The greatest comebacks in the League Cup years
This week saw the return of the Capital One Cup and the third round to be more precise. We have decided to look back at the greatest comebacks since the competition began in 1961.
1961 Final: Aston Villa 3-2 Rotherham United
Lowly Rotherham United made the inaugural League Cup Final in 1961 against all the odds and face high flying Aston Villa over two legs for the trophy.
The Millers secured an unlikely 2-0 victory on their own patch and so the Division Two side just had to hold on at Villa Park to make remarkable history. But it wasn’t to be.
Villa were on their home ground and were a tough team to beat in those days and thanks to a battling performance were able to win 2-0 and take the game to extra time, where Peter McParland scored a dramatic late winner to destroy minnows Rotherham and give Aston Villa the first ever League Cup trophy.
Third Round, 2009 – Stoke City 4-3 Blackpool
Ian Holloway’s Blackpool were a team on the up, battling for promotion to the Premier League and hoping to follow in the footsteps on Stoke City who had achieved that, but this night in the cup saw very little between the sides.
Blackpool goals from David Vaughan and Billy Clarke looked enough to send the visitors through to the last 16 but with 15 minutes go Danny Higginbotham grabbed a lifeline for Stoke.
A quick-fire double from Matty Etherington and Ricardo Fuller turned the tie on its head and it was now Stoke who looked set for the next round. An 82nd minute equaliser from Ben Burgess looked to be enough to send the game to extra time but Andy Griffin’s 96th minute winner stunned the Seasiders and sent the Potters through despite being 2-0 down with 15 minutes left.
1988 Final: Arsenal 2-3 Luton
The one and only time Luton Town have ever won the League Cup was possibly one of the most memorable games in the competitions history.
Town were massive underdogs going up against the mighty Arsenal at Wembley but took a surprising lead through Brian Stein early on in the game, shocking the Gunners fans. However, from then on it was all Arsenal and the favourites bagged two quick goals to put them firmly in control of the final through Martin Hayes and Alan Smith.
George Graham’s men seemed even more likely to go on and lift the trophy in the second half as the Gunners were awarded a penalty to put the tie beyond doubt. But, Hatters legend Andy Dibble pulled off a great save to deny Nigel Winterburn and the momentum well and truly swung Luton’s way.
Danny Wilson soon equalised for the underdogs and a dramatic late winner from Stein completed a surging second half comeback from Luton to win the League Cup.
Third Round, 2001: Liverpool 1 Grimsby Town 2
As far as quick-fire turnarounds go Grimsby Town have got to be the appreciated after holding Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield the game was in to extra time and the division two side were looking tired after giving it their all for 90 minutes.
Liverpool seemed to have finally put the game to bed when Gary McAllister smashed home a penalty in front of the Kop to break the hearts of the travelling Town fans, but Grimsby didn’t give up there.
A stunning second half of extra time saw the minnows snatch an unlikely equaliser through Marlon Broomes and just as the game looked to be heading to penalties, Phil Jevons popped up to win it for the visitors and knock out the holders Liverpool.
1967 Final: QPR 3-2 West Brom
In 1967 the League Cup was held at the national stadium Wembley for the first time after the scrapping of the two legged final and this year saw one of the greatest comebacks and shocks in the history of the competition.
Third division Queens Park Rangers from Loftus Road had the mighty task of overcoming current holders of the League Cup, West Bromwich Albion in a classic game in London.
The major underdogs seemed out of the game at half time thanks to two goals from Clive Clark giving Albion a 2-0 lead going into the break. But like most underdogs, QPR didn’t know when they were beaten and came out for one of the most incredible 45 minutes of their history.
The battling performance paid off and goals from Roger Morgan and Rodney Marsh somehow brought the minnows level going into the final ten minutes, where a superb striker from Mark Lazarus gave Rangers a shock win after a stunning comeback.
Second Round, 2009 – Newcastle United 4-3 Huddersfield Town
Despite having a rough time of it in the league, Newcastle were still hot favourites to overcome League One side Huddersfield Town at St James Park in the second round.
Things seemed to be going to plan with Danny Guthrie putting the hosts in front and with an experienced side being fielded by manager Chris Hughton the third round was almost in sight. However, brave Huddersfield kicked into life at the end of the first half and a brace from youngster Theo Robinson turned the tie on its head just before half time.
The visitors quickly added a third through Jordan Rhodes after the break and it seemed Newcastle’s form was going from bad to worst.
With the favourites seemingly dead and buried at 3-1 down a marvellous Geremi goal sparked them back into life and a late Shola Ameobi penalty followed by a Kevin Nolan header at the death somehow gave Newcastle the vital victory.
First Round, 2010 – Shrewsbury Town 4-3 Charlton Athletic
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Recently relegated Charlton Athletic were still a whole division about their counterparts on this cold evening in September 2010, but the action was more Premier League than Football League as the hosts came from 3-0 down to snatch a 4-3 win.
Three goals in the first half hour from the Addicks looked to have the game in the bag but a sterling come back began just before half time as Jake Robinson smashed home from close range to spark the hosts into life.
An O.G. and an O’Donnell strike somehow pulled the Shrews level with 25 minutes left and cup specialist Matt Harrold headed home a dramatic winner with just over ten minutes left to eliminate Charlton and complete the comeback.
Round Two, 2012 – Derby County 5-5 Scunthorpe United (P)
Possibly the greatest comeback ever, let alone in the League Cup as League One strugglers Scunthorpe came from 3-0 and 4-1 down to defeat Championship Derby on penalties earlier this season.
A comfortable opening 50 minutes for the fancied hosts saw goals from Richard Keogh, Jake Buxton and Theo Robinson have them 3-0 up and in the hat for Round Three. Maybe not.
Andy Barcham grabbed a conciliation goal for The Iron with 35 minutes to play, only for that to be cancelled out a minute later by Buxton’s second putting the Rams 4-1 up.
The real drama then unfolded with Mike Grella and Bobby Grant dragging Scunny back into the tie only for Derby to once again break away and steal another goal through Nathan Tyson, 5-3 with six minutes to go.
The game looked to be over as the fourth official raised his board for time added on, but simultaneously the visitors were awarded a penalty for handball and Grant smashed home his second to set up a nervy end for Derby. The script was ripped up once again as Connor Jennings snatched an unbelievable stoppage time equaliser to take the game to extra time.
A quiet 30 minutes resulted in a penalty shoot-out and having made that incredible comeback, there was no way Scunthorpe were going to let it go now and Tom Naylor missed the crucial penalty for Derby to send Scunthorpe through.