Sky Blue Thinking: Four great escapes for Coventry City in 80s – part four

Coventry City is a remarkable club. If you only started following English football in the last 20 years you could be forgiven for thinking they were a lower league club. But people of my generation know them as an established top-flight club having spent 34 consecutive seasons in the First Division between 1967-2001. During that period only Arsenal, Everton and Liverpool could claim the same.

Part One saw us look at the incredibly tense finish to the 1982-83 season where the Sky Blues saw off the threat of relegation in their penultimate match. 12 months on they left it even later. They were 20 minutes from going down when Dave Bennett scored direct from a corner to save them.

Part Three covered the 1984-85 season when Coventry had to win their last three matches or they were relegated. Remarkably, they managed it beating champions Everton in the final match.

Now we look at the end of the 1985-86 season when thrill-seekers Coventry were back there again, hurtling towards relegation with faulty brakes and dodgy tyres.

This is the story.

1985-86

Coventry’s first relegation escape of the 80’s was under Dave Sexton in 1983. He left soon after and Gould took over. He steered them clear in 1984 but was gone by Christmas that year. He was replaced by his assistant, Don Mackay.

The club had, had a huge turnover of players during this period. Only Ian Butterworth was still at the club all through this period. But in the summer he was off to Nottingham Forest along with Stuart Pearce. Mackay pounced on Greg Downs to replace Pearce, taking advantage of Norwich’s misfortune of finishing one point behind the Sky Blues and therefore going down.

He did the same with Sunderland, who were also for the drop, and brought in Nick Pickering to bolster the midfield.

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He also signed Brian Borrows from Bolton. A dependable right-back, Borrows had begun his career at Everton before moving to Bolton and thus missing out on their incredible 1984-85 season. He would go on to become one of the most reliable and consistent players at the club for over a decade.

Mackay obviously felt players with relegation-battling experience were most suitable for his team as Wayne Turner joined from Luton Town, a club who’d flirted at the wrong end of the table as Coventry had done, albeit with more success.

The early 80s had often seen the club have a good first half of the season but fade badly in the second. This season they were never out of trouble.

Early on there was promise. They held the champions to a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park and thrashed newbies, Oxford United, 5-2 at home. Regis hit five in a 7-2 win over Chester City in the League Cup. But ultimately goals were a problem. Regis and Bennett just weren’t hitting the target enough. Gibson was top scorer by Christmas but come January the club accepted an offer from Manchester United and off he went.

Alan Brazil came the other way but his best days were well behind him. To be fair his best days were probably behind him when Ipswich sold him to Spurs in ’83, but Mackay hoped he’d offer some threat in front of goal. He didn’t.

They picked up just one point through December during a run of just two points earned in eight games.  There was a mini-revival wins at Oxford and also at Spurs. Then came a crazy game against neighbours, Birmingham City.

Goals from Andrew Kennedy and ex-Sky Blue, Steve Whitton, made it 2-0 to the Blues after just 20 minutes. The home fans had to wait until six minutes into the second half before their team got back into it through Bennett. Seven minutes later Bennett was fouled in the area and Brian Kilcline scored from the spot. Martin Kuhl put the visitors back in front before Bennett scored his second to make it 3-3. Into the last 10 minutes and Kennedy put Birmingham back in front but once again the home side came back when Kilcline scored his second penalty of the match after Pickering was brought down.

They followed this up with a win over Southampton making it 10 points won from a possible 15. But they never made it easy for themselves and once again things turned sour. They didn’t win for another eight matches. Defeat at Ipswich at the end of March left them running out of games and only four points clear of the drop.

The season before they had the advantage of games in hand, but this time the tables were turned. There were just five games to go yet some teams had eight. This was going to be another heart shaker.

This season was a tough one for Midlands sides with three of them occupying the relegation spots, including Aston Villa, champions just five years before and champions of Europe only four years earlier.

Tuesday 1 April 1986

The Easter weekend meant fixtures extended into Tuesday. John Aldridge was on target as Oxford grabbed a crucial point at Southampton. But West Brom again were well beaten and looking increasingly sunk.

Luton, who’d been on a similar journey with Coventry in leaving it late to avoid the drop were now enjoying their best season in the top flight, lying in sixth.

The bottom three was looking like the Ron Saunders relegation zone as all three clubs had been managed by him, with his current charges, West Brom rock bottom. They were now 13 points from safety with just six matches to go.

Saturday 5 April 1986

Coventry’s next outing was for the visit of Manchester United. United were third and struggling to keep in touch with Liverpool and Everton at the top. With their Scottish manager, Coventry had a distinctive Scottish flavour to their team as Glasgow-born Jim McInally had joined from Nottingham Forest. He joined Dave Bowman, an English born in Tunbridge Wells of Scottish parents, alongside Alan Brazil. Brazil was now up against one of his old clubs.

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Former Aston Villa left-back Colin Gibson opened the scoring for the visitors before Bryan Robson doubled their lead. Pickering got one back in the second half but they couldn’t find an equaliser and Strachan completed a 3-1 win for United.

It was now seven without a win for the Sky Blues and next up was a trip to Anfield.

Elsewhere a Mark Falco hat-trick gave Spurs the win at Leicester after the home side had taken the lead. Oxford and Villa couldn’t be separated and West Brom picked up a vital point against Forest.

None of the bottom sides won, but some of them picked up a point. For West Brom, this was nowhere near enough.

Sunday 6 April 1986

Two Mick Harford goals for Luton beat his old club, Birmingham City and put their First Division future in further jeopardy.

Then on the Tuesday, Leicester won a vital relegation battle at Ipswich with Southampton losing at West Ham.

Wednesday saw Oxford pick up another point with Aldridge again on target.

Leicester had now given themselves some breathing space and Ipswich still had games in hand, but points were at a premium

Saturday 12 April 1986

Coventry were off up to Anfield, a venue where they’d never won. Liverpool were top of the league desperate to stop Everton defending their crown. They’d just reached their first FA Cup Final since 1977 and were unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions.

Ronnie Whelan scored twice in six minutes halfway through the first half.  As a contest, the game was over from that point. Whelan turned provider for Jan Molby to score the third early in the second period. Ian Rush, rather predictably, got on the scoresheet too before Whelan completed his hattrick. It seemed far too easy for the home side and Coventry looked devoid of ideas and enthusiasm.

The 0-5 defeat saw the end of Don Mackay. He’d been in charge for 60 matches losing half of those. The fact he’d masterminded the rescue attempt the previous season didn’t give him enough credit in the bank. The board took the decision they needed a change and decided he wasn’t capable of doing it again.

Rather than search for a new manager, a process which could take them beyond the end of the season, the board asked managing director, George Curtis to take over for the last three matches. Curtis was club captain during a 14-year career in the 50’s and 60’s and was Coventry through and through. He promoted youth team coach, John Sillett to help with first-team duties and a legendary era in the club’s history was born.

Aston Villa was the only team in the bottom eight to win as they surprised Watford with a huge win. Andy Gray had moved back to his old club and was on target. Villa seemed to be turning their season around, beaten once in their last seven.

Villa’s win catapulted them up three places, pushing Coventry nearer the relegation zone. Oxford dropped into the bottom three as they tried to turn their first-ever period as a First Division club into a second season.

West Brom’s defeat at QPR meant they were down.

Monday night saw Leicester City miss the chance to create some space for themselves as they were well beaten 1-4 at home to QPR.

Wednesday saw Villa continue their impressive run as a Steve Hodge goal beat Ipswich. Neighbours Birmingham lost again, this time at Spurs.

Villa moved up another place and looked to be in the sort of form which could protect them from the drop, but Ipswich and Leicester just couldn’t seem to pick up many points. Coventry were the concern, given new management in charge and Oxford still had a game in hand.

Saturday 19 April 1986

When Coventry needed to win their last three matches to stay up in 1985, the middle opponent of the three were Luton Town. A late goal from Kilcline won it for the Sky Blues. Twelve months later Luton again arrived at Highfield Road for the host’s third-to-last game.

Despite the change in management, there was no change in the starting line-up, but there was a turnaround in fortunes. They’d been on an eight-game winless streak and at last it was ended as Nick Pickering scored the only goal of the game to give them a crucial three points.

It was timely too as everyone around them lost, although Leicester had a weekend off and Oxford United were in the Milk Cup Final (League Cup) where they provided a shock with a 3-0 win over QPR.

Coventry’s win took them four points clear of safety although Oxford had two games in hand and a trophy in the cabinet.

Birmingham’s defeat at home to Southampton meant they joined West Brom in being relegated. There was now just one place to decide.

Saturday 26 April 1986

The boost the Luton victory had given the club was huge. But there was still work to do to make things safe. They travelled down to the capital to take on West Ham United. They won there four years before but that was their only success at the ground in 11 years. Curtis and Sillett preferred a front three of Brazil, Regis and Bennett but still they found goals hard to come by. Tony Cottee scored the only goal of the game and the Sky Blues had missed the chance to build on the performance the week before.

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The big game down the bottom was at Portman Road where Ipswich took on Oxford United. Aldridge was again on target as the visitors took the lead but Ipswich hit back with three goals. Les Phillips got one back for Oxford towards the end but the win for Ipswich was great news for Coventry.

Leicester went to Old Trafford and were sent packing in a 0-4 defeat and their poor form was another comfort for Sky Blues fans.

Coventry had dropped one place after Ipswich’s win, and the two immediately below them, Leicester and Oxford had games in hand. Coventry had one game left to try and stay up. It was at home and the club was trying to reignite the atmosphere of the previous two years when they won at home on the last day to stay up.

But before then both Leicester and Oxford played.

Wednesday 30 April 1986

Three games were played on this evening and all involved clubs in and around the relegation zone.

Ipswich were at West Ham and were beaten after taking the lead. They were still not safe.

The other two matches involved Coventry’s nearest challengers, Leicester and Oxford but also the top two in the league, Liverpool and Everton.

Leicester entertained Liverpool who’d won their last 11 league matches. Goals from Rush and Whelan won it for the visitors and they maintained their race for the title.

Everton travelled to Oxford. They’d been on a great run well into March but defeat at Luton and draws at Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, meant Liverpool had a slight lead. Just under 14,000 crammed into the Manor Ground to see Les Phillips score the only goal of the game. Remarkably, plucky Oxford United had won. This game virtually decided the destination of the title, would it also decide the one remaining relegation place?

Ipswich, Coventry, Oxford and Leicester. Four teams separated by just two points. Oxford with a game in hand. This was going to be another tight one.

Saturday 3 May 1986

This season finished earlier than the last two because of the World Cup. This weekend was a final day like we know them today. For most sides, this was their final fixture of the season, eight others still had a game to play.

There was one more relegation spot to be decided. Ipswich, Leicester, Coventry and Oxford were separated by just two points. Ipswich were the only side away from home, as they travelled to Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday were up in sixth and going well.

Coventry were at home to QPR. In 1983 they avoided relegation in their penultimate match. In 1984 they were 20 minutes from going down when Bennett scored direct from a corner to win their final match at home against Norwich City. In 1985 they needed to win all their last three matches to stay up. They beat champions Everton in their final match, a 4-1 win at home.

Now they were at home in their final match again, this time against Queen’s Park Rangers. Rangers were managed by Jim Smith and had been in great form, unbeaten in eight before they lost the League Cup Final to Oxford. They subsequently lost their next league match, 2-5 to Spurs. They were 13th with nothing really to play for, except pride. Coventry had won at Loftus Road at the end of November so were looking to do the double.

Highfield Road had not been a happy hunting ground for Rangers, losing in their last five visits. It had been 12 years since they last won there. Coventry were fighting for their survival at the end of the season for the fourth season in a row – they were past masters at it. It was an intriguing contest.

Leicester were at home to Newcastle and Oxford welcomed Nottingham Forest. Oxford had two bites at this, with Arsenal going to the Manor Ground two days later.

John Byrne, who scored an own goal in the game back in November, put the visitors in front in the first half. In both final games in the two previous seasons, Coventry had scored first. This added to the nerves.

Half-time was approaching when Coventry had a free-kick. Kilcline took on the responsibility and scored. Then with just minutes of the first half to go Bennett put the home side in front. The place erupted as it had done at the same stage in the past two years.

Coventry lead 2-1 at the break.

Ally Mauchlen had put Leicester in front against Newcastle and they held this to the break. Oxford’s Jeremy Charles put them in front only to see Nigel Clough equalise and they were locked at 1-1. The Ipswich game was still to see a goal.

These were the half-time scores.

This is how the table stood at that stage.

All Coventry needed to do now was just hang on. It was everyone else’s problem what happened in the other matches.

Across the four matches, there were three goals in the second half. But nothing at Highfield Road. Coventry had done it for the fourth year in a row. Ipswich lost, so did Oxford but Leicester won. Coventry fans didn’t care, their team was safe for another year. Curtis and Sillett had navigated through three tricky fixtures and they were assured of First Division football for another season.

Coventry were safe and now Ipswich were looking over their shoulder. Oxford had to play Arsenal and win to stay up, anything less would see them relegated. If they won Ipswich were down.

Two days later Oxford United pulled off the sort of miracle Coventry had done. Goals from Houghton, Hamilton and a penalty from Aldridge won the game and it was Ipswich Town who were relegated.

They’d struggled since Bobby Robson left to take over the England job and five years after nearly winning the First Division they were down.

But for Coventry, it was a fourth successive late escape.

What happened next? Well, this series is only concentrating on four successive successful relegation battles. If we included a fifth season it would cover the club’s first major trophy, the FA Cup when they beat Tottenham 3-2 at Wembley coming from 1-2 down.

That may just be for another day.