Football: Cotterill adds lustre

Jerry Bingham
Saturday 17 October 1992 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Southampton. .2

Wimbledon. . .2

THE south-coast sunshine must agree with Steve Cotterill. Last week he was on loan at Brighton, scoring the Seagulls' winner against Wigan. Brighton wanted to buy him but could not afford the fee so Cotterill returned to Wimbledon, yesterday plugging the gap left by the injured Dean Holdsworth, and duly reminded his employers of what they nearly let go with two second-half goals.

Cotterill's memorable return for a long time looked like doing the trick for Wimbledon in a game which had about as much shape as a favourite old sweater. The crowd's passionate clamour for more from the tuneful half-time band was a pointed observation on the quality of the first period.

The second half, though, began with unexpected activity. Scarcely had Iain Dowie tried to lift the Dell's despair with a long shot which smashed against the bar, than Cotterill popped up to plant a free header past Tim Flowers for the game's first goal.

The Saints' manager, Ian Branfoot, responded by surprisingly withdrawing Dowie's young partner, Paul Moody. It proved to be a master stroke. Francis Benali knocked in a hopeful cross from the left, Glenn Cockerill managed an air shot which Ian Wright himself could not have bettered, and Dowie ran in the loose ball.

The equaliser had the man from the Ocean FM radio station fishing for nuggets. When Dowie scores, he ventured, Southampton do not lose. Cotterill tried to disprove him. In the 69th minute Vinny Jones's long throw was flicked on the near post and Flowers made such a bloomer of Robbie Earle's gentle volley that Cotterill could have scored with his eyes closed.

Dowie, though, had a reputation to uphold. With five minutes left he helped Jason Dodd's long pass into the path of Perry Groves, and the former Arsenal striker showed his class by netting a fine shot from 20 yards.

Southampton: T Flowers; J Dodd, F Benali (N Maddison, 79 min), T Hurlock, K Monkou, S Woods, P Groves, G Cockerill, P Moody (L Powell, 58 min), I Dowie, M Adams. Sub not used: I Andrews (gk). Manager: I Branfoot.

Wimbledon: N Sullivan; W Barton, R Joseph, V Jones, A McCleary, S Fitzgerald, P Miller, R Earle, J Fashanu, S Cotterill, A Clarke. Subs not used: L Sanchez, G Elkins, H Segers (gk). Manager: J Kinnear.

Referee: K Barratt (London).

Goals: Cotterill (0-1, 51 min); Dowie (1-1, 59 min); Cotterill (1-2, 69 min); Groves (2-2, 85 min).

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in