Liverpool had a chance for a triple this season. It was a big possibility until the semi-finals of the cups. Both times Liverpool drew the strongest opponent, which in a way was even better – overcoming the real opposition early meant almost sure cup. Both times Liverpool was visiting at the first leg and both times the results heavily favoured the Reds: in the Football League Cup, they lost 0-1 in Nottingham. In the FA Cup, they drew 0-0 tie in London against Arsenal. Unfortunately, the home games did not go well – Nottingham managed to keep the result at a 1-1 tie. Liverpool was eliminated. Then an epic followed: Arsenal also managed to a 1-1 tie. A third match was scheduled and it ended again 1-1. A forth match. And here Arsenal prevailed 1-0. No cups for Liverpool, then. But what a drama and what a historic event: 4 matches were played to decide the finalist – never before and never again. The longest semi-final of all time.
Meantime the other semi-finals went on quieter note. Wolverhampton lost the first leg to 3rd Division Swindon Town 1-2, but won 3-1 at home and moved to the League Cup final. West Ham United tied their home match against Everton 1-1 and looked like the 2nd division team was a goner. But surprisingly they won in Liverpool 2-1 and reached the FA Cup final. As usual, the Football League Cup final was played first. Wolverhampton Wanderers vs Nottingham Forest. The Wolves enjoyed a strong season and Nottingham not so great, but still odds were in favour of Bryan Clough’s squad. The final was fairly equal, but eventually the Wolves scored a goal, courtesy of Gray. Nottingham failed to score and lost.
Nottingham finished empty-handed this season – but empty-handed in England. They still got a trophy, though. This was their 3rd consecutive League Cup final – and the first they lost. This was also the last domestic success for a long time – their next chance for winning a trophy will come in 1989.
Wonderful season for Wolverhampton Wanderers – it looked like the decline was over and new bright period was starting. Perhaps the happiest was Emelyn Hughes: a winner with Liverpool, the great defender was winner again. This was second Football League Cup for the Wolves, but also their last big success.
A London FA Cup final for the first time since 1975. Back than it was a battle between 1st and 2nd division clubs. Now it was the same. West Ham United appeared in both finals, but this time they were the underdog representing Second Division. Arsenal seemed too strong to be beaten by a team having so-so season in the lower division. In 1975 the 2nd division team fought bravely, but lost. But it was different this time: in another pretty much equal game a single goal was scored – like in the League Cup final. And like the other final, the unanswered goal was scored by the underdog. Trevor Brooking was the hero. West Ham United won.
Bad luck for the Gunners. Unfortunately, not a great team… coming close to winning, but only that.
Happy winners, including the teddy bear. The Hammers won their 3rd – and so far last – FA Cup. It was great not only because Hammers proved stronger than Gunners: it was a victory bringing hope to down and out club, which was quite demoralized. They had a team which should have been in first division, but suffered in the second. Winning the Cup was perhaps very important moral boost. Not to mention that they beat city rivals in good shape. Trevor Brooking proved to be still the great player,, collecting trophies. West Ham was not going to be a great club, but tough they were and winning was not to end. Yet.