FA Cup 1986-87

The FA Cup 1986–87 was the 106th staging of the world's oldest football knockout competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. The competition was won by Coventry City, who beat Tottenham Hotspur 3–2, after extra-time, in the final at Wembley Stadium. It was Tottenham's only defeat in eight finals up to that point. The tournament started in August 1986, with non-league teams competing in the [http://www.thefa.com/facup/archives qualifying rounds] . Clubs from the First and Second Divisions entered in the third round.

First Round Proper

The first round of games were played over the weekend 15-16 November 1986, with the exception of the Bristol Rovers – Brentford game. Replays were played either in the midweek fixtures on 17th-18th or on the 24th.

Fourth Round Proper

The fourth round of games were played mainly over the weekend 31 January-1 February 1987. All other ties took place on the 3rd-4th February.

emi Finals

footballbox
date=1987-04-12
team1=Tottenham Hotspur
score=4–1
report=
team2=Watford
goals1=
goals2=
stadium=Villa Park, Birmingham
attendance=
referee=----footballbox
date=1987-04-12
team1=Coventry City
score=3–2
(a.e.t.)
report= [http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/OnThisWeek/0,,10269~1030058,00.html Report]
team2=Leeds United
goals1=Gynn goal|68
Houchen goal|77
Bennett goal|99
goals2=Rennie goal|14
Edwards goal|83
stadium=Hillsborough Stadium, Sheffield
attendance=51,372
referee=Roger Milford

Final

footballbox
date=May 16, 1987
team1=Coventry City
score=3 – 2 (aet)
report=
team2=Tottenham Hotspur
goals1=Bennett goal|9
Houchen goal|64
Mabbutt (o.g.) goal|96
goals2=C. Allen goal|2
Mabbutt goal|40
stadium=Wembley, London
attendance=98,000
referee=Neil Midgley (Manchester)

After only two minutes, Clive Allen scored his 49th goal of the season, heading past keeper Steve Ogrizovic at the near-post from a perfect Chris Waddle cross. Within seven minutes though, the Sky Blues were level through Dave Bennett, a Cup Final loser in 1981 for Manchester City, ironically at the hands of Spurs.

The London club were back in front five minutes before the break though through defender Gary Mabbutt. Midway through the second half Coventry were level again - Bennett's pinpoint cross from the right was met by striker Keith Houchen with a diving header for a memorable goal.

The scores stayed level until full-time and the game went into extra time. Six minutes in, Mabbutt scored an own goal after Lloyd McGrath centred the ball and it took a deflection off of the Spurs defender's knee and over keeper Ray Clemence.

References

External links

* [http://www.thefa.com/TheFACup/TheFACup/ The FA Cup] at TheFA.com
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/default.stm FA Cup] at BBC.co.uk
* [http://football.uk.reuters.com/facup/ FA Cup news] at Reuters.co.uk