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[Steve Russell]

Chelsea (1) – QPR (3) – 17th March 1979 – ‘Busby Turns The Relegation
Screw On Chelsea’

Team: Richardson, Clement, Gillard, Hollins, Howe, Roeder, Shanks, Francis, Eastoe,
Bowles, Goddard.
Sub: Busby
Attendance: 25,871

This was our second league victory at Stamford Bridge but it wasn’t enough to keep us up.
Pat Needham wrote the following report for the Sunday Mirror:

‘Substitute Martyn Busby appeared like a fairy godmother to guide Rangers to their first
win of 1979 – offer a ray of hope in their relegation struggle. With the match poised at 1-1.
Busby made his entrance on the hour and set up Glen Roeder’s goal five minutes later.

Then he sealed this grim battle for First Division survival with a goal of his own in the
74th minute.

From Chelsea’s viewpoint this was surely one of the final nails in their coffin.
On St. Patrick’s Day of all days, Chelsea Manager Danny Blanchflower was entitled to
expect a little luck.

But it didn’t work out that way. “It wasn’t a good day for us, was it?” he said.
“We need a lot of luck to stay up and we’re just not getting it at the moment.”

It was no surprise when Rangers took the lead in the 23rd minute. Chelsea defender
Nutten lost the ball then failed to make a convincing challenge on Goddard, who slipped
the ball past Borota.

As Ray Wilkins found his touch, Chelsea began to buzz. In the 35th minute, Wilkins found
Stanley on the right and his cross was pushed past his own keeper by Shanks, as he rushed
back to clear.

For a while, Chelsea looked the likelier side. But after Docherty wasted an open goal chance
from only five yards out – a miss leading to his replacement by sub Langley – Busby stepped
in to steal the show. Man of the match: Ray Wilkins (Chelsea).

Rangers Manager Steve Burtenshaw missed the match. He was in the Midlands trying to clinch
the ¬£100,000 signing of West Brom winger Willie Johnston.’

Our victory was on the back of five successive defeats and ten without a win. In fact, our last
victory was against Manchester City on 16th December.

Chelsea finished bottom on 20 points, followed by Birmingham City on 22 points and we were
also relegated in 20th position with 25 points, 6 points adrift of Derby County.

In May, Tommy Docherty returned as Manager.