They were holders of the League Cup for this season and maintained their defence of the trophy to the final, where they were beaten by Nottingham Forest. [37] Foster made a timely challenge on Davis on the edge of the penalty area to end another Arsenal attack; Graham's team had been more threatening on right-hand flank with Rocastle and Winterburn. They made light work of the opposition, winning by three goals and once more set a unique record: David O'Leary's strike meant all 10 regular outfield players each had scored for Arsenal during the season. The match was played at Highbury on 27 October 1987. Edit. Event occurs around the 44th-minute mark; live coverage between 15:13pm and 15:15pm. [22] Arsenal and Luton had only played each other once in the League Cup; George Graham the present-day manager of Arsenal, scored the decider in a third-round tie on 6 October 1970. Leeds held by Luton, Brentford chase Championship's top two. The home side were awarded a second penalty when Dean Saunders was brought down in Luton's area, but Sealey saved his attempt. "[42] The Arsenal manager also revealed the club would take action against Williams for disappearing on the matchday. The club enjoyed relative success in the cups during the 1987–88 season, reaching the last four of the FA Cup and final of the Full Members Cup. Luton did not qualify for European football the following season, despite winning the League Cup as UEFA chose not to relax its ban on English teams. Both clubs made comfortable progress; Luton scored 14 goals and conceded three, Arsenal on the other hand conceded two fewer. [35] The latter substitution worked to Arsenal's advantage, as it brought about their equaliser in the 72nd minute. [48] David Evans, the Luton chairman was against his club participating in European football, though he never publicised his reasoning. Arsenal, the defending champions, entered the match as favourites, but went behind early when Brian Stein scored. Moore, Pleat (1988). Each club needed to get past five rounds to reach the showpiece event at Wembley. [4] Both managers brought on substitutes after the hour mark – Mark Stein came on for Harford, while Martin Hayes replaced Groves. [49], The match is considered as one of the best League Cup finals, and greatest Cup shocks in the competition's history. The stand-in goalkeeper for Luton was delighted with his role in the final, but made it pertinent that he needed regular first-team football, or he would be tempted to leave the following season. "[28] Already without O'Leary, Graham was waiting for Paul Davis to pass a fitness test before finalising his first eleven; the England international had caught a virus a week before the final and subsequently missed training. [32] Mal Donaghy passed a fitness test and partnered Steve Foster in defence, while Rob Johnson was preferred as left back to Ashley Grimes. [35] Davis' free kick delivered in was only half cleared by Foster and amongst the scramble, Hayes drove the ball in the net. Gus Caesar replaced David O'Leary in Arsenal's starting eleven, as the Irishman was ruled out for the final having damaged his achilles weeks prior. It was the final match of the 1987–88 staging of the Football League Cup. Luton's disciplined approach, coupled with a strong performance by Dibble, contained Arsenal to few chances throughout the game. Moore, Pleat (1988). "[42] Luton held a civic ceremony two days after the final, where the trophy was presented in front of the club's supporters. A mistake by Bradford goalkeeper Paul Tomlinson handed Luton the lead four minutes before the hour, when he gave away a free kick for placing the ball down before picking it up again. Relive the glory of arguably the Hatters' greatest day. [4] A newly inspired Luton equalised with seven minutes remaining when Caesar mis-kicked a clearance on the edge of his penalty area, enabling Luton's Wilson to head the ball into the Arsenal goal from a Mark Stein cross. [6] A fortnight later, midfielder David Rocastle scored the only goal in the second leg to give Arsenal a 4–0 aggregate scoreline win. [25] Harford said the instability presented a selection dilemma, telling reporters: "I think I have got to break somebody's heart by telling him he is not playing. [15], In the last 16 of the competition, Luton faced Ipswich Town of the Second Division. [16] The result marked Ipswich's first defeat of the season, having earlier recorded 10 wins and two draws at Portman Road. Littlewoods Cup Final 1988. [10] The first leg was staged at Goodison Park and saw the Arsenal players, rejuvenated by a five-day break in Marbella, come away with a 1–0 win. [7] Bournemouth were Arsenal's opponents in the third round. [41] He commended his goalkeeper, saying: "Considering all the circumstances, I think Dibble had to be the man of the match, and as for the young boy, [Kingsley] Black was sensational. He believed O'Leary absence through injury was a big loss for Arsenal, and implied that Williams was needed in midfield: "Without him they don't have a leader.