Manchester United v Watford: FA Cup third round – live!
09-Jan-2021 19:00:29 | The Guardian
“I don’t believe in underdogs. At least not in the Cup. You respect the opposition, but it is a terrible trap to be overawed by them. The players must believe they have as much right to be on the field as anybody. Once they do, it’s just 11 men against 11.” The legendary Watford manager Graham Taylor there, in January 1982, after his promotion-bound Second Division side beat First Division title-chasing giants Manchester United in the third round of the FA Cup.
Their 1-0 victory came courtesy of a first-half Jan Lohman goal. The 18-year-old John Barnes man-marked an uncharacteristically ineffective Bryan Robson out of the game. Lou Macari had a header cleared off the line, and Garry Birtles had a couple of raspers saved by Steve Sherwood, but otherwise it was all Watford. “No complaints,” shrugged Ron Atkinson. “They were better than us in every department.” Watching on was Hornets chairman Elton John. “It was one of my greatest moments,” said the composer of Rocket Man, Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart. “Tremendous cup tie.”
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