| Saturday 26 April 1986 15:00
Canon League Division One |
| |
 |
|
 |
| "Liverpool" |
5 - 0 |
"Birmingham
City" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Rush 25, Gillespie 46, 58, 83 p.,
Molby 49 p. |
|
|
| |
1 Bruce
Grobbelaar
2 Gary Gillespie
3 Jim Beglin
4 Steve Nicol
5 Ronnie Whelan
6 Alan Hansen (c)
7 Kenny Dalglish
8 Craig Johnston
9 Ian Rush
10 Jan Molby
11 Kevin MacDonald
Subs:
12 Mark Lawrenson |
|
1 David Seaman
- Brian Roberts
- Julian Dicks
- Mark Smalley
- Jim Hagan
- Ray Ranson
- Stuart Storer
- Wayne Clarke
- Nick Platnauer
- Billy Wright
- Robert Hopkins
Subs:
12 Martin Kuhl |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Whelan (Lawrenson 83) |
|
Roberts (Kuhl ?) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: G M Tyson |
| |
|
|
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity )
Attendance: 42,021 |
|
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
John Bond (Birmingham C) |
 Price: 50 pence
|
|
Championship race
approaches climax
If Liverpool cling on to pole position to win the championship on the last lap
Kenny Dalglish will be able to claim he did it his way.
Not many managers would have relegated an international of Mark Lawrenson's ability
and class to the substitutes' bench - but Dalglish had no hesitation. Gary Gillespie got
Dalglish's vote of confidence and he responded not only with his first goal of the season,
but also his first ever hat-trick.
A far post header (46 minutes), a simple tap (60) and a penalty taken by order of
the Kop (83) did the trick to leave already boomed Birmingham licking wounds they did not
deserve. They displayed a sense of freedom and adventure which earned them nine corners,
with 19-year old debutant Stuart Storer showing considerable poise in midfield. "We
were on a hiding to nothing anyway," admitted Birmingham's transfer-listed Billy
Wright, "and once the first goal went in that was it."
That came after 25 minutes when Ian Rush used his knee to glance home Ronnie
Whelan's mis-hit volley for his 30th goal of the season. The only other interruption to an
afternoon which belonged to Gillespie was Jan Molby's 49th minute penalty after Brian
Roberts had handled.
The Kop demanded that Molby stood down when the second penalty was awarded for
Julian Dicks' trip on Rush and commanded Gillespie forward to complete his hat-trick. Now
it's win or bust for the three remaining runners as the great title chase heads for a
photo finish. Neither Everton, Liverpool or West Ham can afford even to draw any of their
remaining matches over the next eight days. Everton remain marginal favourites because
they have a possible points total with three matches remaining, of 89.
Leaders Liverpool, with two to play and a better goal difference, can reach 88.
Outsiders West Ham, with four to play and the worst goal difference can muster 87. The
Hammers face a home game with Manchester City tonight and the crunch could come on
Wednesday when all three teams play. Liverpool are at Leicester, Everton at Oxford and
West Ham at home to Ipswich.
Next Saturday's programme sees Everton home to Southampton with Liverpool and West
Ham at Chelsea and West Brom. It could come to a nail-biting finish a week tonight at
Goodison when Everton clash with West Ham in the last game of the season. It has become a
handicap chase for Everton who look certain to be without midfield dynamo Peter Reid at
Oxford. He damaged ankle ligaments in Saturday's goalless draw at Nottingham Forest and
spent the weekend in a nursing home.
Goodison boss Howard Kendall said: "We will not know the full extent of the
damage until Peter has seen a specialist and the swelling has settled. I think he will be
out on Wednesday, but it is very premature to talk about Peter's chances for the FA Cup
final."
Full back Pat van den Hauwe also spent Saturday night in a nursing home with a calf
injury. Kendall added "It is very painful but not as serious as Peter's injury."
Liverpool have no injury worries as Ian Rush and Craig Johnston are expected to
recover from minor knocks. Steve McMahon could also be in contention as his thigh injury
continues to improve.
By Chris James of "The Daily Mirror"
Copyright - Daily Mirror |
