At the halfway point things were nicely poised for Rochdale – recap the 1st half here – and we kick off the second half against Bari in the Anglo-Italian Cup! Our first taste of European football, and it doesn’t go well! We’re 2 goals down early on, and though Carter pulls one back towards the end we lose our first trip abroad 2-1.
There is some surprising good news though. Thanks to his performances, and some injures to players in higher divisions, Mark Limbert is promoted from the U21’s to the Senior England squad! Our first England International! It’s a welcome boost after losing 2 games on the bounce, and we hammer Millwall and beat our closest rivals Southampton to cement our lead at the top.
We entertain Cosenza as our first European visitors to Sandy Lane and take our momentum into the match, giving us our first win in the international stage and putting us back on track to try and qualify for the semi finals. Then our old friends from Nottingham come to visit, Forest looking for some payback for the shock cup exits we’ve inflicted on them both this season and last on penalties!
Forest seem much improved and take an early lead through Bryan Roy. We step it up and out play them in the second half, Chris Myers scores to earn us a replay. At the City Ground Forest are lucky as we once again outplay them, but can’t convert our chances, Betts missing a hatful of opportunities in a nightmare performance for the usually reliable striker. Colin Cooper scores just before half time, then just into the second half Joachim doubles their lead. We still can’t break through and Forest have their revenge for the previous cup defeats and we’re out of the FA cup in the 3rd round.
Shortly after, we play 2nd division Birmingham in the League Cup quarter final as we hope to repeat last years success. Birmingham, and Paul Moulden specifically, have other plans. In an almost one man show we get taken apart by Moulden, going 3-0 down in the first 20 minutes! Carter pulls one back but the hosts regain their 3 goal lead going in to the break. The second half isn’t much better as Moulden completes his hat-trick. A late consolation goal by Myers leaves us with a 5-2 defeat and we’re out at the quarter finals this season. The board does not approve!
It’s not been a great period for us, we’re fine in the league but our cup performances have been well below par. Chelsea have been struggling all season at the foot of the Premier and Glen Hoddle finally get the boot with former Arsenal boss George Graham taking over. Arsenal on the other hand, have turned things around remarkably under new manager Bryan Robson, as we play them again in the league, they’re into the semi-finals of the FA Cup and a good run of form has given them hopes of a playoff place. Their performance is much improved against us too as we share the points in a 1-1 draw.
So it’s just the league and Anglo-Italian to play for now. We extend our lead at the top beating West Ham 3-1 and look odds on for promotion and the title as we go to Lecce. We race into a two goal lead before being pegged back before half time. We’re back to 3-1 up with squad striker Ian Benjamin getting his first 2 goals of the season, but then collapse and let them back in, finishing with a 3-3 draw and qualification hanging in the balance.
Bologna at home is the last group game. Our qualification hopes are dealt a couple of early blows and we’re 2-0 down at the interval. Mulrain gets clattered and injured by their right back who gets sent off. Against ten men, Carter manages to get one back to give us hope but we can’t find an equaliser. Other results go against us too and we’re out, finishing bottom of the group.
Taking our chances in games is an area we have struggled in this season and has cost us in the cups, Carter and Connolly not bagging as many as they did last season, Howard putting in good performances but the goals have dried up somewhat, with Betts being our main goal getter, and when he struggles it seems we do. So on transfer deadline day we sign Damien Henderson, an academy graduate from Scunthorpe who caught my eye last season and has made an impact in division 3 this season scoring double figures.
We see off Grimsby and Hull, drawing 2-2 with Norwich in between, with Henderson scoring a brace in his debut at Grimsby and another against Hull, before the arrival of Portsmouth to Sandy Lane. A win here and we secure promotion! Steve Mulrain gives us a 1-0 lead at the break. Early in the second period Stimson gets sent off for Portsmouth and we take control, Henderson scoring again before Mulrain gets his second. Durnin narrows the defecit late on, but Mulrain races clear at the end to get his hat-trick and it finishes 4-1. We seal promotion with 8 games to spare!
With the pressure off we enjoy the run in, winning 6 of our last 7 games, drawing 1, scoring 21 and conceding just 1 to finish 30 points clear, including a 6-0 rout of Wolves!
Arsenal complete a stunning turn around with Robson leading them on a charge up through the playoff places to finish 2nd and gain automatic promotion back to the Premier League, as well a getting to the FA Cup final against current holders Oldham. It’s not a complete fairy tale though as Oldham retain the Cup at Wembley. Southampton, after trailing us in second for most of the season lose out to Charlton in the playoffs and spend another season in the 1st Division. They do register the biggest surprise of the season though, getting to the Coca-Cola Cup final and beating Man City!
George Graham on the other hand has not managed the same feat at Chelsea, and gets them relegated, his second relegation in 2 seasons, with two different teams! After narrowly escaping last season, Forest go down as well, with West Brom.
Tottenham have a great run in and finish as Champions by 8 points ahead of… Newcastle who are yet again runners up! Always the bridesmaid! Sheringham is the leagues top scorer with 26. At the other end, Wrexham expectedly drop out.
Milan and Porto both retain their European cups again, 3 seasons running now, whilst Rangers surprise everyone, including Liverpool, to win their Champions League group and play PSV in the final. As with Bayern last season, the previous seasons runners up go one better this time with PSV beating Rangers on penalties. Rangers to win it next season then?
Betts unsurprisingly finishes as stop scorer, though I think Henderson may give him a close run next season after scoring 9 in 11 since his arrival! Betts also gets supporters Player of the Season ahead of Captain Danny Carter who has been making noises about moving to a better club! We’ll see how he takes to the Premier League with us!
Season 4 will see us take on the Premier League! We may need a signing or two to strengthen the squad as we welcome the biggest teams in the land to tiny Sandy Lane!
I4NI 
One thought on “Quarantine Save: Season 3 – 2nd Half”