Chelsea v Sunderland 1985

[Fulham Broadway 16,385]

The Times - March 5th 1985

Chelsea sink into their darkest depths

By Stuart Jones, Football Correspondent

Chelsea 2 Sunderland 3

Sunderlarnd win 5-2 on aggregate, meet Ipswich or Norwich in final

Stamford Bridge last night reached its lowest ebb. The ground that holds some of the most notorious supporters in the country became a battlefield on and off the pitch during the second leg of this Milk Cup semi-final. The frightening exhibition of uninhibited violence blacked the night, which belonged to Sunderland, the name of Chelsea and the sport itself.

At the height of the disgraceful scenes one particularly thoughtless idiot ran across the pitch followed by four policemen. At this time Walker was working his way to the byline but scarcely anybody noticed until his cross dropped in a penalty area where the law outnumbered Chelsea's defenders. West, ignoring the farcical circumstances around him, headed home Sunderland's third and decisive goal.

Later Walker, who had scored Sunderland's first two goals in the 36th and 70th minutes against his former club, was singled out by another loutish intruder. Only the assistance of Jones and Niedzwiecki saved him from a fearful assault until stewards, reinforced by the police, belatedly marched the hooligan away to sickening chants of "loyal supporter".

Chelsea must surely pay a severe penalty for the behaviour of their so-called followers. Some ripped out the seats of their own stadium and one bystander, struck by the potentially lethal missile, was helped away. Mounted policemen who rode in to dissuade some others from encroaching on to the pitch had to avoid objects, including coins and wooden planks, that were thrown with nauseating abandon in their direction.

The tie itself, emotionally explosive and almost devoid of any memorable quality, sub-sided beneath the terrifying events on the periphery. Having courageously recovered from an early set-back, Sunderland kept their heads and deservedly reached Wembley for the first time since their astonishing victory over Leeds United in the FA Cup Final of 1973.

Chelsea, riding on the noise of a crowd that their management feel is worth a goal advantage, went ahead in the sixth minute. Nevin, the Scottish imp who brought a merciful touch of class and subtlety to the physical ugliness, gave his fellow countryman, Speedie, the opportunity to give his side the ideal opening. But their back four, a mixture of understudies and others barely recovered from injury, were clarely susceptible to counter-attack and eventually cracked under the speed of Walker. First he burst past Rougvie to relieve the pressure on his colleagues and then he collected Hodgson's astute pass to lift them towards an appointment at Wembley on March 24.

After Sunderland's third goal in the 75th minute and the ensuing crowd disturbances, the game was played out amid an eerie air of nervous tension. There was still time for Nevin to anticipate Bennett's back-pass and lob it gently over Turner, but by then Chelsea, of not the wild element of their supporters, seemed to accept that defeat was inevitable.

The referee, whose actions in maintaining some sense of order throughout the chaos, had not finished; however. He had already taken the names of Hodgson, Elliott, Chisholm anid Bennett, of Sunderland, and Thomas, Dixon and Speedie, of Chelsea. He then sent off Speedie, who has been suspended twice this season for a specially vicious foul on Elliott. Sunderland, who also struck the bar through Berry, will be without the suspended Elliott for the final. That, compared to the problems that Chelsea will face after a Football Association inquiry, seem minimal.