I have no idea in those far off days before TV called the shots why this game was played on a Monday, and very probably no TV footage was ever recorded, but it was a very special night where a Chelsea milestone, that will probably never be equalled, was set. What a fuss Sky Sports New would make today but I simply duplicate the understated paper report from top writer of the day Laurie Pignon.
"Master marksman Bobby Tambling, smasher of all Chelsea's scoring records, bounced up with another cracker - his 200th first team goal. And what a beauty!
Bobby swept past Geoff Curtis and Chris Cattlin to put Chelsea two up after 24 minutes, and it was the tantalising Tambling who had made the magical pass after only two minutes for young Ian Hutchinson to open the scoring.
Chelsea, who had little to play for but their own self respect first produced the urgency and drive that the threat of relegation should have inspired in Noel Cantwell's men.
Chelsea manager Dave Sexton made a brave decision in leaving out artistic ball players Charlie Cooke and Peter Osgood but the rain soaked pitch was made for men whose talents were of sterner stuff.
After half an hour Coventry were handicapped when brian hill retired hurt after a Ron Harris tackle. Peter Bonetti didn't have a difficult save to make in the first half but after the interval Coventry looked a different side when they blazed like a furnace where there had been no fire at all and charged deep into Chelsea's rough tackling heart.
Bonetti did extremely well to save from Willie Carr and Ernie Hunt but in the 66th minute Neil Martin headed the most artistic goal of the night . This was not the form of a team doomed to drop from the First Division. In the end Coventry deserved the equaliser that was so near half a dozen times but yet so far"
So it's not a new thing for Chelsea to be hanging on in games where we'd been cruising! Now you know why it's the oldies that get anxious in the second half...
Final Score ; Chelsea 2 Coventry 1
This match was originally scheduled for Saturday March 1st but Chelsea reached the 6th round of the FA Cup and played West Brom at home instead.
ReplyDeleteMonday 10th March was the next available date for the Coventry game.