Was it handball?
Twenty-one years ago to the day, Shaun Goater scored one of the most important goals of his City career, as City welcomed Wigan Athletic in the Division Two Play-Off Semi-Final second leg.
‘The Goat’ enjoyed a prolific spell in sky blue, bagging 103 goals – some of which were scored in truly bizarre fashion.
In fact, it was once joked the Bermudan could boast that he’d scored with every body part, though that suggestion proved to be a myth!
CITY+ | Free to Cityzens until football resumes
One strike in particular added fuel to that fire – his highly-controversial winner against Wigan on this day in 1999.
With the two sides locked at 1-1 on aggregate following a tense but entertaining encounter at Springfield Park – hosting its last competitive game – the pair went head-to-head again at Maine Road with a place at Wembley up for grabs.
The atmosphere was electric, the tension could be cut with a knife and one solitary goal would prove significant – a goal touched home by the Goat’s chest, shoulder or arm, depending on your view (physical and partisan!)
As the ball crossed the line despite Roy Carroll’s best efforts, City wheeled away in celebration with the Goat punching the air, while the Wigan contingent implored the referee to rule out the goal for handball.
The man in the middle waved away the protests and City moved to within touching distance of the Play-Off Final: 2-1 up and with home advantage.
So, was it handball? According to the Goat, absolutely no chance!
“It was off the chest!” he insisted. “I was so pleased to see that go in – delighted.
“With the cross that comes in, it was one of those that if I go to head it, I’d have to do a diving header... but it wasn’t too low so I could just stoop my chest.
“I was only about four yards out and I knew that once I chested it, it would cross the line because the cross had beaten the goalkeeper.
“Wigan fans, it was off the chest! I still get them saying it was handball but it was off the chest!”
In ‘Typical City’ fashion (bearing in mind we’d gifted the Latics the opening goal of the tie with a mix-up at the back inside 20 seconds of the first leg), Joe Royle’s men would put the fans through the mill once again, hanging onto our slender lead by the skin of our teeth as the clock ticked down.
Wigan would in fact strike the bar with just five minutes of normal time remaining, as Graeme Jones crashed a header off the woodwork and with nerves shredding around the ground, the pressure was almost unbearable.
The outpouring of emotion at the final whistle sparked a pitch invasion – City would return to Wembley for the first time since 1981: one win away from a return to Division One and (hopefully) the beginning of our ascent back to the top-flight.
The Goat remembers the celebrations well.
CITYZENS AT HOME | Fun & educational activities to do at home
“I vividly remember scoring the goal but the scariest moment was at the end!” he explained.
“You’re so tired and then the fans run on with all of their joy – they’re all hugging you and grabbing you, wanting to take selfies and that sort of stuff with their hands all over you – people trying to take off your jersey and boots!
“I couldn’t breathe! It was a special moment in terms of the achievement but it was also very scary!”
Gareth Taylor and Lee Crooks hailed the Maine Road atmosphere that night as one of the best they had ever experienced.
“They were difficult games to play in,” Taylor reflected. “People kind of forget about the semi-finals but the atmosphere at Maine Road in the second leg was unbelievable.
“We used to train at an old school behind the Kippax and I never really knew the reason why but we used to put trainers on, get onto the minibus, go round the back of the Kippax, do the warm up with Willie (Donachie) with the soft balls in the old assembly hall, get back on the bus and go back to the game!
“That was standard practice when I signed there. Then, when we did it for the semi-final against Wigan, it was crazy because the fans were in the street so we couldn’t get the bus through!
“I think they had to delay kick-off. So it was a pretty awesome experience to be involved in and then to cap it off what happened at Wembley, it was a mad day and a real mixture of emotions really.”
“I think those games were big, big games,” Crooks agreed.
“It was a bit of a local derby playing Wigan and you can see how the stadium was set up there: it was a tough place to go and I knew quite a few of their lads – good players, a good team.
“Going 1-0 down inside a minute (in the first leg) and I’d not even kicked the ball, I was like: ‘Here we go again: it’s just Typical City’ – you get to certain periods and it’s just up and down. That’s probably why I’m grey now!
“It was a tough game and obviously getting a result there and getting them back to Maine Road was good but the atmosphere after the final whistle went that night is something I won’t ever forget.
“I thought it was phenomenal, getting up there with everyone on the pitch.
“At Maine Road, the atmosphere was electric but that night was something special.”
The drama before the drama!
