- 6 weeks ago
We rewind to the final day of the 1996/97 Premier League season, where four clubs Coventry City, Southampton, Middlesbrough and Sunderland were fighting to avoid the two remaining relegation places, with Nottingham Forest already gone. Sunderland’s defeat at Wimbledon cracked the door open for late drama, giving hope to Middlesbrough and Coventry, who had both started the day in the drop zone, if they could find wins in their matches.
Middlesbrough faced a huge challenge at Elland Road, where no visiting side had scored since Boxing Day when Coventry themselves had stunned George Graham’s Leeds with a 3-1 win. The Sky Blues also needed victory at Tottenham to have any chance of staying up as they started the day in the weakest position of the 4 sitting 2nd bottom. Even Southampton, despite a strong late season surge of seven unbeaten with five wins, were not safe. They still required a result at Aston Villa, as a heavy defeat combined with wins for Sunderland and Middlesbrough and the right goal swing could drag them into the relegation trapdoor.
A tense gripping finale with survival hanging on every goal.
Middlesbrough faced a huge challenge at Elland Road, where no visiting side had scored since Boxing Day when Coventry themselves had stunned George Graham’s Leeds with a 3-1 win. The Sky Blues also needed victory at Tottenham to have any chance of staying up as they started the day in the weakest position of the 4 sitting 2nd bottom. Even Southampton, despite a strong late season surge of seven unbeaten with five wins, were not safe. They still required a result at Aston Villa, as a heavy defeat combined with wins for Sunderland and Middlesbrough and the right goal swing could drag them into the relegation trapdoor.
A tense gripping finale with survival hanging on every goal.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00Middlesbrough's task looked tough.
00:01They were at Leeds where no visiting side had managed to score in the Premiership since Boxing Day
00:06and it was watched by Barry Davis.
00:12On the eve of his 24th birthday, Middlesbrough again looked to Mikel Beck
00:16as Fabrizio Ravinelli fails to recover from his back problem.
00:21So the team is unchanged from Thursday's draw at Blackburn.
00:25No white feather but certainly no white flag
00:28as they seek to be the first team since Boxing Day
00:31to score here against Leeds at Elland Road.
00:36Leeds make one change from what was their 9th 0-0 draw of the season
00:40at Chelsea last Saturday.
00:42Lee Sharp comes in for Carlton Palmer.
00:45Six days to Wembley but this, according to Brian Robson,
00:59is Middlesbrough's real cup final.
01:01The referee, Alan Wilkie, ironically comes from Chester-le-Street
01:11which is the birthplace of Brian Robson.
01:14Guna Halla for Leeds, they're all in white.
01:26Masto.
01:31Pounced a bit high for Hignett.
01:36Blackmore to Jannino.
01:37Halla quickly to him, that might happen several times.
01:41He's made himself some space, too.
01:53Gianluca Festa.
01:57Nothing more he can do now.
02:02Lilly on the run.
02:03Blackmore aware.
02:04Or is he?
02:06Lilly with the chance.
02:07Still with the chance.
02:09Couldn't get a hold of it second time.
02:12And it's the captain, calmly as you like.
02:14Who tidies it up.
02:18Oh, goodness me.
02:23I like what I said.
02:24A few nerves jangling.
02:28Real opportunity for Lilly.
02:30And it came twice.
02:32Blackmore seemingly not aware.
02:34Didn't get the ball back.
02:35Good stuff from Roberts.
02:38And then the cover.
02:39But Lilly got no way from the shot at all.
02:43Here at the other end is Stab.
02:44That's a good save.
02:53Hit well.
02:55And turnover well.
03:00Emerson the furthest forward.
03:03Beck at the back.
03:04Touch was important then from Stab.
03:25It's controlled by Jannino.
03:28Hignett presented with the ball by Kelly.
03:31Beck is driven wide.
03:33Keeps the ball in just.
03:39And get a corner from it.
03:40But Hignett can't believe the quality of the pass that he made.
03:44He put his head in his hands.
03:46Such an opportunity.
03:49Beck had a huge amount of room.
03:51But the pass was over-hit and far too wide.
03:54Pearson on the near post but telling the kicker to hit it longer.
04:01Comes off Emerson.
04:04Dean who played it across the face of his own goal but out to safety.
04:08Jannino loses to Rash for the moment.
04:12Sharp.
04:12And Hignett gives it away to Sharp.
04:29Still knee sharp, nobody to his right.
04:38Hignett soon hasn't cleared his head from his mistake.
04:42He's guilty of trying a bit too hard ever since that happened.
04:49It's an understandable reaction.
04:59I can't believe it either.
05:05It's good play by Fleming, but not the finish.
05:22Rush, Lille, sharp, good strike but well wide.
05:30Made a bit of a dent in the box of one of the cameramen.
05:36Hopefully there's no material inside.
05:40Certainly hit it truly.
05:52Emerson, stamped to the right, oh dear.
05:59Good luck with the Riga.
06:12Dean, stamped.
06:14Emerson.
06:15Poor ball really.
06:20Finds Juninho and here's Stam, this is a real chance.
06:22Oh, he had the shooting opportunity.
06:24He didn't look up.
06:26It's a defender between him and Beck.
06:29Juninho again.
06:32Corner.
06:33Stamford called for it.
06:43Quateru cleared.
06:50Sharp.
06:51Once again, they've left just one back.
06:58Boyer in possession.
06:59Two others coming up, but three others have got back to help Fleming now.
07:03And Fleming again does a good job.
07:06Until he gives the ball away to Redeming.
07:09Fear for offside, it's not.
07:11This is Brandine.
07:14Everybody far sides.
07:16Oh, it's a bad header out.
07:17And an opportunity wasted by Boyer.
07:25Middlesbrough escape.
07:28A look for the offside, initially for Dean.
07:31The header out was a really poor one and Boyer didn't get the shot on target.
07:35Not on target.
07:53Hala.
07:59Radamy.
08:01Off Juninho's head.
08:02Pearson.
08:04Massed out.
08:12Sharp.
08:14Bounce well watched then.
08:16In that header by Lilic.
08:26Not sure the body was all behind.
08:32And at half time, it's a blank score sheet.
08:37Middlesbrough have 45 minutes left to save themselves.
08:45This is the ninth match since Leeds United.
08:49Last conceded a goal at Ellen Road.
08:51Par 1-1-0 last season.
08:55A fourth minute penalty, but it followed six defeats.
08:57And it's not been their luckiest ground over the years.
08:59One win in the previous 13.
09:02First clearance of the second half by Kelly.
09:04Made several in the first.
09:05He's digested all the half time scores.
09:06He's digested all the half time scores.
09:08Tony DiRigo for Leeds.
09:09Emerson still remonstrating with somebody.
09:10Sharp.
09:11Boyer.
09:13Can't get enough curl, but a good try.
09:14Can't get enough curl, but a good try.
09:15And it's not a good try.
09:18One win in the first half by Kelly.
09:20The two- detailed w報導.
09:21Can't get enough curl, but a good try.
09:23The two-inch is holding back.
09:24Time is rising.
09:25The two-inch is coming up.
09:26Then it's in the first half by Kelly.
09:28Here's the goal.
09:29The third line it's in the first half at the corner.
09:31There, there, there.
09:32There, there, there.
09:33There, there, there.
09:34Boyer
09:37Can't get enough curl
09:39But a good try
09:40Here's Juninho
09:51First run of the second half really
09:54And here's Bec
09:55Straight at the goalkeeper
09:57Real chance for Mikel Bec
10:02Goalkeeper came to meet him
10:05Crowded him
10:07But it was a super ball through
10:09Blocked by Nigel Martin
10:14Masto
10:20Radebi
10:23Chance here, it's three on three
10:28Juninho, in fact it's four on three now
10:31Here's Emerson
10:35That's a good challenge
10:37It's a corner
10:38But they should have made more of that again
10:42Good climb
10:51Here's Bec, here's Kinder
10:53But it's the wrong side
10:56Wave of the net
11:00But it was with the ball behind the net
11:03Shot from a really impossible angle
11:10That was well covered anyway by Martin
11:13We pass the hour point
11:17Still not looking likely
11:21It has to be said
11:22To make the breakthrough
11:23Moment then when Stamp thought that that was going to be misjudged
11:33Juninho and Masto
11:34And Fleming
11:35And Stamp
11:37Emerson
11:39Oh, it's another casual ball
11:41It just is not good enough
11:43It just is not good enough
11:43He seems to appreciate it
11:50At least by coming to fight for the ball
11:52Almost literally
11:53He lets Dean get away now
11:56And I don't think that he actually made contact
12:01But we'll see what the referee feels
12:04But it was really poor play
12:06By Emerson in the first place
12:07Well, he just caught him at the end
12:10Here's Dorigo
12:18And here's Roach
12:21Goal kick
12:23He thought it was deflected
12:25He would like it to have been deflected
12:28Is it clingy enough?
12:35Who would you think it touched?
12:40Middlesbrough
12:41To make their substitution
12:43And it's a substitution
12:45Which will not surprise
12:46A very dejected looking
12:49Emerson
12:49Is departing the pitch
12:51And in his place
12:52Comes
12:53Chris Freestone
12:55They also serve
13:03Who can do nothing about it
13:10This is Brandine
13:22And just pushed out
13:24But here's Rush
13:25Blocked by Pearson
13:26Finally in
13:28By Lillie
13:29The flag is up for offside
13:33It won't count
13:34It's not a goal
13:36Such were the celebrations
13:41As they've waited
13:42Since March the 8th
13:43To see a goal here
13:44Rush is shot
13:46Saved by the goalkeeper
13:47But Lillie
13:48Offside
13:49Clearly
13:50The goalkeeper
13:50Was forward of the play
13:52When the pass was made
13:53And the goal
13:55Is scrubbed out
13:56Middlesbrough supporters
14:02Breathe again
14:03Juninho
14:12Once more
14:13Fleming over the right side
14:14Beck trying to hold it up
14:16Here's Wallace
14:23It's his first touch
14:25Dean up in the box
14:26Sharp trying to get there
14:27Dean to the near post
14:29Was well covered
14:32By Fester
14:35But even Suri got the touch
14:38Couldn't reflect it in
14:41Wallace
14:53And still
15:01Here's Dean
15:03A bite of the lip
15:14Hands on head
15:16In disbelief
15:17Leeds United
15:19Take the lead
15:20With just 14 minutes
15:23Remaining in a match
15:24That Middlesbrough
15:25Have to win
15:25Good play by Wallace
15:31There was a lot
15:32A lot of time
15:32To go backwards
15:33And forwards
15:33And finally forwards
15:34Again
15:35And the header by Dean
15:36Wide of the despairing
15:38Left hand
15:38Of Ben Roberts
15:40Beck
15:41Still Beck
15:45Freestone to the right
15:46Juninho to the left
15:48Wasn't the best of passes
15:50Juninho
15:50Got a deflection
15:52And it's in
15:53Juninho
15:54Has brought life
15:56Back
15:57To Middlesbrough
15:58Yet again
15:59Eleven minutes remaining
16:02It's 1-1
16:04Had to dig it out initially
16:08Four to take on
16:09Shot early
16:10Seemed to get a slight deflection
16:12And curled away
16:14From Nigel Martin
16:15Yes
16:17It was just touched
16:18By the challenger
16:23Boyer
16:24It was enough
16:27To take it away
16:28And it was enough
16:29To uplift the souls
16:31Of Middlesbrough
16:32Football Club
16:33And their supporters
16:34Long long run again
16:39All sorts of options
16:40He's committing people
16:41Oh
16:42Beck
16:42And Freestone
16:43Waiting
16:44Unmarked to his right
16:45And Giannino
16:46Is absolutely furious
16:48In disbelief
16:49At the Danes
16:50Inability to control the ball
16:52Just needed a touch
16:56And Freestone was in
16:57Whether he will stay
17:00Or not
17:00Who is to say
17:01But what is for certain
17:03He's given everything
17:04To Middlesbrough
17:04And they know it
17:05We're playing
17:09Stoppage time now
17:11Juninho
17:16Juninho
17:16Kinder
17:19Juninho
17:20Turned away
17:23By Dorigo
17:24After Nigel Martin
17:26Couldn't hold on
17:27And is a bit disappointed
17:28With himself
17:28That he couldn't
17:29This is Stamp
17:32This is Freestone
17:34There are three waiting
17:35For the cost
17:35And they've got one man over
17:36Met by Wetherill
17:39Then by Sharp
17:41Then by Boyer
17:43As Leeds come away again
17:45Offside
17:51Looked as though he'd learned
18:00The final whistle
18:01But it's just for the offside
18:02Forward by Vickers
18:06Met by Wetherill
18:09Again Wetherill
18:13And another look at the watch
18:14By Mr. Wilkie
18:15The final whistle blows
18:18Middlesbrough
18:19Are relegated
18:21For all the efforts
18:23Of little Juninho
18:24Brian Robson's team
18:27Go down to the first division
18:28And go to Wembley
18:31As a million pound team
18:33Relegated
18:34The tears are understandable
18:41The effort at the end
18:44Could not have been greater
18:46But it really looked like
18:49Being good enough
18:50And Brian Robson
18:52Predictably
18:54Is proving himself
18:55A big man
18:57In a moment of desperation
18:59Well the three points
19:10Deducted for not playing
19:11That fixture at Blackburn
19:12Cost Middlesbrough
19:13In the end
19:14They go down
19:15What chance now
19:16Of winning the cup
19:17When that was Coventry
19:18Their match at Tottenham
19:19Was delayed for 15 minutes
19:20Because of traffic problems
19:22Didn't make any difference
19:23Coventry simply had to win
19:24Among five changes for Spurs
19:26The Norwegian
19:27Espen Bardson
19:28Made his full debut in goal
19:30And young Paul McVeigh
19:31Joined Teddy Sheringham up front
19:33Coventry player manager
19:34Gordon Strachan
19:35Was on the bench
19:35He brought back
19:36Kevin Richardson
19:37And Darren Huckabee
19:38The commentator at White Hart Lane
19:40Is Tony Gubber
19:41Undlove's throw to Huckabee
19:46It's a good spell of pressure
19:47This from Coventry
19:48Oh he slipped it in nicely
19:53For Undlove
19:54Who's made room for the cross
19:55Well he looked as if he had
19:57He wanted a second go at it
19:58Why didn't Undlove cross
20:01When things opened up
20:03Coventry's first corner
20:06We've had 12 minutes
20:08And the captain Gary McAllister
20:11Will take it
20:11Whelan
20:15Back to McAllister
20:17Dublin
20:19Oh Dion Dublin
20:20And he says
20:23Thank you very much
20:25How easy was it
20:26And in truth
20:27It was easy enough
20:28Dion Dublin
20:35His 14th goal of the season
20:38In a match that Coventry
20:40Have got to win
20:41To give themselves any chance
20:42Of premiership survival
20:43A lovely glancing header
20:47And there was no Tottenham defender
20:50Jumping with him
20:51Huckabee
20:57Still on his feet
20:59Oh he just stuck
21:01In the outstretched grasp
21:04Of Espen Vardsen
21:05The 19 year old Norwegian
21:07Under 21 international
21:09Replacing the injured Walker
21:12In a full game
21:14For the first time this season
21:15Here's Matt V
21:19Into the path of Royal Fox
21:21Fox
21:22Ogrizovic has it
21:25At the second attempt
21:26Tottenham's best chance
21:30It's been
21:3124 minutes in coming
21:32Huckabee
21:40Taking up a good position
21:41Off the head of John Scales
21:46Coventry's corner
21:47Seven minutes
21:52To go to half time
21:54As Gary McAllister
21:55Prepares to take this
21:57Coventry corner
21:57Oh it's the second goal
22:01By Paul Williams
22:01And again
22:04The Tottenham defenders
22:05Look at each other
22:06Coventry ahead
22:13By two goals to nil
22:14Teddy Sheringham
22:21The Tottenham captain
22:22Has placed the ball
22:23For this free kick
22:24We're inside
22:26The last two minutes
22:27To the first half
22:27A very disappointing
22:29First half
22:30For Tottenham
22:31Sheringham takes it
22:32And struck it wonderfully
22:33Yes
22:35I think it's Matt V
22:40It is
22:44The ball coming back
22:46Off the post
22:47And a fantastically struck
22:48Free kick by Sheringham
22:49Sheringham
22:49Fox
22:53Sheringham
22:54Quick feet
22:55McVeigh
22:56Sheringham's ahead of him
22:57Oh good run by the youngster
23:00Can he go all the way
23:01He goes through them
23:03And finally
23:07Loses it
23:08When Steve
23:11Vigrizovic falls at his feet
23:12But that's a terrific run
23:14But here's Gary McAllister
23:18Trying to burst through
23:19Jess
23:19Oh super save
23:22Struck with real purpose
23:27By Ian Jess
23:28And
23:29Bardson got airborne
23:32And got a very solid touch
23:35On the ball
23:36Stephen Carr
23:41Good save
23:53Vigrizovic
23:54This is Clapham
23:57Edinburgh to put it in the air
24:01Oh here's Neil
24:02Venn
24:03Vigrizovic saves them again
24:07This time with his legs
24:08And Gordon Strachan
24:10Angrily
24:11On his feet
24:12By the dugout
24:13Dizel
24:18Was it
24:18Coventry are holding on
24:25At the moment
24:26By their fingertips
24:27We're into added on time
24:33Stephen Carr
24:37Is shocked
24:37Flashes over the crossbar
24:40The stadium clock
24:41Shows five past six
24:43And Martin Bodnam
24:46Chips his watch
24:47So Coventry have done it again
24:55They won here in 1995
24:57In the last match of the season
24:59To secure their Premier Division status
25:01And the team who've spent 25 million pounds
25:05In two years
25:06Under managers Ron Atkinson
25:07And Gordon Strachan
25:08Have got the win
25:09That keeps them up
25:10Dublin and Williams
25:14With the goals
25:15In the first half
25:16McVeigh got one for Tottenham
25:17But despite all Tottenham's
25:19Heffits in the second half
25:20They couldn't get the equaliser
25:22And Coventry retain their Premier Division status
25:28A final score at White Hart Lane
25:32Of Tottenham 1
25:34Coventry 2
25:35Once again
25:37Coventry proved to be the great escape artist
25:39Their 31st season of the top flight
25:41Guaranteed
25:42Incidentally
25:43They were 9-1 on
25:44To go down
25:45Before today's games
25:46And Sunderland
25:47Take the drop instead
25:48Well Southampton
25:49Could have gone down
25:50In certain circumstances
25:51But despite losing to this goal
25:54At Aston Villa
25:54It was an own goal
25:56From Richard Dryden
25:57As you see
25:57They're also assured
25:59Of their Premiership status
26:00For next season
26:01But it was a dreadful day
26:03For the North East
26:03Middlesbrough and Sunderland
26:05Relegated
26:05In the end
26:06The three points deducted
26:07From Borough
26:07Proved crucial
26:08Sunderland backed down
26:09After just one season
26:10In the Premiership
26:11And Coventry and Southampton
26:12Have once again
26:13Proved themselves
26:14Experts
26:15At avoiding the drop
26:16Well now let's hear
26:17From the men involved
26:18In those crucial games
26:19The stay-ups
26:20And the go-downs
26:21It's really disappointing
26:23For them
26:23Because I really thought
26:24We were starting to improve
26:26As a team
26:26Blending together
26:28As individuals
26:28And things were looking
26:30Very good
26:31But obviously
26:32This sets us back
26:35But the lads
26:36Have got to pick themselves up
26:37Because we've got
26:38An important game
26:38On Saturday
26:39And I want them to go
26:41And enjoy the FA Cup final
26:42We attain the number
26:44Of points required
26:45To keep us promoted
26:46And three grey men
26:47In three grey suits
26:48Behind closed doors
26:50Made a decision
26:51And when we made
26:53Our decision
26:54Not to go ahead
26:55With the Blackburn game
26:56It was a decision
26:58That we made
26:59Believing that people
27:00Would be fair
27:01And reasonable
27:01Towards our football club
27:02And fortunately
27:03That's not
27:04That was not the outcome
27:05I appreciate the club
27:07Policy will stay private
27:08But obviously
27:09We discussed this matter
27:10And it's not over yet
27:12You will know
27:14When it's not over
27:14And you will know
27:15When it is over
27:16And we are not quite ready
27:18To go public
27:19I'll be sitting down
27:20After the Cup final
27:21With all my players
27:22Not just my foreign players
27:24And I want to hear
27:26Their thoughts
27:27And like I say
27:29I'll make decisions
27:29For Middlesbrough football club
27:31What's best for them
27:32All of the players
27:32Are on long term contracts
27:34And Brian Robson
27:36Is our manager
27:37And he will make
27:37The decisions
27:38On them players
27:39A player can't come
27:40Sign a contract
27:41And opt out
27:42Simply because
27:43The going gets too tough
27:44If Brian wants them
27:45They will stay
27:46Emerson
27:47Giannino
27:47Ravinelli
27:48Every player that Brian wants
27:50We will keep
27:51At this football club
27:52If I do keep
27:52All my players together
27:53Then we've got
27:55A hell of a chance
27:56Of getting promoted again
27:57But like I say
27:59I've got to take stock
28:00With all of them
28:00And take the sensible
28:02Decision for our club
28:03It's not been a great day
28:05No it's been a bad day
28:07Well Peter Reid
28:07It must be one of the most
28:09Disappointing moments
28:10Of your career really
28:11Well not one of the best days
28:12But it's over the 38 games
28:15And the points
28:16Show you that
28:17We haven't been good enough
28:18Obviously extremely disappointed
28:20For the supporters
28:21Who are top class
28:23But I've got a lot of lads
28:24Who've got a
28:25Real disappointed in there
28:26But that's football
28:27We need to get ourselves up
28:29And go for it next year
28:31What does this mean now
28:32To Sunderland Peter
28:32Going into a new stadium
28:34Obviously but unfortunately
28:35In the lower division
28:36Well it's
28:37I mean
28:38It feels like the end of the world
28:40But I don't think it is
28:41You've just got to get yourselves up
28:42And it's going to be a hard lead
28:44The first division
28:45Nationwide next year
28:46I'm disappointed
28:47It's being in it
28:48But we've got to get on with it
28:49That's football
28:50And Peter Reid
28:51Prepare to take on the challenge
28:53Well if they'll have me
28:54I'll stay yeah
28:55Listen
28:55It's
28:56And I don't want to patronise anybody
28:58But
28:59The teams that got really getting it
29:01The managers that went down
29:01I know exactly how they feel
29:03I know what they've had to go through
29:06In the last couple of weeks
29:07I can sympathise them
29:08But I'm not going to patronise them
29:09Because the managers that went down
29:11Are competitors
29:13And they don't want to be
29:15Spoken to that way
29:16They know what I think of them
29:18They've got my respect
29:19I'm delighted for Graham Sue Ness
29:20He stayed up
29:21I'm delighted
29:22Absolutely brilliant
29:23He's kept calm over the last couple of months
29:25And he believed
29:26I'm delighted for him
29:27But we've got to enjoy our own success just now
29:30It's a strange feeling
29:32I've never had this strange feeling before in football
29:35You know
29:35It's neither a win nor a lose situation
29:38We've lost today
29:39But we've won
29:39In the big picture
29:41And we have to be very happy
29:42You were 2-0 ahead
29:43But then Tottenham pulled one back
29:44And in fairness in the second half
29:45You did have to hold on a bit
29:46And you needed some experience in goal
29:48And you got it from Grusovic
29:49Well as I said to the players after the game
29:51The two players I felt delighted for today
29:53Was Brian Burrows and Steve Ogruzovic
29:55Because they've had to put up with this a long time
29:57And they're getting near the end of their career
29:58They know that
29:59And I know what you tell them
29:59And what we've given them
30:02Is the top flight again
30:04To hopefully finish their career
30:06And they've been magnificent
30:08But in the first half
30:09I thought we were fantastic
30:10Because we scored four or five goals
30:11We deserve to be in the Premier League next year
30:13We've played enough football
30:14Enough good football
30:16To remain in the Premier League
30:17We've scored enough goals
30:18Because where we've been very disappointing
30:20Is defensively
30:22We've shot ourselves in the foot
30:23And I think it's only fitting
30:24That we've gone out
30:25And considered a goal today
30:26In the manner in which we did
30:27Because that really sums our defensive play up this year
30:29We're in the Premier League next year
30:31Because we worked hard
30:32Not because we worked hard
30:33We worked hard
30:34We've played well
30:35Our players deserve the moment of glory
30:37Because I've had a lot of noxious here
30:39We've stayed up on a shoestring
30:41Compared to the rest
30:42And they deserve a great deal of credit
30:44Feels good?
30:45It certainly does
30:46It certainly does
30:47Actually, Trevor
30:48It says a lot for the Premiership
30:50That the teams that the relegation candidates
30:52Had to compete against
30:53Gave everything against them, didn't they?
30:55There was no easy ride for anybody
30:56I think all the four sides
30:58Who were playing against the relegation-threatened teams
31:00Were at home
31:01And so in front of their home supporters
31:02They almost had to turn their performance on as well
31:05I mean, it was a fascinating day, wasn't it?
31:08A real emotion
31:09A great sort of elation and delight
31:11In some camps
31:12And then the dismay and despair
31:14And it sort of did have those little twists and turns
31:17And the tension just sitting there ourselves watching it
31:19And we weren't even involved
31:21In the last few minutes
31:22The scrambles in the goal map
31:24I mean, it was wonderful
31:25But, you know, now
31:26There is a lot of soul-searching in the next few days
31:29For one or two clubs
31:30And Coventry stayed up again
31:32I mean, they had to rely on others
31:33But they did the business for themselves
31:35Well, they were dead and buried, weren't they?
31:36They defied all the odds
31:37And to do that
31:38You've got to show a lot of character and belief
31:40Have a little bit of luck
31:41And have a good goalkeeper
31:42Yeah, well, he certainly played well today
31:44He produced the goods at a vital time
31:45Five million quid each
31:47Each of these saves
31:48I would have thought
31:48Well, this is a great first touch by Fenn
31:50But good angles and a great block
31:52I mean, that's about five, six minutes from then
31:55That goes in
31:55It's a thin dividing line
31:57They're down
31:57And then the corner comes in
31:59And a good parry
32:02But like you say
32:04If one of those goes in
32:05Coventry are down
32:06Yeah
32:06And there's a sort of an awful lot of money
32:08Fantastic performance
32:09To go to Tottenham last game of the season
32:11When really, as I said, they were dead and buried
32:13It was fantastic
32:14Yeah
32:15Now, I think we're all pretty sad
32:16That Middlesbrough have gone down, aren't we?
32:18Because we said this the other day
32:19I mean, they have played some nice football
32:20Throughout the season
32:21They've had some stars
32:22Which have been a delight to watch
32:24But off they go
32:24Well, the first half of the season
32:26You know, they were leaking goals really
32:27Does that
32:28Nigel Pearson was injured?
32:29He came back
32:29They signed Fester
32:30Tightened up
32:31And then, you know
32:32Going forward
32:33They have got better
32:34They've looked better as a team
32:35They've had four games
32:36In the last week
32:37You know, they beat Villa at home
32:39Three tough away games
32:40Played very well at Manchester
32:41I think if Ravinelli had been there for the week
32:44They'd have stayed up
32:45You know, the three went up
32:47They let that one slip
32:48They went to Blackburn
32:49Had one or two chances
32:50Bec Particular, the header
32:51Drew there
32:52And then again
32:53With the Leeds
32:54They had the chances today
32:55There's no chance getting those three points
32:57Throughout it
32:58I have to say
32:59Giannino has been quite magnificent
33:00His attitude and commitment
33:02Since Christmas
33:03He's been phenomenal
33:03But the three points
33:04They've got no chance
33:05I don't think they've got any chance
33:06Even if they appeal again
33:07I mean, they would send Coventry down
33:09Or something, wouldn't it?
33:10But then the others would appeal
33:11I mean, we'd just be in a
33:12Goin' for a cycle
33:13Wouldn't we?
33:14They'll just have to accept it
33:15I know it's difficult to accept
33:17But they'll have to
33:17Will they keep the star players?
33:19That's what everybody will ask
33:20Of course
33:21Well, I'd be delighted
33:22For the supporters
33:23And for the manager
33:24But I think they'll all go
33:26I mean
33:26Emerson for me
33:27Looked one of the best imports
33:29Of the season
33:30When he came initially
33:31But in the last two months
33:32He's been very, very disappointed
33:33I think somebody should point out
33:34That Middles were playing red
33:35And he's disappointed
33:38Coming off here
33:38But I think this is terrible
33:39For team spirit
33:40And terrible for the supporters
33:41You know
33:42His teammates are fighting
33:44For survival
33:45When he gets taken off
33:46He's right down the tunnel
33:47To me, that's appalling
33:49Gave the ball away a lot
33:50Didn't he?
33:51In the last few games
33:52In particular
33:52He's been very poor
33:53In contrast
33:54As Trevor says
33:55His Brazilian teammate
33:57He's been fantastic
33:58He's been fantastic
33:58He's been fantastic
34:00He's been fantastic
Be the first to comment