1990–91 FA Cup


The 1990–91 FA Cup was the 110th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. Tottenham Hotspur won the competition after coming from 1–0 behind in the final against Nottingham Forest to win 2–1 and take the trophy. It gave Tottenham their eighth victory in nine FA Cup Finals and their first since their wins in 1981 and 1982.

First round proper

The first round of games were played over the weekend 17–18 November 1990, with replays being played on 20–21 November.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Blackpool2–0Grimsby Town17/11/1990
2Chester City2–2Doncaster Rovers17/11/1990
ReplayDoncaster Rovers1–2Chester City20/11/1990
3Chesterfield3–2Spennymoor United17/11/1990
4Darlington1–1York City17/11/1990
ReplayYork City1–0Darlington19/11/1990
5Bournemouth2–1Gillingham17/11/1990
6Barnet2–2Chelmsford City17/11/1990
ReplayChelmsford City0–2Barnet21/11/1990
7Preston North End0–1Mansfield Town17/11/1990
8Rochdale1–1Scunthorpe United17/11/1990
ReplayScunthorpe United2–1Rochdale20/11/1990
9Woking0–0Kidderminster Harriers17/11/1990
ReplayKidderminster Harriers1–1Woking21/11/1990
ReplayKidderminster Harriers1–2Woking26/11/1990
10Lincoln City1–4Crewe Alexandra17/11/1990
11Stafford Rangers1–3Burnley17/11/1990
12Scarborough0–2Leek Town17/11/1990
13Bishop Auckland0–1Barrow17/11/1990
14Chorley2–1Bury17/11/1990
15Fulham2–1Farnborough Town17/11/1990
16Aylesbury United0–1Walsall17/11/1990
17Brentford5–0Yeovil Town17/11/1990
18Maidstone United4–1Torquay United17/11/1990
19Bradford City0–0Shrewsbury Town17/11/1990
ReplayShrewsbury Town2–1Bradford City21/11/1990
20Altrincham1–2Huddersfield Town18/11/1990
21Witton Albion1–2Bolton Wanderers17/11/1990
22Exeter City1–2Cambridge United17/11/1990
23Cardiff City0–0Hayes17/11/1990
ReplayHayes1–0Cardiff City21/11/1990
24Halifax Town3–2Wrexham17/11/1990
25Halesowen Town1–2Tranmere Rovers17/11/1990
26Runcorn0–3Hartlepool United17/11/1990
27Hereford United1–1Peterborough United17/11/1990
ReplayPeterborough United2–1Hereford United20/11/1990
28Rotherham United1–0Stockport County17/11/1990
29Aldershot6–2Tiverton Town17/11/1990
30Wigan Athletic5–0Carlisle United17/11/1990
31Tamworth4–6Whitley Bay17/11/1990
32Boston United1–1Wycombe Wanderers17/11/1990
ReplayWycombe Wanderers4–0Boston United21/11/1990
33Colchester United2–1Reading17/11/1990
34Birmingham City1–0Cheltenham Town17/11/1990
35Leyton Orient3–2Southend United17/11/1990
36Merthyr Tydfil1–1Sutton United17/11/1990
ReplaySutton United0–1Merthyr Tydfil21/11/1990
37Littlehampton Town0–4Northampton Town17/11/1990
38Telford United0–0Stoke City17/11/1990
ReplayStoke City1–0Telford United21/11/1990
39Swansea City5–2Welling United17/11/1990
40Atherstone United3–1Fleetwood Town17/11/1990

Second Round Proper

The second round of games were played either over the weekend 7–8 December 1990, with replays being played on 11–12 December; or they were played in the midweek, from 10–12 December, with replays being played on 17 December.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Chesterfield3–4Bolton Wanderers11/12/1990
2Bournemouth1–0Hayes08/12/1990
3Barnet0–0Northampton Town08/12/1990
ReplayNorthampton Town0–1Barnet12/12/1990
4Burnley2–0Stoke City12/12/1990
5Woking5–1Merthyr Tydfil08/12/1990
6Crewe Alexandra1–0Atherstone United12/12/1990
7Shrewsbury Town1–0Chorley11/12/1990
8Wycombe Wanderers1–1Peterborough United12/12/1990
ReplayPeterborough United2–0Wycombe Wanderers17/12/1990
9Fulham0–0Cambridge United07/12/1990
ReplayCambridge United2–1Fulham11/12/1990
10Whitley Bay0–1Barrow12/12/1990
11Scunthorpe United3–2Tranmere Rovers08/12/1990
12Huddersfield Town0–2Blackpool10/12/1990
13Mansfield Town2–1York City17/12/1990
14Rotherham United1–1Halifax Town11/12/1990
ReplayHalifax Town1–2Rotherham United17/12/1990
15Aldershot2–1Maidstone United08/12/1990
16Wigan Athletic2–0Hartlepool United08/12/1990
17Colchester United0–0Leyton Orient12/12/1990
ReplayLeyton Orient4–1Colchester United17/12/1990
18Birmingham City1–3Brentford12/12/1990
19Leek Town1–1Chester City12/12/1990
ReplayChester City4–0Leek Town17/12/1990
20Swansea City2–1Walsall08/12/1990

Third round proper

The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 5–7 January 1991, with replays being played on 8, 9, 16, 21 and 28 January.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Blackpool0–1Tottenham Hotspur05/01/1991
2Chester City2–3Bournemouth05/01/1991
3Barnet0–5Portsmouth05/01/1991
4Burnley0–1Manchester City06/01/1991
5Southampton3–2Ipswich Town05/01/1991
6Blackburn Rovers1–1Liverpool05/01/1991
ReplayLiverpool3–0Blackburn Rovers08/01/1991
7Aston Villa1–1Wimbledon05/01/1991
ReplayWimbledon1–0Aston Villa09/01/1991
8Bolton Wanderers1–0Barrow05/01/1991
9Wolverhampton Wanderers0–1Cambridge United05/01/1991
10Middlesbrough0–0Plymouth Argyle05/01/1991
ReplayPlymouth Argyle1–2Middlesbrough14/01/1991
11West Bromwich Albion2–4Woking05/01/1991
12Shrewsbury Town4–1Watford05/01/1991
13Sheffield United1–3Luton Town05/01/1991
14Newcastle United2–0Derby County05/01/1991
15Barnsley1–1Leeds United06/01/1991
ReplayLeeds United4–0Barnsley09/01/1991
16Bristol Rovers0–2Crewe Alexandra05/01/1991
17Coventry City1–1Wigan Athletic05/01/1991
ReplayWigan Athletic0–1Coventry City09/01/1991
18West Ham United0–0Aldershot05/01/1991
ReplayWest Ham United6–1Aldershot16/01/1991
19Brighton & Hove Albion3–2Scunthorpe United05/01/1991
20Manchester United2–1Queens Park Rangers07/01/1991
21Norwich City2–1Bristol City05/01/1991
22Millwall2–1Leicester City05/01/1991
23Hull City2–5Notts County05/01/1991
24Oldham Athletic3–1Brentford05/01/1991
25Crystal Palace0–0Nottingham Forest06/01/1991
ReplayNottingham Forest2–2Crystal Palace21/01/1991
ReplayNottingham Forest3–0Crystal Palace28/01/1991
26Chelsea1–3Oxford United05/01/1991
27Mansfield Town0–2Sheffield Wednesday05/01/1991
28Port Vale2–1Peterborough United05/01/1991
29Charlton Athletic1–2Everton05/01/1991
30Arsenal2–1Sunderland05/01/1991
31Leyton Orient1–1Swindon Town05/01/1991
ReplaySwindon Town1–0Leyton Orient21/01/1991
32Swansea City0–0Rotherham United05/01/1991
ReplayRotherham United4–0Swansea City21/01/1991

Fourth Round Proper

The fourth round of games were mainly played over the weekend 26–27 January 1991, with replays being played on 29–30 January. The Arsenal-Leeds United game ended in a draw three times, with the two extra replays being played on 13 and 16 February. Because Nottingham Forest did not finish their third round tie until 28 January, their fourth round match was not played until 13 February with a replay on 18 February.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Liverpool2–2Brighton & Hove Albion26/01/1991
ReplayBrighton & Hove Albion2–3Liverpool30/01/1991
2Notts County2–0Oldham Athletic26/01/1991
3Crewe Alexandra1–0Rotherham United26/01/1991
4Luton Town1–1West Ham United26/01/1991
ReplayWest Ham United5–0Luton Town30/01/1991
5Woking0–1Everton27/01/1991
6Shrewsbury Town1–0Wimbledon26/01/1991
7Newcastle United2–2Nottingham Forest13/02/1991
ReplayNottingham Forest3–0Newcastle United18/02/1991
8Tottenham Hotspur4–2Oxford United26/01/1991
9Coventry City1–1Southampton26/01/1991
ReplaySouthampton2–0Coventry City29/01/1991
10Portsmouth5–1Bournemouth26/01/1991
11Manchester United1–0Bolton Wanderers26/01/1991
12Norwich City3–1Swindon Town26/01/1991
13Millwall4–4Sheffield Wednesday26/01/1991
ReplaySheffield Wednesday2–0Millwall30/01/1991
14Port Vale1–2Manchester City26/01/1991
15Arsenal0–0Leeds United27/01/1991
ReplayLeeds United1–1Arsenal30/01/1991
ReplayArsenal0–0Leeds United13/02/1991
ReplayLeeds United1–2Arsenal16/02/1991
16Cambridge United2–0Middlesbrough26/01/1991

Fifth Round Proper

The fifth set of games were mainly played over the weekend 16–18 February 1991, with replays being played on 20 February. The Merseyside derby went to an extra replay played on 27 February, the last FA Cup tie to go to multiple replays before a rule change the following season limited ties to one replay. Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool's manager between the two replays. Because Nottingham Forest did not win their fourth round tie until 18 February, their fifth round match was not played until 25 February with a replay on 4 March. Similarly, Arsenal were late beating Leeds United in the previous round and so played Shrewsbury Town on 27 February.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Liverpool0–0Everton17/02/1991
ReplayEverton4–4Liverpool20/02/1991
ReplayEverton1–0Liverpool27/02/1991
2Southampton1–1Nottingham Forest25/02/1991
ReplayNottingham Forest3–1Southampton04/03/1991
3Notts County1–0Manchester City16/02/1991
4Shrewsbury Town0–1Arsenal27/02/1991
5Portsmouth1–2Tottenham Hotspur16/02/1991
6West Ham United1–0Crewe Alexandra16/02/1991
7Norwich City2–1Manchester United18/02/1991
8Cambridge United4–0Sheffield Wednesday16/02/1991

Sixth Round Proper

The sixth round of FA Cup games were played over the weekend 9–11 March 1991.
Tottenham moved closer to an unprecedented eighth FA Cup triumph by beating Notts County 2–1.
Everton suffered a shock 2–1 defeat at the hands of West Ham United.
A first-ever FA Cup began to look nearer for Brian Clough after his Nottingham Forest side won 1–0 at Norwich City.
Arsenal kept their double hopes alive with a 2–1 win over Cambridge United, who were continuing their climb up the Football League with a second successive promotion on the way as well as a second successive FA Cup quarter-final.
Tie noHome teamScoreAway teamDate
1Tottenham Hotspur2–1Notts County10/03/1991
2West Ham United2–1Everton11/03/1991
3Norwich City0–1Nottingham Forest09/03/1991
4Arsenal2–1Cambridge United09/03/1991

Semi-Finals

Tottenham's 3–1 triumph over Arsenal, marked by a Paul Gascoigne goal from 35 yards, ended their opposition's chances of the double.
Nottingham Forest beat West Ham United 4–0 to reach their first FA Cup final for 32 years and give Brian Clough the chance of winning his first FA Cup to add to the two European Cups, one league title and four League Cups that he had already won with them.
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Final

An own goal by Des Walker in extra time gave Tottenham Hotspur their eighth FA Cup triumph, a record at the time. Paul Gascoigne went off with a knee injury in the opening 15 minutes, and Gary Lineker had a first-half penalty saved by Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley.

Media coverage

For the third consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters while Sky Sports were the subscription broadcasters.
The live matches on the BBC were: Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest ; Arsenal vs Leeds United ; Liverpool vs Everton ; Tottenham Hotspur vs Notts County ; both Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal and Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United ; and Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest. The BBC did not show a goal live until the quarter finals.