Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt. On Saturday, Newcastle United will take on Manchester City for the fifth time this season. While contempt might be too strong a word to describe the feelings between Newcastle and Man City fans, there will be a certain level of déjà vu as the teams take to the field at St James’ Park.
The frequency with which the two sides are drawn against each other in the domestic cups is reminiscent of another Magpies cup rivalry more than a quarter of a century ago.
Newcastle United and Tranmere Rovers have rarely locked horns. Just 11 competitive fixtures have been played between the two sides. These games usually occurred when Tranmere had enjoyed some success and lifted themselves to the second tier, while Newcastle concurrently found themselves outside the top flight.
The first time the two met was back in 1938/39, as Tranmere rose to Division Two for the first time in the club’s history. This was only a one-season stay, and the pair had to wait until 1991 for another meeting. Newcastle’s promotion in 1993 saw league games disappear once again; however, they would be acquaintances once more as the luck of the cup draw stepped in.
First of many
In three consecutive seasons, Newcastle and Tranmere were pitted against each other, twice in the FA Cup and once in the League Cup. The first, a 5th Round FA Cup tie which Rovers secured by beating Sunderland at Prenton Park, took place at St James’ Park in February 1998.
By this stage of Tranmere’s existence, they were no longer fighting at the top of the Second Division for a place in the top flight. Spending, after several years of big money signings in pursuit of promotion, was pared back, which meant that Rovers boss John Aldridge was tasked with simply keeping the club away from relegation. Reduced spending also meant that the club’s academy was increasingly relied on to fill the ranks of the first team. As the two teams emerged onto the pitch at St James’ Park, Tranmere included seven graduates in their starting eleven.
Two of those former academy members almost had the visitors in the lead. Dave Challinor was gaining notoriety for his incredible long throws, and one such missile into the Newcastle box was not fully dealt with. Challinor’s fellow centre back, Clint Hill, latched onto the loose ball but was thwarted by an excellent reaction save by Shay Given.
Given’s stop paid dividends soon after, when a period of home possession eventually saw the ball shuffled out to Alessandro Pistone in an advanced position on the left flank. The Italian did well to clip a bouncing ball on the half-volley into a dangerous area in the Tranmere box. Hill was caught under the cross, which allowed Alan Shearer a free header from eight yards. The England captain was never going to miss such an inviting opportunity. The hosts were ahead after 22 minutes.
Tranmere were not cowed by this setback, with David Kelly, an ex-Newcastle striker, having an effort blocked on the line after Rovers broke forward. Newcastle seemed a little shaken following their goal, sitting back, which gave Tranmere the chance to pick up second balls and unleash the pace of substitute winger Andy Parkinson, whose directness caused the home backline problems.
The interval did little to stem Tranmere’s flow. John Morrissey had a header saved, and John McGreal, striding forward from defence, fired a rocket of a shot towards Given’s goal from 30 yards, which the Irishman did well to tip over the bar. Unfortunately for the visitors, they were unable to find a way to level the scores.
They did, though, offer a glimpse of the edge upon which Aldridge’s sides often played. When Gary Jones fouled Temuri Ketsbaia, Tranmere’s efforts to prevent a quick free kick being taken led to some pushing and shoving. This edge, this willingness to scrap and ability to rise to the occasion, was crucial in Aldridge creating a team that was successful in cup competitions. Newcastle were through and would eventually reach that year’s final, but they were given a fright by Tranmere, something more than one Premier League team would experience over the next few years.
A chance for revenge?
An opportunity to exact revenge was offered courtesy of the League Cup draw the following season. In an era when mass squad rotation was not yet in full swing, Ruud Gullit named a strong side in order to avoid a potential upset. They soon had their number one goalkeeper to thank, as Given denied both Kenny Irons and Kelly, which, similarly to the cup tie the previous season, allowed Newcastle to take the lead.
A throw-in on the Tranmere left was repelled and the ball worked forward to Shearer. The striker inadvertently brought David Batty into play, who in turn released Nolberto Solano, tight on the touchline. Solano’s pass scythed through the home backline and found Paul Dalglish in between the Tranmere centre-backs. The young forward took the pass in his stride and rounded John Achterberg before rolling the ball into the empty net, giving him his first goal in senior football. Once again, Newcastle had weathered the initial Rovers storm and capitalised thanks to their clinical finishing.
The away side had further chances to increase their advantage, however the crossbar and Irons prevented Stephen Glass and Shearer from doing so. With the introduction of Challinor and his deadly throw ins, Tranmere laid siege to the Newcastle penalty area in the latter stages but the Premier League team held on to secure another 1-0 cup win over John Aldridge’s men.
Third time lucky?
If the first two fixtures within this triptych came before Tranmere’s fully formed giant-killing version, then the FA Cup quarter-final in 2000 was slap bang in the middle of it. Already that season, Tranmere had turfed West Ham and Sunderland (again) out of the FA Cup to record their best-ever performance in the competition, while simultaneously enjoying a phenomenal run in the League Cup. Top-flight Coventry were hammered 5-1 at Prenton Park before Middlesbrough were also beaten. Having comfortably dispatched Bolton in the semi-finals, they were set to play in the club’s first major cup final. That, though, would come the week after the tie with Newcastle.
Prenton Park, by this stage, was like the Colosseum. Premier League teams were constantly being fed into the cauldron of noise and expectation that the stadium became when it was time for a cup game. Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’ was played on the PA system before kick off, building the atmosphere further. And then there was the Tranmere team that took to the field.
That edge, which had briefly been shown at St James’ Park during the first of the three meetings, gave a squad of young tyros and older campaigners the ability to rise to the challenge that came with taking on teams from the division above. At times, it did spill over. Clint Hill alone would receive four red cards during the course of the 1999/00 season. Any perceived affront was dealt with promptly. When Alan Mahon was on the end of a nasty challenge against Birmingham, the other nine outfield players charged into the melee without a second thought. They were robust and uncompromising, possessed a unique weapon in Challinor and his throws ins, and it gave Premier League teams sleepless nights.
Bobby Robson would have been fully aware of this. His team also had plenty of physicality, not least up front, with Shearer partnered by Duncan Ferguson. Something else they, and Tranmere, would have to contend with was the kits worn that afternoon. The home side’s kit for that season included blue pinstripes on their usual white shirts and blue shorts. Newcastle, who had a white away kit that season, were forced to don their black and white striped shirts with white shorts. Aside from the hosts changing into their away strip, it was the best option available. As such, those watching could be forgiven if they struggled to tell the two teams apart.
Shay Given was a veteran of the two previous encounters and had been crucial to Newcastle’s victories in both. After palming away a looping Gary Jones header, Given’s team were on the attack soon after. Kevin Gallacher sent an arching cross to the far post, where Gary Speed was on hand to nod in the opening goal. A second Gallacher cross caused chaos in the Rovers’ box. Both Shearer and Ferguson were unable to convert the chance; however, the onrushing Didier Domi was on hand to bundle in a second.
Newcastle had seemingly dealt with the hostile atmosphere and were in a comfortable position, sitting on a two-goal lead. Challinor was not going to allow them an easy afternoon, though. Another missile launched into the box reached Wayne Allison, who strained every muscle in his neck to halve the deficit just before halftime.
Shearer almost restored that two-goal cushion early in the second half, but the post denied him. They wouldn’t have to wait too long, however. Ferguson tapped in Kieron Dyer’s low cross from close range to make the score 3-1 just on the hour.
Tranmere kept fighting to stay in the tie. A deep free kick was sent towards goal by Allison, redirected by Kelly, and finally converted by Jones from all of two yards. With a quarter of an hour remaining, Tranmere had set up a grandstand finish.
Alas, there would be just one Wembley trip for the Wirral side that season. Newcastle held on to reach the semi-final, where they would face Chelsea. This, the final act in the trilogy of cup fixtures between Newcastle and Tranmere, had certainly been the most captivating. The earlier games were decided by one piece of Premier League quality. This tie swung back and forth, and had the second-tier club dreaming of the most unlikely cup double right up until the final whistle.
Three cup draws brought three intriguing fixtures between two clubs that were almost footballing strangers. While Newcastle prevailed on each occasion, they were made to work by a team that thrived on the opportunities cup competitions provided. With the modern game making upsets more difficult to achieve, given the depth of Premier League clubs’ squads, the very competitiveness of these three clashes should be a reminder of how cup competitions can add value to the football calendar.
Chris Watson is the author of Super White Armour: A Modern History of Tranmere Rovers
