The cup finals reflected the current state of English football: Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur were strong on all fronts. Both teams won their cup final the previous year. This time the Spurs reached the finals of both cups and Liverpool – again the Football League final. Like the year before one finalist came from Second Division.
Tottenham Hotspur met Queens Park Rangers at the FA Cup final. Like the previous year, there was no winner, the match ending exactly as the one the year before – 1-1. In the replay, the Spurs prevailed by one goal – the same as the previous year, except the result was different – 1-0.
Standing from left: Steve Burke, Ian Gillard, Simon Stainrod, Steve Wicks, Peter Hucker, Bob Hazell, John Gregory, Mike Flanagan, Tony Currie.
Sitting: Terry Fenwick, Gary Waddock, Clive Allen, Glenn Roeder, Ian Dawes, Warren Neill, Gary Micklewhite.
QPR fans were naturally disappointed, but it was strong season for their team and nothing to blame it for – Terry Venables did a wonderful job. True, QPR failed to get promoted and to win the Cup, but it was still unfinished team. From this point of view – perhaps they achieved more than they supposed to.
Tottenham won a second consecutive FA Cup – a rare achievement in England, thus, a memorable one. Going up in the league, winning a cup – the Spurs established themselves as one of the current leaders. They had a good chance to make a double, reaching the Football League Cup final as well. Where they met Liverpool, the current cup holders.
The final still showed who dominated English football: the Spurs fought as best as they could, bringing the final to overtime. Only then Liverpool prevailed – but by 2 goals! 3-1 at the end and one more trophy for the usual suspects. It was almost impossible to overcome Liverpool, that was the simple fact.
To introduce the winners would be an insult to intelligence: everybody knows this boys even after so many years. The changes in the team went so smoothly, it was hard to notice – always a squad of stars. A double this year and second consecutive Football League Cup. Simple as that.