1989 Football League Second Division play-off final

Association football match in England January 2021 1989 Football League Second Division play-off final 1988–89 Football League Second Division Blackburn Rovers 3 Crystal Palace 4 First leg 3 1 1989 05 31 y Ewood Park Blackburn Joe Worrall 16,421 Second leg 0 3 After extra time 1989 06 03 y Selhurst Park London George Courtney 26,358 1988 1990 The 1989 Football League Second Division play-off final was an association football match played over two legs between Blackburn Rovers and Crystal Palace on 31 May 1989 and 3 June 1989. The final was to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Football League Second Division, the second tier of English football, to the First Division. The top two teams of the 1988–89 Football League Second Division season gained automatic promotion to the First Division, those placed from third to sixth in the league table competed play-off semi-finals. The winners of the semi-finals played against each other for the final place in the First Division for the 1989–90 season. Crystal Palace ended the season in third position, two places ahead of Blackburn Rovers, while Swindon Town and Watford were the other semi-finalists. The first leg of the final took place at Blackburn's Ewood Park on 31 May 1989. Midway through the first half, Simon Garner flicked on a cross from Scott Sellars and Howard Gayle scored to make it 1–0 to Blackburn. In the 27th minute, Gayle doubled his side's lead with a half-volley from just outside the Palace penalty area. In the 70th minute, Jeff Hopkins brought Gayle down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Gayle took the spot kick himself but struck his shot wide of the goal. With four minutes of regular time remaining, Palace made it 2–1 through Eddie McGoldrick. Garner restored the two-goal lead in injury time, ending the match 3–1. Selhurst Park hosted the second leg of the final on 3 June 1989. Blackburn started the game strongly but Palace took the lead through Ian Wright who scored after 17 minutes from an Alan Pardew cross. A minute after half time, Mark Atkins tripped McGoldrick in the box to concede a penalty from which David Madden scored. Palace were 2–0 ahead at the end of regular time, and with the aggregate score being 3–3, the game went into extra time. With three minutes of the match remaining, Wright scored his 33rd goal of the season heading the ball from a McGoldrick cross past Terry Gennoe. The match ended 3–0 and Palace were promoted to the First Division with a 4–3 aggregate victory. Crystal Palace ended the following season in fifteenth position in the First Division. Blackburn's next season saw them finish in fifth position in the Second Division and qualify for the play-offs where they lost to Swindon Town. Route to the final 1988–89 Football League Second Division main WDL Q right auto Football League Second Division final table, leading positions CHE Chelsea MCI Manchester City CRY Crystal Palace WAT Watford BLB Blackburn Rovers SWI Swindon Town 29 12 5 96 50 23 13 10 77 53 23 12 11 71 49 22 12 12 74 48 22 11 13 74 59 20 16 10 68 53 complete https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1989/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 15 January 2021 League Division Two end of season table for 1988–89 season 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155622/https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/1989/ live Crystal Palace finished the regular 1988–89 season in third place in the Football League First Division – the second tier of the English football league system – two places and four points ahead of Blackburn Rovers. Both missed out on the two automatic places for promotion to the First Division and instead took part in the play-offs, along with Watford and Swindon Town, to determine the third promoted team. Crystal Palace finished one point behind Manchester City (who were promoted in second place) and eighteen behind league winners Chelsea. Blackburn Rovers faced Watford in their play-off semi-final, with the first leg taking place at Ewood Park in Blackburn on 21 May 1989. The game was described by Stephen Bierley in The Guardian as "hot, hectic and mostly horrible." https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67746714/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 16 January 2021 Rovers repose Stephen Bierley 22 May 1990 15 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155743/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67746714/the-guardian/ live The home side made the better start but the match ended goalless with misses from Howard Gayle and Scott Sellars, while Neil Redfearn's shot for Watford in the second half was saved by Terry Gennoe. The return leg was played three days later at Vicarage Road in Watford. Simon Garner put Blackburn ahead after beating Paul Miller and Kenny Jackett and striking the ball past Tony Coton in the Watford goal. Redfearn equalised on 29 minutes with a long-range strike which took a deflection off John Millar to beat Gennoe. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67747099/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 16 January 2021 Watford go flat Jack Massarik 25 May 1989 16 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155623/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67747099/the-guardian/ live Ending 1–1, the game moved into extra time but with no further change to the score, Blackburn progressed to the play-off final on the away goals rule. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19890525/214/0016 British Newspaper Archive Newcastle Journal 16 January 2021 Wright result for Palace 25 May 1989 16 subscription In the other play-off semi-final, Crystal Palace's opponents were Swindon Town, and the first leg was played at the County Ground, Swindon, on 21 May 1989. The match was dominated by Swindon but the first half ended goalless. In the 53rd minute, Crystal Palace's captain Jeff Hopkins scored an own goal after a dangerous cross from Dave Hockaday. Swindon manager Lou Macari suggested that his side were favourites going into the second leg but added "we shan't be defending". https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67747312/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 16 January 2021 Hopkins's hash David Foot 22 May 1990 15 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155654/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67747312/the-guardian/ live The return leg took place at Selhurst Park three days later. The largest crowd of the season meant congestion caused the kick off to be delayed by fifteen minutes. On eight minutes, Mark Bright scored his 25th goal of the season after Paul Digby had beaten away a shot from David Madden, to put Palace ahead. Seven minutes before half-time, Ian Wright doubled the lead after scoring from a Bright header. The match ended 2–0 and Crystal Palace qualified for the final with a 2–1 aggregate win. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67747469/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 16 January 2021 Finally Wright on the night Mike Rowbottom 25 May 1990 16 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155750/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67747469/the-guardian/ live Match Background Neither side had featured in a play-off final although Blackburn Rovers had lost in the semi-finals during the 1988 Football League play-offs. https://web.archive.org/web/20161009214128/https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/article/165/9864357/play-off-final-history-stats 9 October 2016 25 May 2015 Sporting Life 16 January 2021 Play-Off Final History & Stats Crystal Palace had played in the second tier of English football since being relegated in the 1980–81 season, while Blackburn had been in the Second Division since they were promoted in the 1979–80 season.https://www.fchd.info/CRYSTALP.HTM Crystal Palace Football Club History Database 16 January 2021 12 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190512181742/http://fchd.info/CRYSTALP.HTM live https://www.fchd.info/BLACKBUR.HTM Blackburn Rovers Football Club History Database 16 January 2021 30 August 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200830125040/http://www.fchd.info/BLACKBUR.HTM live During the regular 1988–89 season, Blackburn Rovers had won their home game between the two sides 5–4 in October, while the clubs played out a 2–2 draw at Vicarage Road the following February. https://www.11v11.com/teams/blackburn-rovers/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Crystal%20Palace/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 16 January 2021 Blackburn Rovers football club: record v Crystal Palace 19 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160519175320/http://www.11v11.com/teams/blackburn-rovers/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Crystal%20Palace/ live Garner was Blackburn's leading scorer during the regular season with 23 goals across all competitions (20 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 2 in the League Cup), followed by Gayle who scored 20 in total (19 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup and 1 in the League Cup).512–514 Blackburn Rovers: the complete record Mike Jackman Breedon Books 978-1-85983-709-2 2009 The leading marksman for Crystal Palace was Wright who had scored 30 goals during the regular season comprising 24 in the league, 1 in the FA Cup, and 5 in the League Cup. https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2012/july/top-scorers/ Crystal Palace F.C. 16 January 2021 4 July 2012 Top Scorers 27 October 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201027101022/https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/2012/july/top-scorers/ live First leg right|thumb|upright|alt=Howard Gayle|Howard Gayle (pictured in 2010) scored two first-half goals for Blackburn Rovers in the first leg of the final. Pre-match In a training session leading up to the first leg of the final, the Blackburn manager Don Mackay tore ankle ligaments, but suggested it had helped to relax his players: "There was a lot of tension in the air until the players saw me hobbling about." https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67841591/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 17 January 2021 Mackay's relaxant Ian Ridley 31 May 1989 18 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155624/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67841591/the-guardian/ live He had a fully fit squad to choose from. Crystal Palace had Gavin Nebbeling available for selection after suspension. Summary The first leg of the final took place at Blackburn's Ewood Park on 31 May 1989 in front of a crowd of 16,421 and was refereed by Joe Worrall.Foster, p. 198 https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500391122/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=2e9f138f Gale Blackburn take a cushion Ian Ross 1 June 1989 63409 The Times 43 subscription 18 January 2021 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155649/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3D0ef29f916b24874e55b377b3ac579226 live In the 13th minute, a chance fell to Garner as he volleyed a cross from Chris Sulley, but Perry Suckling in the Crystal Palace goal saved the shot. Eight minutes later, Garner flicked on a cross from Sellars and Gayle scored to make it 1–0 to Blackburn. In the 27th minute, Gayle doubled his side's lead with a half-volley from just outside the Palace penalty area after David Burke had failed to clear the ball. Blackburn continued to dominate the match in the second half, with Hopkins almost scoring an own goal and Millar striking a shot wide of the Palace goal. On 57 minutes, Palace made the only substitution of the game, with Glenn Pennyfather coming on for Madden. In the 70th minute, Hopkins brought Gayle down in the box and a penalty was awarded. Gayle took the spot kick himself but missed out on his hat-trick after he struck his shot wide of the goal. With four minutes of regular time remaining, Palace made it 2–1. John Pemberton's free kick was headed on by Wright to Eddie McGoldrick who scored his first goal of the season from close range. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67843949/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 18 January 2021 Blackburn on the brink Stephen Bierley 1 June 1989 14 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155707/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67843949/the-guardian/ live Garner restored the two-goal lead in injury time with a tap-in from a Gayle cross, ending the match 3–1. After the match, Garner warned that, despite the lead, that his team would "be treating the second leg as if the score was 0–0." https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19890601/491/0029 British Newspaper Archive Aberdeen Evening Express 18 January 2021 Tie still so tight says hero Garner 1 June 1989 29 subscription Details 31 May 1989 19:45 Blackburn Rovers 3–1 Crystal Palace Gayle 21 27 Garner 90 McGoldrick 86 Ewood Park Blackburn 16,421 Joe Worrall (Cheshire) _bluehalf2 _lightblue stripes _redtop FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 4646FF Blackburn Rovers _collaryellow _band_red ffff33 ffff33 ffff33 ffff33 ffff33 Crystal Palace Terry Gennoe Mark Atikins Chris Sulley Nicky Reid Colin Hendry David Mail Howard Gayle John Millar Paul Miller Simon Garner Scott SellarsManager:Don Mackay Perry Suckling John Pemberton David Burke David Madden 57 Jeff Hopkins Rudi Hedman Eddie McGoldrick Alan Pardew Mark Bright Ian Wright Phil BarberSubstitutesGlenn Pennyfather 57Manager:Steve Coppell Second leg right|upright|thumb|alt=Ian Wright|Ian Wright (pictured in 2015) scored two goals for Crystal Palace in the second leg of the final. Pre-match Crystal Palace had been hoping to temporarily increase the capacity of Selhurst Park by 7,000 to 38,000. Geoff Thomas, the Palace captain, was available for selection after an extended period of absence as a result of a stomach operation. Blackburn's Hendry was carrying a leg injury. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67841980/the-guardian/ Newspapers.com The Guardian 17 January 2021 Rovers can return to top spot Ian Ridley 3 June 1989 18 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155709/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67841980/the-guardian/ live Summary The second leg of the final took place at Selhurst Park on 3 June 1989 and was refereed by George Courtney in front of a crowd of 26,358. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67923404/the-observer/ Newspapers.com The Observer 18 January 2021 Play-off finals: Palace up Michael Ralph 4 June 1989 24 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155626/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/67923404/the-observer/ live Blackburn started the game strongly but Palace's defence kept the score goalless. https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19890603/195/0020 British Newspaper Archive Aberdeen Evening Express 18 January 2021 Palace in fightback 3 June 1989 20 subscription Palace took the lead through Wright who scored from after 17 minutes from an Alan Pardew cross. Wright then saw his volley from the edge of the box tipped round the post by Gennoe, before a header from McGoldrick went wide of the Blackburn goal. A minute after half time, Atkins tripped McGoldrick in the box to concede a penalty from which Madden scored, sending the Blackburn goalkeeper Gennoe the wrong way. Six minutes later, a poor backpass from Gary O'Reilly was claimed from Garner's feet by the Palace goalkeeper Suckling. On 56 minutes, Sean Curry came on to replace Miller in the first substitution of the game. With Palace 2–0 ahead at the end of regular time, the aggregate score was 3–3 and the game went into extra time. On 105 minutes, Blackburn made their second change of the game with Gayle being replaced by Alan Ainscow. With three minutes of the match remaining, Wright scored his 33rd goal of the season heading the ball from a McGoldrick cross past Gennoe. The match ended 3–0 and Palace were promoted to the First Division with a 4–3 aggregate victory. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/IF0500392457/TTDA?u=wikipedia&sid=TTDA&xid=0b1fa8fc Gale 18 January 2021 Palace's tactical expertise yields upward mobility Nicholas Harling 5 June 1989 63412 The Times 45 subscription 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155651/https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special%3AUserLogin&uselang=en&returnto=Special%3AOAuth%2Fauthenticate&returntoquery=%26oauth_consumer_key%3Dc656df92ac58925bbcb164666bde5baf%26oauth_token%3De9b3aaf11d7d65548a7e454743e7ad72 live Details 3 June 1989 15:00 Crystal Palace 3–0 yes Blackburn Rovers Wright 17 117 Madden 47 pen. Selhurst Park London 26,358 George Courtney (County Durham) _3bluestripes2 _2 blue stripes ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 ff0000 Crystal Palace_blueborder _vneckblue _blueborder _bluesides _bluetop ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 ffff00 Blackburn Rovers Perry Suckling John Pemberton David Burke David Madden Jeff Hopkins Gary O'Reilly Eddie McGoldrick Alan Pardew Mark Bright Ian Wright Phil BarberManager:Steve Coppell Terry Gennoe Mark Atikins Chris Sulley Nicky Reid Colin Hendry David Mail Howard Gayle John Millar 105 Paul Miller 56 Simon Garner Scott SellarsSubstitutes Alan Ainscow 105 Sean Curry 56Manager:Don Mackay Post-match Coppell stated that he had a fulfilled his five-year ambition at Crystal Palace: "It is five years tomorrow since I joined the club as manager. I said then that promotion was a five-year job." Wright, who had signed from non-League club Greenwich Borough five years earlier, had been confident of promotion: "I had faith in the club. I knew we could do it. We are ready for the First Division." https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002240/19890605/255/0018 British Newspaper Archive The Journal 18 January 2021 Wright's faith rewarded as Palace go up 5 June 1989 18 subscription Crystal Palace ended the following season in fifteenth position in the First Division, having conceded more goals than any other team. https://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/leagueTables/1990/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 16 January 2021 League Division One table at close of 1989–90 season 18 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118155655/https://www.11v11.com/teams/crystal-palace/tab/leagueTables/1990/ live Blackburn's next season saw them finish in fifth position in the Second Division and qualify for the 1990 Football League play-offs where they lost 4–2 on aggregate to Swindon Town. https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/63447972/the-guardian/ Foley fires Swindon closer to Wembley Stephen Brierley 13 14 May 1990 Newspapers.com subscription 17 November 2020 The Guardian 15 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210115205940/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/63447972/the-guardian/ live https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/63450717/the-guardian/ Swindon surge into the finals 16 17 May 1990 Newspapers.com subscription 17 November 2020 The Guardian 15 January 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210115210005/https://theguardian.newspapers.com/clip/63450717/the-guardian/ live References The Agony & The Ecstasy Richard Foster 978-1-910906-00-2 Ockley Books 2015 Category:1988–89 Football League Second Division 2 Category:Football League Second Division play-off finals Category:EFL Championship play-off finals Football League Second Division play-off final 1989 Football League Second Division play-off final 1989 Football League Second Division play-off final Football League Second Division play-off final Football League Second Division play-off final