for full-time it was a merciful release for the Rams and their beleaguered manager Tommy Docherty who were all too aware that they could have lost by a lot more.
36 AND COUNTING AS FOREST WIN AT ASHTON GATE:
Nottingham Forest’s unbeaten run stretched to 36 games this afternoon after a 3-1 victory against Bristol City at Ashton Gate. In a game that saw three of the four goals come courtesy of the penalty spot, Scottish international John Robertson scored two for the visitors with Tom Ritchie grabbing the Robins’ only goal of the game.
Young striker Garry Birtles continued his rich vein of form scoring yet again for Brian Clough’s side as they now prepare for Wednesday’s European Cup second round first-leg trip to Greece to face AEK Athens.
ALLARDYCE THE VILLAIN IN SEVEN GOAL THRILLER AT STAMFORD BRIDGE:
Chelsea staged one of the most incredible fightbacks of this or any other season as they overturned a three goal half-time deficit to beat Bolton Wanderers 4-3 at Stamford Bridge. An Alan Gowling brace and a penalty from Frank Worthington looked to have given the visitors both points heading into the half-time break, but an astonishing second-half fightback from the Blues turned the game completely on its head.
The introduction of Clive Walker by boss Ken Shellito at the interval proved the decisive factor as he set up his side’s first goal which was converted by Tommy Langley. When Kenny Swain got another for the hosts, the seemingly impossible looked on and when Walker levelled things with just two minutes remaining, there was relief all around Stamford Bridge as it looked like a point had been rescued.
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was, however, time for one last dramatic twist as Walker caused more uncertainty in the Bolton back-line before hitting a hopeful cross which was turned into his own net by Trotters central defender Sam Allardyce. Shellito was probably the most relieved man inside Stamford Bridge as speculation regarding his future continues to dominate the sports pages in the capital.
WEEK 10 ROUND-UP:
A Bob Latchford goal ensured Everton kept up the pressure on their Merseyside neighbours at the top of the table. The England striker’s first-half strike was enough to claim the points against Ipswich Town at Portman Road.
West Brom are also back on track after a 3-1 win at Elland Road against Leeds United. Tony Brown and a brace from Cyrille Regis saw the visitors over the line with Byron Stevenson grabbing a consolation for the home side.
Embed from Getty ImagesTwo penalties from Gary Owen moved Manchester City up to fifth after a home win over Coventry City. Tony Book’s men leapfrog city rivals Manchester United who were held to a 2-2 draw by Aston Villa at Villa Park; Sammy Mcllroy and Lou Macari grabbing United’s goals with a John Gregory double ensuring Ron Saunders’ men got a share of the points.
Spurs have hit the dizzy heights of eighth after a 1-0 home win over basement side Birmingham City. An Alan Ainscow own-goal saw the North London club take the points at White Hart Lane. Their bitter rivals Arsenal, however, slipped up at Molineux against Wolves thanks to a second-half goal from Mel Eves.
Southampton and Queens Park Rangers shared the points at The Dell. Ted MacDougall giving the Saints a first-half lead before young Paul Goddard levelled for the visitors. A rare Martin Peters own-goal set Middlesbrough on their way to both points against Norwich City at Ayresome Park this afternoon; David Mills grabbing the other in a 2-0 home win.
FIRST DIVISION RESULTS – SATURDAY OCTOBER 14th
Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester United (Gregory 2; Mcllroy, Macari)
Bristol City 1-3 Nottingham Forest (Ritchie pen; Birtles, Robertson 2 pens)
Chelsea 4-3 Bolton Wanderers (Langley, Swain, Walker, Allardyce o.g. ; Gowling 2, Worthington pen)
Ipswich Town 0-1 Everton (Latchford) (Full match programme below)
Leeds United 1-3 W.B.A. (Stevenson; Brown T, Regis 2)
Liverpool 5-0 Derby County (Johnson, Kennedy R. 2, Dalglish 2)
Manchester City 2-0 Coventry City (Owen 2 pens)
Middlesbrough 2-0 Norwich City (Peters o.g., Mills)
Southampton 1-1 Q.P.R. (MacDougall; Goddard)
Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 Birmingham City (Ainscow o.g.)
Wolves 1-0 Arsenal (Eaves)
UPCOMING FIXTURES – SATURDAY OCTOBER 21st
Arsenal v Southampton
Birmingham City v Aston Villa
Bolton Wanderers v Manchester City
Derby County v Tottenham Hotspur
Liverpool v Chelsea
Manchester United v Bristol City
Middlesbrough v Wolves
Norwich City v Leeds United
Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town
Q.P.R. v Everton
W.B.A. v Coventry City
FOLLOW THE WHOLE 1978-79 SEASON IN THE ENGLISH FIRST DIVISION WITH STEVE MITCHELL HERE ON THE FOOTBALL PINK. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @barafundler
