It Was 20 Years Ago Today...How We Learned to Loathe Steve Bruce

[eamonn]

..and f-ing "Fergie Time" was born. Those two shagging goals in injury time while we messed-up against Coventry. The flickering flame on our last title fight until 2037.

Still, at least John Barnes was on his way in the summer...

Paper: Sunday Mercury [Sorry, I'm copying from the OS. Only Chico has the archives to all the papers]
Headline: Ron raps £4m flops as Villa hopes hit 
Author: Barry Churchill

Manager Ron Atkinson pointed the finger of blame at £4 million strikers Dean Saunders and Dalian Atkinson after yesterday's goalless draw against Coventry City cost Villa the Premier League leadership.

Rivals Manchester United took advantage of Villa's slip to leapfrog to the summit with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

"We didn't score a goal and it was as simple as that," moaned Atkinson after the tense battle with the Sky Blues.

"Dalian had a couple of very good chances and if he had put them away it would have been a completely different story. But he didn't!

"We ran the game from start to finish. They defended well with their pride obviously at stake."

But a defiant Atkinson: "Everybody is saying Manchester United will be the first past the finishing post now - but there are plenty of points still up for grabs.

"I'm not worried about them, it's what we do that matters."

And, ironically, it is Coventry who could do Villa a big favour tomorrow when the title battle re-commences.

United visit Highfield Road while Atkinson's men go to Arsenal.

Villa skipper Kevin Richardson said: "We were not very happy with our performance and neither was the manager.

"He wasn't pleased with the guys up front. But I am sure they will come back to form and give us a new injection for the rest of the season."

Villa go to Highbury knowing that they desperately need to rediscover the goal touch with five games remaining.

Saunders, who has not scored for ten games said: "Obviously I am worried about it but if we still keep playing our normal game I am convinced everything will come right in the end."

Paper: Sunday Express
Headline: Kop now ready to let striker go 
Author: Neil Silver

John Barnes is set to join Aston Villa at the end of the season.

Ron Atkinson has made it his priority to sign Barnes regardless of whether Villa win the Premier League.

Atkinson tried to take Barnes to Villa Park last month to link up with former Kop stars Steve Staunton and Ray Houghton, but Liverpool boss Graeme Souness refused to let him go because he felt Barnes would recapture his best form.

Both managers were also angry at suggestions Atkinson offered cash plus Earl Barrett and Garry Parker. Any deal is likely to be cash only.

Atkinson said: "I have discussed Barnes with Liverpool but there has been no mention of us offering any players as well."

Barnes' form for Liverpool has been indifferent this season and a fee of around £2 million could capture the man Atkinson sees as the missing link in his impressive team.

Barnes, 29, returned to the Liverpool side earlier this season following a long injury lay-off and was made captain.

Villa's title hopes took a jolt yesterday when they lost the Premier League leadership after a goalless draw at home to Coventry.

It let in Manchester United who went one point clear by beating Sheffield Wednesday 2-1, thanks to two goals by Steve Bruce in a last dramatic four minutes at Old Trafford.   

So we missed out on Keane on Barnes in summer '93 but got big nose Townsend and Guy Whitts... Could have been worse I guess.

[The Left Side]

Shudder!!

[somec]

Was the amount of added time played ever explained by the ref?

[Damo70]

Not wanting to dwell on the events at Old Trafford the two things I took from those articles are memories of what a good day out we had at Highbury in the next game and the fact I personally couldn't remember us ever being linked with John Barnes.