Match of the Season - 1980/81

Last updated : 12 May 2010 By Caddy Carhandle

Winning the league gave Ferguson security. Deep down, he no longer feared the sack. The nearly-man tag was gone. Aberdeen were Scottish champions for the first time in 25 years. A generation had passed since they should have competed in the European Cup. Now the Dons hoped to make up for lost time.

The Dons made a best possible start. By December they had opened a lead of three points on Rangers and six on Celtic. In the process Aberdeen won at Parkhead for the fourth time in a row. They also crushed Morton 6-0, which they hoped had put paid to the Greenock curse. But at Cappielow Andy Ritchie's late cross was nodded in by Jim Rooney to inflict on Aberdeen their first league defeat since February, spanning ten months and 31 games.

Form had not been so impressive in the cups. Hopes of a third successive League Cup Final were dashed at the quarter-final stage by Dundee's Cammy Fraser, five minutes from time. As for the European Cup, Aberdeen survived against Austria Memphis in the first round, but been taught one hell of a lesson by Liverpool in the second.

John McMaster

The damage inflicted by Bob Paisley's team was twofold. Any aspirations the Dons might have had of being, or becoming, a great side were rudely shattered. So were John McMaster's ligaments, which deprived the team of one of its most cultured and creative influences for a whole year.

The Dons bounced back to beat Celtic and Rangers yet again, this time in successive visits to Pittodrie. But against Dundee United in the last game of 1980, Gordon Strachan suffered a stomach injury that took months to heal. The loss of McMaster and Strachan stripped the midfield of its spark. There was half a season to go, and if Aberdeen were to keep their title they would have to grind out their wins.

The Bogeyman - Andy Ritchie

This proved beyond them. A sequence of two victories from ten games coincided with Celtic piling win upon win to pass them in the fast lane and open up a decisive lead by late March. The last hope was extinguished at Parkhead, where Aberdeen were bidding for their fifth straight win. They were five minutes from achieving it when George McCluskey hooked Celtic's equaliser and effectively dethroned the Dons.

Nor could solace be found in the Scottish Cup. Aberdeen were drawn to visit the place they most dreaded, Morton, where they were duly beaten by a wonder goal from Andy Ritchie.

When the curtain finally fell, Aberdeen were runners-up with 49 points, one more than when winning the championship. Did that mean they were better or worse? It could be argued both ways, but in sport trophies matter, statistics don't.


Match of the Season

European Cup, 2nd Round, 1st Leg, 22 October 1980

Aberdeen 0
Liverpool 1 (McDermott 5)


Aberdeen: Leighton, Kennedy, Rougvie, Watson, McLeish, Miller, Strachan,
McMaster (Bell), McGhee, Jarvie (Hewitt), Scanlon


Liverpool: Clemence, Neal, Kennedy A, Thompson, Kennedy R, Hansen,
Dalglish, Lee (Case), Johnson, McDermott, Souness


Attendance: 24,000

Referee: A.Jarguz (Poland)


Season 1980-81 may be summed up in one word - Liverpool. Aberdeen's first crack at the European Cup earned them a daunting appointment with the legendary English champions. Both before and afterwards, the shadow of Anfield hung over every match Aberdeen played. Never mind the outcome, Alex Ferguson would have preferred less exalted opponents, simply to avoid the disruption that ensued from the moment the two teams were pulled out of the bag together.

Not the least of Liverpool's strengths were their three great Scots - Hansen, Souness, and Dalglish - two of whom would become distinguished managers in their own right.

Yet none of the three was involved in one the finest goals Pittodrie had ever seen. It arrived after just five minutes, while McMaster was lying injured on the pitch. Had he been able, he would have tracked Terry McDermott as he hared down the inside-left channel in pursuit of David Johnson's pass. No great danger threatened, for by the time McDermott reached the ball he was far from goal near the by-line. Most players in that position would have pulled the ball back; few would have attempted the audacious angled chip that carried the ball over Leighton's head.

Aberdeen looked stunned. If Liverpool could do that, they could do anything. Aberdeen created few chances, and in other circumstances would have been prepared to applaud Liverpool's genius. But a sour taste was left by Ray Kennedy's 'tackle' on McMaster, which raised doubts over whether the Aberdeen player would ever walk again, never mind play.

Aberdeen v Liverpool


Asking any side to win at Anfield was asking much. None had done so for almost three years. Even to score there was beyond most teams. Ferguson rejuggled his side to seek the tiniest advantage. A half-chance fell to McGhee, but that was the only chink of light as Liverpool bided their time. When Willie Miller sliced a corner past Leighton it did two things. It ended Aberdeen's hopes of springing a shock and presented a final glimpse of Miller's vulnerability. The Aberdeen captain would be virtually invincible for the next five or six years.

Phil Neal added another goal before half-time, and from then on Ferguson was faced with damage limitation. The final score - 4-0 (5-0 on aggregate) - failed even to meet that objective.

During all their Scottish travels in 1980-81 Aberdeen never conceded more than one goal a game. This puts Liverpool's achievement in scoring four into true perspective. In May Bob Paisley's team lifted the European Cup for the third time, defeating Real Madrid.


Research by CaddyCarhandle
Edited by StandFreeEd