My Worst 10 Night Matches at the Lane

[wardonia_blade]

Following on from my 10 best night matches at the Lane a few months ago I have set out my 10 worst. It makes painful reading:


April 1968 - Blades 2 Fulham 3
Having sold Jones and Birchenall earlier in the season, relegation was no surprise in 1967-68 but we still had a chance if we could win this four pointer against doomed Fulham. I had seen us win 2-1 at Anfield a few days before so hopes were high. Typical Blades. 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go, caved in, lost 3-2, went down. Fulham were crap and were relegated again in 1968-69.


August 1975 – Blades 1 Arsenal 3
The day the music died. Not a bad game as such, but this was the match when I knew that the Currie era was over. All the optimism of finishing 6th the previous year, Guthrie, the new stand, record season ticket sales vanished as Arsenal showed our aging team to be way past its sell by date. Relegation was a certainty by the end of September and confirmed with 9 games still to go.


January 1979 – Blades 0 Aldershot 0
Tuesday night FA Cup tie postponed from the Saturday. It was freezing cold. In a dreadful season this match is selected for special mention in “SU - a complete record”, described as an abysmal performance. Replay was probably worse with Blades losing 1-0.


May 1979 – Blades 0 Blackburn 1
Having invested glamorously in Sabella, relegation to D3 for the first time ever was an unthinkable outcome but, similar to Fulham above, could be avoided if we beat doomed Blackburn. Despite having Russell Coughlin sent off early doors, Blackburn never looked like conceding and won 1-0. D3 followed.


May 1988 – Blades 1 Bristol City 1 (Lost 2-1 on aggregate)
Dave Bassett worked his hardest to stave off relegation to D3 in 1987-88 but thrashings at Leeds (0-5) and Middlesboro (0-6) put us on the brink and into this relegation play off. It was a promotion play off for Bristol City. Crowds had dipped down to 8,000 in this period but 19,000 turned out for the Blades first taste of play off misery.


October 1999 – Blades 1 Port Vale 3
In truth I cannot remember a single thing about this game, except that I was definitely there. Legend has it that this is the Blades low-point but Crawley (below) has my vote. Adrian Heath was sacked the following day. Port Vale were relegated.


April 2011 – Blades 2 Stevenage 2
Dramatic end to the season even by our standards. Still too painful to write about.


April 2012 – Blades 0 Crawley 2
This was my most miserable football experience ever, not just night matches. A totally inept Blades team with no passion, no belief and no attacking capability. Fans were streaming out well before the end and the final whistle was witnessed by no more than a couple of thousand. This forum captured the despondency far better than the professional media, with Blades on Radio Sheffield being met with “you’re in the play-offs, what can possibly be wrong?” by a clueless presenter. Danny Wilson was the boardroom scapegoat, sacked the next day.


May 2012 – Blades 1 Yeovil 0
Play-off semi final, but a match too far for many Blades at the end of an appalling sequence of home games, Crawley, above, included. One of the smallest crowds of the season with very little belief that we could beat mighty Yeovil over 2 legs, and so it proved.


September 2013 – Blades 0 Hartlepool 1
I fully supported the David Weir appointment despite the number of similarities with the Adrian Heath appointment. This was the game that brought about Weir’s departure. If Weir had brought a case for wrongful dismissal the video of this game would have convinced any court that there was no case to answer.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

There was a cup replay at Altrincham that we lost 3-0. Probably as low as it got. 1981-82 I think. Drew the home game 2-2 and I remember the replay was 3 days later, the next Tuesday. Awful performance. It was the year TC appeared in the final for QPR.

Darren or someone will have all the details. I tried to blot it from the memory!

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Following on from my 10 best night matches at the Lane a few months ago I have set out my 10 worst. It makes painful reading:


April 1968 - Blades 2 Fulham 3
Having sold Jones and Birchenall earlier in the season, relegation was no surprise in 1967-68 but we still had a chance if we could win this four pointer against doomed Fulham. I had seen us win 2-1 at Anfield a few days before so hopes were high. Typical Blades. 2-0 up with 20 minutes to go, caved in, lost 3-2, went down. Fulham were crap and were relegated again in 1968-69.


August 1975 – Blades 1 Arsenal 3
The day the music died. Not a bad game as such, but this was the match when I knew that the Currie era was over. All the optimism of finishing 6th the previous year, Guthrie, the new stand, record season ticket sales vanished as Arsenal showed our aging team to be way past its sell by date. Relegation was a certainty by the end of September and confirmed with 9 games still to go.


January 1979 – Blades 0 Aldershot 0
Tuesday night FA Cup tie postponed from the Saturday. It was freezing cold. In a dreadful season this match is selected for special mention in “SU - a complete record”, described as an abysmal performance. Replay was probably worse with Blades losing 1-0.


May 1979 – Blades 0 Blackburn 1
Having invested glamorously in Sabella, relegation to D3 for the first time ever was an unthinkable outcome but, similar to Fulham above, could be avoided if we beat doomed Blackburn. Despite having Russell Coughlin sent off early doors, Blackburn never looked like conceding and won 1-0. D3 followed.


May 1988 – Blades 1 Bristol City 1 (Lost 2-1 on aggregate)
Dave Bassett worked his hardest to stave off relegation to D3 in 1987-88 but thrashings at Leeds (0-5) and Middlesboro (0-6) put us on the brink and into this relegation play off. It was a promotion play off for Bristol City. Crowds had dipped down to 8,000 in this period but 19,000 turned out for the Blades first taste of play off misery.


October 1999 – Blades 1 Port Vale 3
In truth I cannot remember a single thing about this game, except that I was definitely there. Legend has it that this is the Blades low-point but Crawley (below) has my vote. Adrian Heath was sacked the following day. Port Vale were relegated.


April 2011 – Blades 2 Stevenage 2
Dramatic end to the season even by our standards. Still too painful to write about.


April 2012 – Blades 0 Crawley 2
This was my most miserable football experience ever, not just night matches. A totally inept Blades team with no passion, no belief and no attacking capability. Fans were streaming out well before the end and the final whistle was witnessed by no more than a couple of thousand. This forum captured the despondency far better than the professional media, with Blades on Radio Sheffield being met with “you’re in the play-offs, what can possibly be wrong?” by a clueless presenter. Danny Wilson was the boardroom scapegoat, sacked the next day.


May 2012 – Blades 1 Yeovil 0
Play-off semi final, but a match too far for many Blades at the end of an appalling sequence of home games, Crawley, above, included. One of the smallest crowds of the season with very little belief that we could beat mighty Yeovil over 2 legs, and so it proved.


September 2013 – Blades 0 Hartlepool 1
I fully supported the David Weir appointment despite the number of similarities with the Adrian Heath appointment. This was the game that brought about Weir’s departure. If Weir had brought a case for wrongful dismissal the video of this game would have convinced any court that there was no case to answer.

Remember a night match when Bob Hatton & Walsh took us to pieces we lost 1-5.

Re the Port Vale game, you can't remember Kozzys famous cross into row z on the Kop Wardonia ?.

 

[bricktop]

I would also have a 5-2 home defeat to Stockport in the League Cup featured in there.

Also the worst night match i have had the displeasure to attend was a 3-2 defeat in the middle of a long winless run in the 2010/11 season.

 

[Bill the Butcher]

0-0 donny few years ago
>freezing cold (as expected)
>no highlights all game
>donny miss a sitter
>0-0

 

[oldblade]

I think Blades 0 Walsall 1 (2ndt May 1981) has to be the worst ever game in living memory because of the consequences of that result. We have played far, far worse than we did on that afternoon - in fact we probably played worse than that about 20 times during that same season. But this was unimaginable. Relegated to the fourth division, when only 2 years earlier we had never been out of the top two divisions, and 6 years previously had narrowly missed getting into Europe.

An awful day that has never ever been matched (and I hope never ever will be matched again) and a stain on the history of this club.

That was the day that the music died. Losing to Arsenal by a two goal margin at the beginning of a top flight season doesn't even come close.

 

[Small Mendonca]

What about Blades 0-1 Doncaster in the 2008/2009 season? Dreadful performance; freezing cold.

 

[boo radley]

That Leicester game.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

I'm just gonna play some Leonard Cohen and Radiohead albums to cheer mis'sen up.

 

[Patrick Suffaux]

I remember the Port Vale game vividly. I was a young lad but old enough to know a shit performance when I saw one. We were absolutely diabolical that night and only some of the performances under Weir have run close to it.

 

[alcoblade]

Fuck me, that was a depressing though accurate read, right back to the aldershot game.

Fortunately I manage to forget these matches.....until someone writes about them!



UTB

 

[oldblade]

.Blades 0 Oldham 5 should be there (2nd Feb 1988)

Leeds 5 Blades 0 (19th March 1988)

Middlesbrough 6 Blades 0 (2nd April 1988)

Great season that was.

And then there's the obvious 4-0 defeat in South Barnsley on a certain day towards the end of 1979.

 

[alcoblade]

.Blades 0 Oldham 5 should be there (2nd Feb 1988)

Leeds 5 Blades 0 (19th March 1988)

Middlesbrough 6 Blades 0 (2nd April 1988)

Great season that was.

And then there's the obvious 4-0 defeat in South Barnsley on a certain day towards the end of 1979.

Miserable, but not many night matches amongst 'em old fella!

UTB

 

[grafikhaus]

Miserable, but not many night matches amongst 'em old fella!

UTB

That's true. Distinctly remember Walsall, Stevenage & Yeovil being afternoon kick-offs.

 

[Yewsman]

I think Blades 0 Walsall 1 (2ndt May 1981) has to be the worst ever game in living memory because of the consequences of that result. We have played far, far worse than we did on that afternoon - in fact we probably played worse than that about 20 times during that same season. But this was unimaginable. Relegated to the fourth division, when only 2 years earlier we had never been out of the top two divisions, and 6 years previously had narrowly missed getting into Europe.

An awful day that has never ever been matched (and I hope never ever will be matched again) and a stain on the history of this club.

That was the day that the music died. Losing to Arsenal by a two goal margin at the beginning of a top flight season doesn't even come close.

I know it wasn't a night match but the Walsall game has to be the worst for me. We only needed a draw to stay up. After 89 minutes it was 0-0 with neither team looking capable of scoring. Then Walsall are awarded a penalty and score and we are down. But 2 minutes later into injury time we are awarded a penalty. Surely a life line? Who is going to take it? No one seemed keen. Don Givens a player on loan who had had a terrible match steps up to take it and hits it over the bar and we are relegated. I remember being stood behind the manager's dug out (then on the John Street side). As Givens took the penalty Martin Peters the manager turned his back to play as he obviously could not bear to watch. He was sacked or resigned. He may have been ahead of his time as a player in 1966 but was another poor appointment as a manager.

 

[Caveblade]

Oldham was a definitely a Saturday, I remember the gallows humour on the kop and still out singing Oldham.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

I know it wasn't a night match but the Walsall game has to be the worst for me. We only needed a draw to stay up. After 89 minutes it was 0-0 with neither team looking capable of scoring. Then Walsall are awarded a penalty and score and we are down. But 2 minutes later into injury time we are awarded a penalty. Surely a life line? Who is going to take it? No one seemed keen. Don Givens a player on loan who had had a terrible match steps up to take it and hits it over the bar and we are relegated. I remember being stood behind the manager's dug out (then on the John Street side). As Givens took the penalty Martin Peters the manager turned his back to play as he obviously could not bear to watch. He was sacked or resigned. He may have been ahead of his time as a player in 1966 but was another poor appointment as a manager.

I wish he had hit it over the bar; it might have made me feel a little happier if he'd got a decent contact on it, as opposed to the mis-hit trickle that rolled into the 'keeper's hands.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

.Blades 0 Oldham 5 should be there (2nd Feb 1988)

Leeds 5 Blades 0 (19th March 1988)

Middlesbrough 6 Blades 0 (2nd April 1988)

Great season that was.

And then there's the obvious 4-0 defeat in South Barnsley on a certain day towards the end of 1979.

As alcoblade said, all miserable but the OP is about night matches. Not just that, but it's also about night matches at the Lane.

Now, if we were to have The Worst Matches or Moments We've Suffered As Blades then not only would we have to extend it from a Top 10 to a Top 50 (at least), I'd be walking to the nearest canal and chucking myself in. I'd opt for walking under a bus but it's a bank holiday and the service is severely cut.

 

[blade.i.am]

The Oldham game was the day after a dismal 4-1 defeat at Blackburn where we got soaked. Had left Ewood Park by the time we scored our consolation goal (Kuhl?). Thought leaving 20 minutes from the end was a new low but gave up after an hour against Oldham.

 

[Revolution]

The Oldham game was the day after a dismal 4-1 defeat at Blackburn where we got soaked. Had left Ewood Park by the time we scored our consolation goal (Kuhl?). Thought leaving 20 minutes from the end was a new low but gave up after an hour against Oldham.

Mendonca scored. We'd lost 3-1 to Millwall (Mendonca again) a few days before as well, after starting the holidays with a good result, drawing 1-1 with Villa.

The Oldham game was not a night game but it was dark, which was appropriate. Still the worst performance I have ever seen from United.

 

[Silent Blade]

Remember a night match when Bob Hatton & Walsh took us to pieces we lost 1-5..

April 1977 it was against Blackpool. The only cheer that night was Edwards scoring for us to keep up his long run scoring in consecutive matches. We were 3 down at the time

 

[Silent Blade]

I would also have a 5-2 home defeat to Stockport in the League Cup featured in there.
.

I was told that Kendall "had too much to drink" that night and the players couldnt understand his pre match talk, also his talk during half time. He was excused from speaking to the press, the reason being was that he had "a heavy cold"

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

The Oldham game was the day after a dismal 4-1 defeat at Blackburn where we got soaked. Had left Ewood Park by the time we scored our consolation goal (Kuhl?). Thought leaving 20 minutes from the end was a new low but gave up after an hour against Oldham.

Totally off topic, but I see his lad is causing a bit of a stir at Reading, linked with Man City. Just a shame he looks like David Luiz

 

[Darren]

There was a cup replay at Altrincham that we lost 3-0. Probably as low as it got. 1981-82 I think. Drew the home game 2-2 and I remember the replay was 3 days later, the next Tuesday. Awful performance. It was the year TC appeared in the final for QPR.

Darren or someone will have all the details. I tried to blot it from the memory!

We drew 2-2 with mighty Altrincham at the Lane on 21/11/81 with Edwards and Hatton scoring. The replay, which we lost 0-3 as you say, was on Monday the 23rd.

 

[Darren]

I wish he had hit it over the bar; it might have made me feel a little happier if he'd got a decent contact on it, as opposed to the mis-hit trickle that rolled into the 'keeper's hands.

And Givens wasn't on loan. We had signed him from Birmingham in March.

 

[bladesfan]

There was a night match against Millwall early 70's the cricket pitch was still there, i think it was 0-2 the Fans started singing bring out the wickets.

 

[Darren]

There was a night match against Millwall early 70's the cricket pitch was still there, i think it was 0-2 the Fans started singing bring out the wickets.

The only night match we played against Millwall around then was on 13/4/71 when we won 2-0

 

[alcoblade]

Mendonca scored. We'd lost 3-1 to Millwall (Mendonca again) a few days before as well, after starting the holidays with a good result, drawing 1-1 with Villa.

The Oldham game was not a night game but it was dark, which was appropriate. Still the worst performance I have ever seen from United.

Was that mike all game an early no at their place? I remember going there in the height of the hooligan era. - that was a truly shut day out.

UTB

 

[Darren]

I was told that Kendall "had too much to drink" that night and the players couldnt understand his pre match talk, also his talk during half time. He was excused from speaking to the press, the reason being was that he had "a heavy cold"

That does sound like an excuse put around by thee players! Even with a pissed manager our then expensively assembled 2nd tier team should not have lost 5-2 at home to a third tier team!

 

[Rufus Smalls]

I re

Remember a night match when Bob Hatton & Walsh took us to pieces

we lost 1-5.


I remember that Blackpool match as a nipper still at school. Was it Ron and Paul Futcher who were in the Blackpool side at that time ?