| Tuesday 12 January 1988 19:30
FA Cup 3rd Round Replay |
| |
 |
|
 |
| "Liverpool" |
1 - 0 |
"Stoke
City" |
| |
(1-0) |
|
| |
| GOAL |
| Beardsley 9 |
|
|
| |
1 Mike Hooper
2 Gary Gillespie
3 Mark Lawrenson
4 Steve Nicol
5 Ronnie Whelan
6 Alan Hansen (c)
7 Peter Beardsley
8 John Aldridge
9 Ray Houghton
10 John Barnes
11 Steve McMahon
Subs:
12 Craig Johnston
14 Nigel Spackman |
|
1 Scott Barrett
- Lee Dixon
- Cliff Carr
- Brian Talbot
- Steve Bould
- George Berry
- Tony Ford
- Tony Henry
- Nicky Morgan
- Simon Stainrod
- Steve Parkin
Subs:
- Graham Shaw |
| |
| SUBSTITUTIONS |
| Houghton (Johnston 82) |
|
Stainrod (Shaw 68) |
| |
| OFFICIALS & BOOKINGS |
| Referee: T Mills |
| |
|
|
| VENUE |
|
MANAGERS |
Anfield (capacity 45,485)
Attendance: 39,147 |
|
Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool)
Mick Mills (Stoke C) |
 Price: 60 pence
|
|
Beardsley goal suffices
as Liverpool surge on to meet Aston Villa
The problems Liverpool so often encounter in the early stages of domestic cup
competitions re-surfaced at Anfield last night as Stoke City again underlined their rich
potential.
Having held the Football League champions-elect to an honourable draw in Saturday's
first game, the Potteries side bowed out of the FA Cup with their pride intact after a
display of raw courage which possibly deserved more.
But as the pages of history will constantly remind Mick Mills and his players,
quality and a solitary goal from Beardsley counted in the end, and Stoke became nothing
more than another statistic as Liverpool, who now go to Villa Park in the fourth round,
extended an unbeaten run which seemingly has no end. If Stoke did arrive at Anfield
harbouring a potentially damaging inferiority complex, they manged to keep it well
secreted.
Despite the inhospitable weather, there was much to warm the hearts as a compelling
spectacle liberally laced with moments of high drama and comic uncertainty unfolded. That
a stirring opening half in which both sides played their part to the full was graced by a
solitary goal was a travesty.
Inevitably the lion's share of the possession and with it the higher percentage of
the chances fell to Liverpool, who played with such effortless ease that it was difficult
to understand exactly how Stoke had managed to hold them in check for the duration of the
game at the Victoria Ground on Saturday.
Whelan and Barnes had already missed the target by fractions of an inch before the
decisive blow was struck by Beardsley in the ninth minute.
A corner by Barnes was returned to him by McMahon, and after Berry had effected
only a partial clearance, Beardsley drove home from just outside the penalty area.
Stoke would have been forgiven for capitulating completely in the minutes that
followed, but they held their nerve, thanks in the main to Barrett, who heroically denied
Whelan and Barnes.
After an hour a brilliant, lazy cross-field run by Beardsley provided the most
inviting of openings for Houghton, but Liverpool's newest recruit could fire only tamely
into the body of a much relieved goalkeeper. As the end drew near and the pace quickened,
tempers became frayed and Parkin, Stoke's ebullient midfield player, was rightly cautioned
by the referee.
By Ian Ross of "The Times"
Copyright - The Times |
