The Winning Goal Came Out Of The Blue! - LL

By: Bill Osborne
Date: 10/10/2001

"This is a result that will live in the memory of everyone in Grimsby for ever. It was a magnificent night and a wonderful fightback. It was arguably the best result in the club's history."

"I had a lot of young players out there, some playing in unfamiliar positions. But they gave everything and it was a wonderful fightback, I'm so proud of them." - Lennie Lawrence

"It was Roy of the Rovers stuff! As the ball dropped I decided not to challenge Sami Hyypia, he's so good in the air. I knew I had nothing to lose, and there was only seconds left. I just hit it and it dipped over the 'keeper." - Phil Jevons who scored the winning goal.

"I congratulate Grimsby and wish them good luck in the rest of the competition," But I can't be upset with my team. Their effort was right. The ball just didn't run. Their 'keeper Danny Coyne was outstanding, easily the man of the match with a string of great saves. In fact my players were heroes, they have come back from international duty and played two hours out there and given everything. But it just wasn't our day. The result was a bitter blow" - Gerard Houllier

The Guardian Report

So much for the Reds being invincible in the cups. Phil Jevons, a former Liverpool fan and Everton player, stunned Merseyside last night with a 35-yard winner here that flew into Chris Kirkland's net just eight seconds from the end of extra-time.

Having endured relentless home pressure throughout normal time and fallen behind to Gary McAllister's 100th-minute penalty - awarded for hand-ball against David Beharall - the Mariners had scored the unlikeliest of equalisers just 13 minutes later when Marlon Broomes swept home Stuart Campbell's cross.

The 5,000 travelling supporters, delirious in celebration, paid special tribute to their goalkeeper Danny Coyne who pulled off 13 saves of varying brilliance. The Fishermen left happy with the biggest catch in their history.

Since Lennie Lawrence won the First Division's manager of the month award for August, the Mariners have sunk without trace. There were five wins in their first seven games, but their last victory came a month and seven matches ago with 18 goals shipped along the way.

That wretched form was hardly appropriate preparation for a trip to Merseyside, but they were impressive in the opening skirmishes with Jonathan Rowan busy and Jevons marauding across the home back-line and prompting an anxious Sami Hyypia to intercept.

Liverpool's success in this competition last season proved the catalyst for the glut of cup wins that followed. Their debt to the Worthington was recognised here with their strongest available line-up, although with a quartet of first-teamers crocked and Steven Gerrard suspended, Jamie Redknapp was somewhat surprisingly left to champ at the bit on the bench.

The former England midfielder's recovery from a long-term knee injury has comprised just two appearances this term and was expected to include a start here. His manager may urge patience, but the 28-year-old's contract expires next summer and his continued absence may rule out another. Kippe might have made way for Redknapp, but the German was soon linking with Jari Litmanen - in imperious form - with Paul Groves forced to intercept as he prepared to volley beyond Danny Coyne.

Vladimir Smicer's cut-back was then hammered goalwards by Litmanen, only for Danny Butterfield to block on the line. The midfielder repeated the trick to keep out Frode Kippe's glancing header seconds later but his third desperate clearance, from Litmanen's cross, was almost sliced into his own net.

Yet that represented the visitors' closest shave of the first half, an achievement in itself given that Liverpool had not lost a domestic cup tie since January 2000 when another First Division side, Blackburn Rovers, won here in the FA Cup.

Coyne sprawled to tip a McAllister free-kick around the post as Liverpool tried to avoid extra-time and Litmanen was brilliantly denied by Coyne as he volleyed towards the top corner.

Dominic Fifield at Anfield
Wednesday October 10, 2001
The Guardian

The BBC Reported:

Boyhood Liverpool fan Phil Jevons struck a sensational extra-time winner to knock the holders out of the Worthington Cup.

After a goalless opening 90 minutes, the Reds took the lead in added time through a Gary McAllister penalty - only for the Kop to be stunned by a Marlon Broomes equaliser.

That goal saw a mad scramble for a winner in the closing stages - and it was former Evertonian Jevons who settled the affair with a scorching 30-yard shot in injury time.

Jevons' goal gave First Division Grimsby their first win at Anfield in 24 visits.

And it meant knock-out kings Liverpool lost their first cup tie since January 2000, when they were defeated in the FA Cup by Blackburn.

Liverpool started with a side including seven international players - but they were abject for much of the game.

Grimsby had conceded 13 goals in their four games leading up to this match, but were hardly threatened by their illustrious opponents.

What impressed most about the visitors was the composure they showed in defence, paying no attention to the reputation of a side who dominated last season's cup competitions.

But despite defending throughout, the Mariners could have snatched a shock winner in the final minute of normal time when Liverpool's Sami Hyypia was fortunate to escape a penalty after a clumsy challenge on Michael Boulding.

The first goal came in extra time in the 101st minute - and it was cruel on the visitors.

David Beharall was judged to have handled right on the edge of the box and after consultation between the referee and his assistant, the penalty was given.

It was McAllister, who scored so many crucial penalties for Liverpool last season, who put his side into the lead with the calmest of spot kicks.

But Grimsby deservedly forced their way back into the match when Broomes volleyed into the net past Kirkland from close range with just seven minutes remaining.

Liverpool pushed on in search of a winner - but to everyone's surprise it fell to Grimsby, as Jevons rifled a long-range shot past a stunned Kirkland.

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