Motty's Magic Matches

Villa made the 1981 Cup final replay memorable

Motty's Magic Matches. Part One: The 1981 FA Cup Final replay, BBC Five Live 909&693 MW, Wednesday 30 May, 2100BST

In his new series, John Motson looks back at some of the great games he has commentated on for BBC TV over the years.

The series kicks off with the drama of the 1981 FA Cup Final Replay between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

John is joined in the studio by Manchester City's Tommy Hutchison and the Tottenham captain Steve Perryman to reminisce about the game.

It was the first Cup final replay ever to be played at Wembley, with a winning goal which has been judged to be one of the best of all time.

In that first match, just five days before the replay, it ended 1-1 with Hutchison scoring both goals.

Hutchison: scored at both ends

He put City ahead with a spectacular diving header and then deflected a Glenn Hoddle free-kick past his own goalkeeper.

Although it looked as if he couldn't have done much about it, Hutchison felt it was his fault.

"We watched Hoddle and his free kicks for our preparation and we knew exactly what he was going to do.

"I was supposed to run across and chest it down, but I got there too quick and it hit my shoulder. Poor Joe Corrigan, our keeper, couldn't do anything about it."

Ricky Villa - hero and villain

Another memory from that first game was the sight of the flamboyant Argentine, Ricardo Villa, trudging forlornly off the pitch and down the tunnel after being substituted.

In the programme Perryman reveals that he told his manager Keith Burkinshaw that he didn't think Villa should play in the replay.

"I didn't think he showed a lot of team spirit that day. I thought he should have stayed on the bench after he was taken off.

Instead, he decided to take an early bath rather than urge on his team-mates.

"But I misread it. There had been a big build-up in Argentina and he was disappointed with himself because of his poor performance, rather than with being taken off."

Fortunately for Tottenham, Villa took his place in the team for the replay after all.

Ricky Villa, after his disappointment from the first game, had to be the man to steal the game

  Steve Perryman

Burkinshaw's decision reaped almost immediate dividends - Villa's disappointment from the first game turned to joy as he put Spurs in the lead within eight minutes.

City answered back with an outstanding volley from Steve McKenzie, before Kevin Reeves put the Blues 2-1 ahead with a penalty.

But it wasn't to be City's day - Garth Crooks equalised to bring Tottenham back into the game.

Steve Perryman says that at that point Spurs were on the up:

"If you're in that position, you're better off being the team that's come back to 2-2 rather than the team's that's been dragged back.

"So our confidence was higher then. It was the year ending in a one, it was a time of Tottenham triumph and that's the way it eventually turned out, with such a magnificent goal.

"Being football, Ricky Villa, after his disappointment from the first game, had to be the man to steal the game in such a terrific fashion."