Greatest comebacks

[bluesince66]

Since we joined the league in 1920, we had come back to win from 2 goals down on 22 occasions. Here are the details of the games for the most recent ones (last 70 years). How many of these do you remember?

18/03/2017 Walsall (H), 2-0 down after 25 mins
1-2 Ranger 63 mins
2-2 Ferdinand 76 mins
3-2 Cox 83 mins

12/12/2009 Hartlepool (H), 2-0 down after 31 mins
1-2 Laurent 49 mins
2-2 Barnard 56 mins
3-2 Barnard 74 mins

12/04/2004 Darlington (H), 2-0 down after 33mins
1-2 Bentley 46 mins
2-2 Constantine (pen) 73 mins
3-2 Gower 85 mins

26/12/2001 Rushden & Diamonds (H), 2-0 down after 35 mins
1-2 Cort 50 mins
2-2 Belgrave 59 mins
3-2 Bramble 67 mins
4-2 Belgrave 75 mins

02/12/1997 Preston (H), 2-0 down after 11 mins
1-2 Boere (pen) 25 mins
2-2 Gridelet 42 mins
3-2 Gridelet 45 mins

01/04/1988 Wigan (H), 2-0 down after 47 mins
1-2 McDonough (pen) 60 mins
2-2 Ling 70 mins
3-2 Crown 73 mins

16/12/1986 Cambridge (H), 3-1 down after 32 mins
2-3 Pennyfather 74 mins
3-3 Ling 81 mins
4-3 Pennyfather 82 mins
5-3 McDonough 89 mins
5-4 Littlejohns 90 mins

09/12/1977 Newport (H), 2-0 down after 50 mins
1-2 Hadley 75 mins
2-2 D Parker 85 mins
3-2 Fell 87 mins
4-2 Fell 88 mins

10/03/1972 Chester (H), 2-0 down after 12 mins
1-2 Garner 32 mins
2-2 Garner 34 mins
3-2 Moore 43 mins
4-2 Garner 87 mins

05/05/1969 Darlington (A), 2-0 down after 40 mins
1-2 Bentley 54 mins
2-2 Hamilton 55 mins
3-2 Chisnall 65 mins

06/02/1965 Walsall (A), 2-0 down after 65 mins
1-2 Beesley 76 mins
2-2 Smith 78 mins
3-2 Smith 82 mins

01/09/1962 Coventry (A), 3-1 down after 56 mins
2-3 Woodley 64 mins
3-3 Beesley 85 mins
4-3 Beesket 88 mins

23/04/1960 York (A), 2-0 down after 47 mins
1-2 Price 63 mins
2-2 Price 68 mins
3-2 McCrory 77 mins

07/03/1959 Accrington (H), 2-0 down after 30 mins
1-2 McCrory 35 mins
2-2 Houghton 38 mins
3-2 Houghton 44 mins
4-2 Houghton 55 mins

02/05/1958 Northampton (H), 2-0 down after 42 mins
1-2 Price 50 mins
2-2 McCrory 55 mins
3-2 McCrory 59 mins
4-2 Smith 63 mins
5-2 McCrory 65 mins
6-2 Price 66 mins
6-3 Woan 76 mins

27/12/1955 Gillingham (A), 2-0 down after 50 mins
1-2 Baron 59 mins
2-2 Hollis 70 mins
3-2 McGuigan 80 mins

Apologies if this has already been picked up elsewhere on the thread, but I believe we came back to draw 3-3 at Lincoln on 23/08/69. We were 3-1 down until very late in the match, as I recall. Without digging out the programme from the time, I have no idea who scored.

 

[Zeuss]

Apologies if this has already been picked up elsewhere on the thread, but I believe we came back to draw 3-3 at Lincoln on 23/08/69. We were 3-1 down until very late in the match, as I recall. Without digging out the programme from the time, I have no idea who scored.

Yes,a few of us had got as far as the exit when Mike Beesley then Frank Haydock scored in very quick succession. Some of our fans went on a revenge-ridden rampage that night.

 

[Crowstone Crevette]

Apologies if this has already been picked up elsewhere on the thread, but I believe we came back to draw 3-3 at Lincoln on 23/08/69. We were 3-1 down until very late in the match, as I recall. Without digging out the programme from the time, I have no idea who scored.

@bluesince66

Saturday 23rd August 1969
League Division 4

Lincoln City 3 - 3 Southend United (Half Time 3 - 1)

Southend United Team: Roberts, Lindsey, Birks, Beesley, Haydock, Kurila, Bentley, Best, Moore, McMillan, Simpson. Sub Chisnall (replaced Best)

Southend United Scorers: Best, Beesley, Haydock

Attendance: 6,956

 

[TheSouthendUnitedRunner]

2 nil down at HT - won 4-2 with 2 each from Belgrave and Bramble. All 6 goals were in the South Stand net

Easily one of my favourite games. Boxing Day too. No coincidence all the goals were scored in that goal, the whole box was an ice rink, and probably shouldn’t have gone ahead.

 

[londonblue]

Easily one of my favourite games. Boxing Day too. No coincidence all the goals were scored in that goal, the whole box was an ice rink, and probably shouldn’t have gone ahead.

I wasn't at that match. I was at Heathrow with a couple of friends. We were flying to New York for a new years eve party!

My dad kept calling me with score updates, the last of which came literally as my passport was being checked one last time before we boarded.

 

[fbm]

Being 1-0 down away at Gills in the 90th mins in a cold December in 1997 under Alvin Martin is not a fun time.
What is a fun time is 2 goals in the last minute from Jeroen Boere and Regis Coulbault to win 2-1.
I love a last minute comeback like that, especially against someone like Gillingham

A day that lives long in the memory for me

 

[fbm]

One that really sticks in my mind was in early 1993, we were 2-1 down at half-time away at Sunderland, despite being the better side. We came out fired up in the 2nd half and went on to win 4-2.

That was one of the 4 consecutive victories we had at Roker Park.. the only team ever to do thst I think.

 

[londonblue]

That was one of the 4 consecutive victories we had at Roker Park.. the only team ever to do thst I think.

I believe that to be true. IIRC, that was also down to Barry Fry. I believe he was watching the match before he took over officially the day after (or more likely two days), but he popped into the changing room at half time and "had a word".

I'd love to know what he said.

 

[Realist]

@londonblue

PEDANT ALERT!!!

It was actually 1985/86 season. Saturday 9th November 1985 to be exact. In front of a rather paltry 2,755.

Southend United Team: Stannard, Stead, Lampard, O'Shea, Westley, Hatter, Pennyfather, Silkman, Cadette, McDonough, Rogers.
Sub: Gymer substituted Silkman

Frank Lampard cameo season before he retired.

 

[Maldon Blues]

I've sometimes wondered if any other team has managed to score a goal 8 v 11?

And said goal (at 2-1 up) was scored by our centre half, up from the back to slot home a rebound. Absolutely no right to be up there!

 

[GNH]

I've sometimes wondered if any other team has managed to score a goal 8 v 11?

And said goal (at 2-1 up) was scored by our centre half, up from the back to slot home a rebound. Absolutely no right to be up there!

As far as I am aware, no other team in professional world football has ever scored a goal from open play with only 8 men.

Seem to remember this being said at the time, I've tried to research it but to no avail.

 

[LCBB72]

Frank Lampard cameo season before he retired.

Always remember a game I took my 7 year old son to . I said to him I was just popping to the toilet and asked the guy next to me who I knew could he keep an eye on my son for a couple of minutes . When I came back my son said to me 'Dad what is a pratt' , I said why, to which my son replied 'Shane Westley just called Frank Lampard one' . I dont think it was a happy time at Southend for Frank .

 

[LCBB72]

The QPR FA Cup game in January '75, especially given how impressive they were back then.

Just in case you're relatively young, we were 2-0 down and came back to draw 2-2.

The North Bank exploded when our second goal went in , if I remember right Southends Dave Elliott was brought down for a defo penalty after our second goal .

 

[LBBlue]

The North Bank exploded when our second goal went in , if I remember right Southends Dave Elliott was brought down for a defo penalty after our second goal .

You remember well. David Webb was playing for them along with Gerry Francis, Stan Bowles, Frank McLintock, Phil Parkes Don Givens and Don Masson. It was basically the side that finished 2nd in the First Division the following season.

 

[C'mon you Shrimpers]

That was one of the 4 consecutive victories we had at Roker Park.. the only team ever to do thst I think.

I did take the opportunity to tell Phil Brown of this. He was gobsmacked

 

[B.B.The Legend Lives On.]

Monday 05/05/1969 Darlington (A), 2-0 down after 40 mins.

1-2 Tony Bentley 54 mins.
2-2 Chico Hamilton 55 mins.
3-2 Phil Chisnall 65 mins.

I was so glad to see this match listed but staggered to then realise it was over 56 years ago.
Anyway this match was played on a Monday evening towards the end of 1968-69 season and is to this day my favourite ever season of following the team, certainly not the best team or best players we have ever had but it is my personal favourite to this very day. It was in fact the very first season that I managed to go to every match both home and away(52 in total) alongside my very good friend Mick of Ref watch fame.

That particular season we scored 106 goals, not sure how many times we have done that? and conceded 66. We had 4 goalscorers into double figues, Billy Best 31, Gary Moore 21, Chico Hamilton 12 and Eddie Clayton 11.

Back then travelling away wasn't that easy mainly due to lack of numbers so hitch-hiking was an option as was travelling by train. Earlier today while looking through that seasons fixtures and much to my surprise I came up with the following stats, between the 28th.March through to the 12th.May we played 13 matches in just 45 days, 5 times at Roots Hall(Grimsby, Aldershot, Bradford Park Avenue, Swansea Town and Newport County and 8 times on the road at Wrexham, Bradford Park Avenue, Workington, Chesterfield, Bradford City, Darlington, Rochdale and Scunthorpe United of which only Workington and Rochdale were played on a Saturday.

P.S. As mentioned above the Darlington match was played on a Monday evening, whereas our previous match at Bradford City was played just 3 days earlier on a Friday and ironically we led 2-0 at half time and ended up losing by 3-2. Bradford City were promoted.

 

[LCBB72]

You remember well. David Webb was playing for them along with Gerry Francis, Stan Bowles, Frank McLintock, Phil Parkes Don Givens and Don Masson. It was basically the side that finished 2nd in the First Division the following season.

I think I am right in saying David Webb was the only non international in the QPR side that day .

 

[Realist]

Monday 05/05/1969 Darlington (A), 2-0 down after 40 mins.

1-2 Tony Bentley 54 mins.
2-2 Chico Hamilton 55 mins.
3-2 Phil Chisnall 65 mins.

I was so glad to see this match listed but staggered to then realise it was over 56 years ago.
Anyway this match was played on a Monday evening towards the end of 1968-69 season and is to this day my favourite ever season of following the team, certainly not the best team or best players we have ever had but it is my personal favourite to this very day. It was in fact the very first season that I managed to go to every match both home and away(52 in total) alongside my very good friend Mick of Ref watch fame.

That particular season we scored 106 goals, not sure how many times we have done that? and conceded 66. We had 4 goalscorers into double figues, Billy Best 31, Gary Moore 21, Chico Hamilton 12 and Eddie Clayton 11.

Back then travelling away wasn't that easy mainly due to lack of numbers so hitch-hiking was an option as was travelling by train. Earlier today while looking through that seasons fixtures and much to my surprise I came up with the following stats, between the 28th.March through to the 12th.May we played 13 matches in just 45 days, 5 times at Roots Hall(Grimsby, Aldershot, Bradford Park Avenue, Swansea Town and Newport County and 8 times on the road at Wrexham, Bradford Park Avenue, Workington, Chesterfield, Bradford City, Darlington, Rochdale and Scunthorpe United of which only Workington and Rochdale were played on a Saturday.

P.S. As mentioned above the Darlington match was played on a Monday evening, whereas our previous match at Bradford City was played just 3 days earlier on a Friday and ironically we led 2-0 at half time and ended up losing by 3-2. Bradford City were promoted.

Phil Chisnall

 

[Streaky]

I think you can add tonight to that list!!!!

 

[londonblue]

I think you can add tonight to that list!!!!

Yep.