6th February 1990

[erimus74]

Boro made history this day, a day us Boro thought we would never see after beating 1st division, now PL, Aston Villa 2-1 on the night, after extra time, 4-2 on aggregate over 2 legs, to book our 1st appearence in a WEMBLEY cup final
Zenith data systems cup final

The Boro had gone to Villa Park for the 1st leg of the Northern section final & against all the odds, as a struggling bottom half of the 2nd division & with a weakened team at that playing, at that time, IIRC, the 1st division leaders Aston Villa, who on the previous Saturday thumped Bury 6-0 with England's golden boy in top form

Villa took the lead in the 1st leg, we equalised & in what was considered a rain storm throughout the match Mark Brennan scored a wonder free kick in the final minutes to put us 2-1 up from the 1st leg

Roll on the 2nd leg & all we need for tonight's match is to avoid defeat & we're at Wembley

The 2nd leg was played at a cat & mouse tempo, we go looking for a goal to make it harder for Villa, with the quality in their side they will pick us off
Graham Taylor, Villas manager, told his player just bide their time till an opening comes & snatch it & that's what happened, with the clock ticking down to the last 15 minutes Villa win a corner at the east end of the ground which was housing the Villa fans
The ball was swung over & practically on the goalline & within the grasp of Stephen Pears hands when Stuart Grey headed in the net, 1-0 to Villa, 2-2 on the night & worse, away goals don't count double

Boro must now hold out till ET & regroup, we were now on the back foot & Villa going for the kill
The ref blew, the 90 minutes were up, noone  said getting to wembley was going to be easy & ET it is, typical Boro will have to do it the hard way & win the game again if we are to create history

And that is what we did & in style, one of Boro's best ever signing, bargain buy Bernie scored a quality goal at the holgate end to put us level on the night & infront on aggregate, the atmosphere was building though still nerves around buzzing AP when in the 2nd half Boro get a corner, Mark Proctor puts the ball across the Villa goalmouth which comes out to Paul Kerr who seizes the chances & on the half volley smashes the ball in the Villa net, against his former team & infront of Villa fans, PK runs away arms aloft, we're the famous Middlesbrough & we're going to Wembley, Wembley

Paul Kerr scored his 1st Boro goal v Villa & a more important goal v Villa, taking us to Wembley

If ever a Boro player, or manager is named after a stand then surely Bruce Rioch stand is the one, he picked us up from our lowest ebb, took us through seasons we'll never forget & now a place at Wembley

[Johnny Thunder]

Absolutely mental night.




 

[Francks left peg]

Some great players there Erimus.