Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers are certainly not strangers to the Premiership, but they have been an eternity in the wilderness as far as their fans will be concerned. They both have very famous top flight games which are associated with the club with QPR turning over Manchester United in a New Years Day game back in 1992, and Norwich defeating Bayern Munich in Europe in 1993.
Playing for QPR the dayof their memorable heavy defeat of Man Utd, was Blackpool manager Ian Holloway, who also had a spell as manager of the West London club. Other recognisable names were Andy Sinton, American Roy Wegerle, Ray Wilkins and Hat-trick hero Dennis Bailey. The striker Bailey who put three past United that day is probabaly the least known of the players mentioned, but he will forever be a part of English football history.
On what was Fergie’s 50th birthday, Bailey and Andy Sinton scored within five minutes of the start to put Rangers in to an unexpected positon early on. Man Utd were in a battle for the league title with Leeds United at the time, and at this crucial part of the season would have been expected to get the result at home. The scoreline remained at 2-0 until Bailey scored his second and QPR’s third in the second-half, with a chip over the advacning Schmeichel. The Danish giant didn’t have had four or more put past him too many times in his career. Brian McClair pulled one back for United, but Bailey completed the rout (and his hat-trick) after Sinton’s shot came back off the post and Bailey tapped the ball home.
Norwich qualified for the Europen Cup after a third placed finish in the first ever Premier League Season. Playing the first-leg of a second round tie , they stunned the home side and European giants by handing them a 2-1 defeat on home soil. Goals from Mark Bowen (Mark Hughes’ assistant at Fulham) and more famously Jeremy Goss put the visitors two-nil up in the first-half. A late firsy-half goal from Munich gave them a chance of a result, but Norwich held out with some heroics from Goalkeeper Bryan Gunn, and went on to win the tie over two-legs. Goss’ volley was a wonder strike, in a purple patch for the Welshman in his career.
Norwich have been away from the party for six years, and QPR last played top flight football five years ago. And both clubs will be doing everything within their power to make sure their stay in the Premier League is a long and successful one.
photo credit: joncandy
