Greatest Own Goals of All-Time No.9
The FA Cup was the one trophy that eluded Brian Clough throughout his career.
He had guided his Nottingham Forest side to two successive semi finals in 1988 and 1989, only to be paired with Liverpool and lost on both occasions.
Forest then went one better in the 1990/91 season, reaching the FA Cup Final after beating Second Division West Ham United in the semi final at Villa Park.
The other two sides in the semi final were champions-elect Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur who had a habit in winning the FA Cup in a year ending in ‘1’.
It was Tottenham who progressed in the other semi final and on 18th May 1991, the two sides emerged from the tunnel, with Brian Clough holding Spurs manager Terry Venables’ hand!
Paul Gascoigne started the match like a man possessed, running around committing several dangerous fouls. He injured himself in a challenge with Forest defender Gary Charles, keeping him out of football for over a year.
Stuart Pearce broke the deadlock with the resulting free kick and Mark Crossley then saved a penalty from Gary Lineker. It looked very much like Clough was going to get his hands on the famous trophy!
Paul Stewart then equalised in the second half to take the game to extra time. Four minutes into the extra half hour, disaster struck for Nottingham Forest and their defender Des Walker in particular.
Tottenham won a corner that was taken out on the right by Spaniard Nayim, who had come on in place of the stricken Paul Gascoigne in the opening 20 minutes.
Tottenham goalscorer Paul Stewart nodded the ball on at the near post, hoping that a team mate would be able to get on the end of it.
Des Walker came charging in at the far post to head the ball out for another corner. Sadly for Walker, the ball floated up high into the top corner of the net past his own goalkeeper Mark Crossley and over the head of Gary Crosby who was stood on the goal line.
Walker was left lying face down on the Wembley turf as the Tottenham fans celebrated his error. Their side would win the game 2-1 and Brian Clough would never get to win the FA Cup as he retired two years later.
Whether you loved him or hated him, Brian Clough was a proven winner. He won League championships and European Cups but the one trophy that eluded him was lost in the most tragic way.
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