Middlesborough 1 Liverpool 2 – Rush scored his third goal in three matches to sink Boro
Ian Rush struck his third goal in three games to give the Reds a double over Middlesborough and increase the north east club’s relegation fears. Welsh international spun round to shoot past Ian Ironside nine minutes from time.
Liverpool midfield player Don Hutchison celebrated his return to his native northeast with an early goal. The former Hartlepool player put his side ahead in the 11th minute after Ironside had parried John Barnes shot.
But Middlesbrough quickly equalised through an own goal by Steve Nicol. Trying to clear Jimmy Phillips’s free-kick. Nicol lobbed the ball over David James. Six players were booked in an ill-tempered second half though the referee took no action against Liverpool defender Mark Wright following a foul on striker Paul Wilkinson.
Everton 3 Nottingham Forest 0 – Toffees virtually safe as Forest face inevitable drop
Tony Cottee scored twice to make it nine goals since his return to the side, Everton had this game won at the interval. The win also pretty much guaranteed them their premier league status but increased the danger of Brian Clough’s side being relegated.
Forest without Pearce, Webb and Keane offered little resistance, as Everton totally dominated the match, with Beardsley at the heart of the attack. The win saw Everton climb to 17th in the table with 42 points, nine clear of 20th Crystal Palace.
Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, were 21st in the table on 32 points, two away from safety having played a game more than Oldham Athletic who were bottom of the table.
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 0 – Defending Champions ease relegation fears
David Rocastle’s first league for over 13 months finally banished any lingering relegation fears for Leeds. Rocastle, whose career had nosedived since his £2 million move to Leeds from Arsenal, struck his first competitive goal for the Yorkshire side after 11 minutes and it was enough to give Leeds all three points.
Leeds should have sewn up the game twice in the last eight minutes but both Lee Champman and Rod Wallace were denied by City goalkeeper Tony Coton to keep the damage to one goal.
The £500000 full-back David Kerslack made his debut for Leeds after having signed that week from Swindon. Howard Wilkinson was happy with the clean sheet and the result that gave his team all three points.
Norwich 1 Oldham 0 – The canaries keep in touch with leaders
Norwich moved to within a point of the top of the table in a scrappy match against relegation-threatened Oldham. Their winner was an own goal from Nick Henry in the 13th minute.
Norwich did have other chances, with their top scorer Mark Robins seeing a superb volley ruled out offside. Ruel Fox’s header shaved the bar and a Phillips curling right-foot shot flew inches wide of the goal. Even their keeper Bryan Gunn made some great saves to keep Oldham out.
Embed from Getty Images
Other Results from that Game Week:
Coventry City 0 Arsenal 2 Queens Park Rangers 1 Wimbledon 2 Southampton 4 Ipswich Town 3
