Chelsea vs. Wednesday: Owls look to retake the edge in long-dormant rivalry

Chelsea take on Sheffield Wednesday for the first time since April 2000. The height of the clubs’ rivalry dates back much further, though. Reverse two decades, and the Blues and Owls regularly found themselves competing for the Second Division league title.

Having defeated Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday to reach the final of the Carabao Cup, it was a game in that same competition back in the 80s that captured the imagination of a nation… alright I may exaggerate, but it was some game. Strangely, the League Cup that season was sponsored by a drinks company as it is today. However, it was long before the invention of energy-boosting drinks. Maybe it could have been regarded as the equivalent of its day: the Milk Marketing Board, giving us the Milk Cup.

Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday found themselves drawn against each other at the quarter-final stages of the competition. The initial game at Stamford Bridge had been postponed due to the UK being in the grip of an unusual cold snap. When the tie was eventually played on Monday, 28 January 1985, just two days after the club defeated Wigan Athletic 5-0 in an FA Cup 3rd round replay, it ended in a 1-1 draw. Chelsea’s goal came courtesy of David Speedie.

Speedie’s strike partner Kerry Dixon missed a penalty, hit the woodwork twice and had a shot cleared off the line. The game would be replayed up in Sheffield, and the managers – John Neal for Chelsea, Howard Wilkinson for Wednesday – had no time to moan about fixture congestion.

Just two days later, Chelsea’s third game in five days, proved to be an epic encounter.

After the first 45 minutes, it didn’t appear it was going to be Chelsea’s night. Wednesday stormed into a 3-0 lead before half-time. Maybe all those games in such a short space of time were about to take their toll.

However, that was before John Neal made an inspirational substitution during the break. Colin Lee was replaced by Paul Canoville, who made an instant impact.

Chelsea attacked from the kick-off and Canners found himself through on goal. He converted the chance just 11 seconds after the break. That early goal shook Wednesday and the impetus switched in Chelsea’s direction.

Kerry Dixon grabbed the second, poking the ball home having taken the ball around the keeper. The tide had definitely turned.

The comeback was complete when Pat Nevin set Micky Thomas up just outside the penalty area. The little Welshman fed by the little Scotsman fired into the roof of the net to make the score 3-3.

The scoring was not over, though. Incredibly Chelsea took the lead when Nevin played the ball through for Dixon, who picked out Canoville open in some space. The striker bundled the ball past the keeper for what surely have been the winning goal. But it was not to be.

Blues defender Doug Rougvie conceded a penalty in the last minute, having tripped Mel Sterland as he ran on goal. The defender himself stepped up to take the spot-kick and slammed the ball straight down the middle of Eddie Niedzwiecki’s goal. Extra-time followed but the deadlock could not be broken

Penalty kicks didn’t exist as an option for finding a winner on the night, so the game went to another replay. The teams at least had the luxury of a week until the game was played at Stamford Bridge. Once again it was the South Yorkshire side that took the lead early in the first half. More wizardry came from Pat Nevin, who crossed for David Speedie to head home the equaliser.

Into the second half and the game was finally to have a winner. In typical Chelsea style, it was in the last minute of the game that Micky Thomas headed home the winner. Chelsea’s run in the competition ended in the two-leg semi-final, defeated 5-2 on aggregate by Sunderland.

Today’s game may not be a 4-4 humdinger. But you never know, it might be. After all, it is the magic of the FA Cup.