As Manchester United reacquaint themselves with Ipswich Town on Wednesday evening, a Capital One Cup tie which will be the sides’ first meeting in 12 years, we took a look at one of the most memorable encounters between the two teams- for the Reds’ fans, at least.
In what is still the greatest ever win margin in the Premier League, Manchester United hammered Ipswich Town 9-0 at Old Trafford in March 1995.
Ipswich were second bottom of the table before the game, albeit eight points from safety whilst United were second top behind Blackburn Rovers. There was clearly a huge gulf in class between the teams before the game, but not many would have foreseen what followed in those 90 minutes.
The Guardian’s post-match reflection of the game- ‘Ipswich supporters must have long feared that such an almighty crash was coming their way’ goes some way to showing just how bad United’s opponents were that day, though the scoreline remained a shock.
United began the game in typical fashion and broke the deadlock after just 15 minutes, with Roy Keane, playing as a right-back that day, the goal scorer. His drilled shot from outside the area found the bottom-left corner of the Stretford End net, giving the home side the perfect start.
Minutes later Andy Cole made it 2-0, marking the beginning of an outstanding performance which kick-started his United career. The Englishman easily tucked home a low cross from Ryan Giggs, though the Ipswich defending was certainly questionable.
Cole scored again shortly before half time, after Mark Hughes’ sensational overhead kick hit the crossbar, only for United’s new striker to slot home easily on the rebound.
With the side 3-0 up at half time, at home, the game was all but over. But Sir Alex Ferguson was demanding more of his team, demanding they finished the match with six goals.
His team duly obliged, scoring a further six in second half alone. Andy Cole sealed his hat trick just eight minutes after the restart, with another close-range finish, this time a header, extending United’s lead.
Ryan Giggs then became the architect for Mark Hughes to score a quick brace before an hour had passed. After tucking away a left-wing cross from a tight angle, the Welshman then headed in an easy sixth for United after a shot was palmed straight into his path.
Before Andy Cole got his fourth and United’s seventh with another close-range effort, Ipswich substitute Ian Marshall’s words to defender Gary Pallister encapsulated the ease of United’s win. The opposition striker, who came on in the 63rd minute, approached the centre-back and ‘offered his thanks for being invited to join the practice match’, according to manutd.com.
Paul Ince then scored from a quick free-kick, after opposition ‘keeper Craig Forrest handled outside his area. United’s rampant midfielder then cleverly chipped the keeper from some distance, a goal defining of the difference in quality and mentality that day.
Brian McClair, playing alongside Ince in midfield that day, captured the amazing mentality in the United team that day, saying:
We were ruthless. Nine could have been 10 or 11. We never stopped, we just kept going. We were never satisfied. They’d been smug about beating us over there [referring to a 3-2 defeat to Ipswich earlier that season], but it wasn’t a case of: ‘We’re going to humiliate you and grind you into dust,’ it was just: ‘We’re going to score as many as we can and keep going until it’s over.’ That’s just the Manchester United way: it’s never over.
Andy Cole scored his fifth and United’s ninth in the 87th minute to break two records which still stand today. As the Englishman shot with his back to goal to score, that strike made him the first player to score five goals in one Premier League game, and the nine-goal tally made it the biggest ever win in the competition.
Craig Forrest, the ‘keeper for Ipswich in the game, returned to Old Trafford five years later with West Ham, only to lose 7-1. A BBC Reporter asked him: “you don’t like coming here, do you?” to which the veteran goalkeeper responded: “no!”
What a day. What a victory. Let’s hope for more of the same on Wednesday night!
