In terms of moments that modified the course of Manchester Metropolis’s historical past, there could be few fairly as momentous as Paul Dickov’s last-ditch equaliser within the 1999 Division Two play-off remaining.
Metropolis had slid down into the third tier for the very first time two simply years on from enjoying within the Premier League, and got here head-to-head with Gillingham within the remaining with a spot in what’s now the Championship on the road.
Regardless of Shaun Goater twice hitting the woodwork for Metropolis, the sport someway remained goalless till 9 minutes from time, when Carl Asaba gave the Gills a 1-0 lead.
Paul Dickov particulars Manchester Metropolis’s iconic play-off remaining
Manchester Metropolis put their followers by means of the wringer on the outdated Wembley in 1999 (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Robert Taylor appeared to have put the sport to mattress as he doubled Gillingham’s lead within the 87th minute.
Metropolis had different concepts, although, and Kevin Horlock arrange a tense finale by pulling one again three minutes later.
Traditional Highlights! | Gillingham 2-2 Man Metropolis | LEGENDS OF ’99 – YouTube
Watch On
Dickov advised FourFourTwo: “When Gillingham scored their second, late on, I bear in mind taking place on my haunches and searching on the Metropolis followers – 40,000 of them – and simply praying for a miracle.
“We didn’t comprehend it on the time, however with out promotion that season, the membership was going to be in actually massive bother financially. It was growth or bust.
“When Kevin Horlock made it 2-1 within the ninetieth minute, I felt like one thing massive was about to occur.”
And it did: 5 minutes into stoppage time, Metropolis launched the ball ahead from their received half, received a knockdown, and labored it to Shaun Goater. He was shortly tackled earlier than he may get his shot off – just for the free ball to run completely into Dickov’s ft contained in the field.
Manchester Metropolis received the 1999 Division Two play-off remaining on penalties after sharing a 2-2 draw with Gillingham (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Dickov’s fast reactions to peel away from his man and get onto that free ball was no accident.
The Scot defined: “I believed – no, I knew someway that I’d get yet another probability, and I advised myself I needed to preserve calm and take it. The chance fell and I didn’t falter.
“When the ball hit the again of the online, I may have burst with all the emotion in me. Fortunately, we dragged it over the road. One thing particular occurred that day.”
There was no additional scoring in further time, and Metropolis went on to win the shootout…regardless of Dickov lacking his personal spot kick.
Pep Guardiola has dropped Paul Dickov’s title on a number of events (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Nonetheless, Dickov’s equaliser helped cement his place in Metropolis folklore…and a sure supervisor nonetheless brings his title up every so often.
Pep Guardiola has joked earlier than that if Metropolis ever find yourself relegated to the second tier because of the monetary fees nonetheless hanging over them, he might want to name up Dickov and Mike Summerbee to see them again to the Premier League.
It is a bit that also hasn’t obtained outdated for Dickov, who laughed: “I used to be sitting in a gathering when that one occurred. My telephone simply began going off – everybody was asking if I had seen him speaking about me.
“Pep retains doing it and it’s at all times hilarious. I’m virtually pinching myself, as a result of he’s arguably the best soccer supervisor that has ever lived and he’s nonetheless mentioning me every so often.
“I feel it reveals how dialled into Manchester Metropolis and the lengthy historical past of the soccer membership he really is.”
