# 1990–91 FA Cup

The 1990–91 FA Cup was the 110th season of the world's oldest knockout football competition, The Football Association Challenge Cup, or FA Cup for short. Tottenham Hotspur won the competition after coming from 1–0 behind in the final against Nottingham Forest to win 2–1 and take the trophy. It gave Tottenham their eighth victory in nine FA Cup Finals and their first since their wins in 1981 and 1982.

## First round proper

Teams from the Football League Third and Fourth Division entered in this round plus four non-league teams were given byes to this round: Barrow, Leek Town, Colchester United and Sutton United. The first round of games were played over the weekend 17–18 November 1990, with replays being played on 20–21 November.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 2–0 | Grimsby Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 2 | Chester City | 2–2 | Doncaster Rovers | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Doncaster Rovers | 1–2 | Chester City | 20/11/1990 |
| 3 | Chesterfield | 3–2 | Spennymoor United | 17/11/1990 |
| 4 | Darlington | 1–1 | York City | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | York City | 1–0 | Darlington | 19/11/1990 |
| 5 | AFC Bournemouth | 2–1 | Gillingham | 17/11/1990 |
| 6 | Barnet | 2–2 | Chelmsford City | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Chelmsford City | 0–2 | Barnet | 21/11/1990 |
| 7 | Preston North End | 0–1 | Mansfield Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 8 | Rochdale | 1–1 | Scunthorpe United | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Scunthorpe United | 2–1 | Rochdale | 20/11/1990 |
| 9 | Woking | 0–0 | Kidderminster Harriers | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Kidderminster Harriers | 1–1 | Woking | 21/11/1990 |
| Replay | Kidderminster Harriers | 1–2 | Woking | 26/11/1990 |
| 10 | Lincoln City | 1–4 | Crewe Alexandra | 17/11/1990 |
| 11 | Stafford Rangers | 1–3 | Burnley | 17/11/1990 |
| 12 | Scarborough | 0–2 | Leek Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 13 | Bishop Auckland | 0–1 | Barrow | 17/11/1990 |
| 14 | Chorley | 2–1 | Bury | 17/11/1990 |
| 15 | Fulham | 2–1 | Farnborough Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 16 | Aylesbury United | 0–1 | Walsall | 17/11/1990 |
| 17 | Brentford | 5–0 | Yeovil Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 18 | Maidstone United | 4–1 | Torquay United | 17/11/1990 |
| 19 | Bradford City | 0–0 | Shrewsbury Town | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | Bradford City | 21/11/1990 |
| 20 | Altrincham | 1–2 | Huddersfield Town | 18/11/1990 |
| 21 | Witton Albion | 1–2 | Bolton Wanderers | 17/11/1990 |
| 22 | Exeter City | 1–2 | Cambridge United | 17/11/1990 |
| 23 | Cardiff City | 0–0 | Hayes | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Hayes | 1–0 | Cardiff City | 21/11/1990 |
| 24 | Halifax Town | 3–2 | Wrexham | 17/11/1990 |
| 25 | Halesowen Town | 1–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 17/11/1990 |
| 26 | Runcorn | 0–3 | Hartlepool United | 17/11/1990 |
| 27 | Hereford United | 1–1 | Peterborough United | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 2–1 | Hereford United | 20/11/1990 |
| 28 | Rotherham United | 1–0 | Stockport County | 17/11/1990 |
| 29 | Aldershot | 6–2 | Tiverton Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 30 | Wigan Athletic | 5–0 | Carlisle United | 17/11/1990 |
| 31 | Tamworth | 4–6 | Whitley Bay | 17/11/1990 |
| 32 | Boston United | 1–1 | Wycombe Wanderers | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Wycombe Wanderers | 4–0 | Boston United | 21/11/1990 |
| 33 | Colchester United | 2–1 | Reading | 17/11/1990 |
| 34 | Birmingham City | 1–0 | Cheltenham Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 35 | Leyton Orient | 3–2 | Southend United | 17/11/1990 |
| 36 | Merthyr Tydfil | 1–1 | Sutton United | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Sutton United | 0–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 21/11/1990 |
| 37 | Littlehampton Town | 0–4 | Northampton Town | 17/11/1990 |
| 38 | Telford United | 0–0 | Stoke City | 17/11/1990 |
| Replay | Stoke City | 1–0 | Telford United | 21/11/1990 |
| 39 | Swansea City | 5–2 | Welling United | 17/11/1990 |
| 40 | Atherstone United | 3–1 | Fleetwood Town | 17/11/1990 |

## Second round proper

The second round of games were played either over the weekend 7–8 December 1990, with replays being played on 11–12 December; or they were played in the midweek, from 10 to 12 December, with replays being played on 17 December.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Chesterfield | 3–4 | Bolton Wanderers | 11/12/1990 |
| 2 | AFC Bournemouth | 1–0 | Hayes | 08/12/1990 |
| 3 | Barnet | 0–0 | Northampton Town | 08/12/1990 |
| Replay | Northampton Town | 0–1 | Barnet | 12/12/1990 |
| 4 | Burnley | 2–0 | Stoke City | 12/12/1990 |
| 5 | Woking | 5–1 | Merthyr Tydfil | 08/12/1990 |
| 6 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | Atherstone United | 12/12/1990 |
| 7 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–0 | Chorley | 11/12/1990 |
| 8 | Wycombe Wanderers | 1–1 | Peterborough United | 12/12/1990 |
| Replay | Peterborough United | 2–0 | Wycombe Wanderers | 17/12/1990 |
| 9 | Fulham | 0–0 | Cambridge United | 07/12/1990 |
| Replay | Cambridge United | 2–1 | Fulham | 11/12/1990 |
| 10 | Whitley Bay | 0–1 | Barrow | 12/12/1990 |
| 11 | Scunthorpe United | 3–2 | Tranmere Rovers | 08/12/1990 |
| 12 | Huddersfield Town | 0–2 | Blackpool | 10/12/1990 |
| 13 | Mansfield Town | 2–1 | York City | 17/12/1990 |
| 14 | Rotherham United | 1–1 | Halifax Town | 11/12/1990 |
| Replay | Halifax Town | 1–2 | Rotherham United | 17/12/1990 |
| 15 | Aldershot | 2–1 | Maidstone United | 08/12/1990 |
| 16 | Wigan Athletic | 2–0 | Hartlepool United | 08/12/1990 |
| 17 | Colchester United | 0–0 | Leyton Orient | 12/12/1990 |
| Replay | Leyton Orient | 4–1 | Colchester United | 17/12/1990 |
| 18 | Birmingham City | 1–3 | Brentford | 12/12/1990 |
| 19 | Leek Town | 1–1 | Chester City | 12/12/1990 |
| Replay | Chester City | 4–0 | Leek Town | 17/12/1990 |
| 20 | Swansea City | 2–1 | Walsall | 08/12/1990 |

## Third round proper

Teams from the Football League First and Second Division entered in this round. The third round of games in the FA Cup were played over the weekend 5–7 January 1991, with replays being played on 8, 9, 16, 21 and 28 January. Of the three non-league sides remaining in the competition, Woking defeated Second Division opponents West Bromwich Albion 4–2.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Blackpool | 0–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | 05/01/1991 |
| 2 | Chester City | 2–3 | AFC Bournemouth | 05/01/1991 |
| 3 | Barnet | 0–5 | Portsmouth | 05/01/1991 |
| 4 | Burnley | 0–1 | Manchester City | 06/01/1991 |
| 5 | Southampton | 3–2 | Ipswich Town | 05/01/1991 |
| 6 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–1 | Liverpool | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | Liverpool | 3–0 | Blackburn Rovers | 08/01/1991 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 1–1 | Wimbledon | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | Wimbledon | 1–0 | Aston Villa | 09/01/1991 |
| 8 | Bolton Wanderers | 1–0 | Barrow | 05/01/1991 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 0–1 | Cambridge United | 05/01/1991 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 0–0 | Plymouth Argyle | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | Plymouth Argyle | 1–2 | Middlesbrough | 14/01/1991 |
| 11 | West Bromwich Albion | 2–4 | Woking | 05/01/1991 |
| 12 | Shrewsbury Town | 4–1 | Watford | 05/01/1991 |
| 13 | Sheffield United | 1–3 | Luton Town | 05/01/1991 |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 2–0 | Derby County | 05/01/1991 |
| 15 | Barnsley | 1–1 | Leeds United | 06/01/1991 |
| Replay | Leeds United | 4–0 | Barnsley | 09/01/1991 |
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 0–2 | Crewe Alexandra | 05/01/1991 |
| 17 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Wigan Athletic | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | Wigan Athletic | 0–1 | Coventry City | 09/01/1991 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Aldershot | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 6–1 | Aldershot | 16/01/1991 |
| 19 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3–2 | Scunthorpe United | 05/01/1991 |
| 20 | Manchester United | 2–1 | Queens Park Rangers | 07/01/1991 |
| 21 | Norwich City | 2–1 | Bristol City | 05/01/1991 |
| 22 | Millwall | 2–1 | Leicester City | 05/01/1991 |
| 23 | Hull City | 2–5 | Notts County | 05/01/1991 |
| 24 | Oldham Athletic | 3–1 | Brentford | 05/01/1991 |
| 25 | Crystal Palace | 0–0 | Nottingham Forest | 06/01/1991 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 2–2 | Crystal Palace | 21/01/1991 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Crystal Palace | 28/01/1991 |
| 26 | Chelsea | 1–3 | Oxford United | 05/01/1991 |
| 27 | Mansfield Town | 0–2 | Sheffield Wednesday | 05/01/1991 |
| 28 | Port Vale | 2–1 | Peterborough United | 05/01/1991 |
| 29 | Charlton Athletic | 1–2 | Everton | 05/01/1991 |
| 30 | Arsenal | 2–1 | Sunderland | 05/01/1991 |
| 31 | Leyton Orient | 1–1 | Swindon Town | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | Swindon Town | 1–0 | Leyton Orient | 21/01/1991 |
| 32 | Swansea City | 0–0 | Rotherham United | 05/01/1991 |
| Replay | Rotherham United | 4–0 | Swansea City | 21/01/1991 |

## Fourth round proper

The fourth round of games were mainly played over the weekend 26–27 January 1991, with replays being played on 29–30 January. The Arsenal-Leeds United game ended in a draw three times, with the two extra replays being played on 13 and 16 February. Because Nottingham Forest did not finish their third-round tie until 28 January, their fourth round match was not played until 13 February with a replay on 18 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Liverpool | 2–2 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 26/01/1991 |
| Replay | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–3 | Liverpool | 30/01/1991 |
| 2 | Notts County | 2–0 | Oldham Athletic | 26/01/1991 |
| 3 | Crewe Alexandra | 1–0 | Rotherham United | 26/01/1991 |
| 4 | Luton Town | 1–1 | West Ham United | 26/01/1991 |
| Replay | West Ham United | 5–0 | Luton Town | 30/01/1991 |
| 5 | Woking | 0–1 | Everton | 27/01/1991 |
| 6 | Shrewsbury Town | 1–0 | Wimbledon | 26/01/1991 |
| 7 | Newcastle United | 2–2 | Nottingham Forest | 13/02/1991 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | Newcastle United | 18/02/1991 |
| 8 | Tottenham Hotspur | 4–2 | Oxford United | 26/01/1991 |
| 9 | Coventry City | 1–1 | Southampton | 26/01/1991 |
| Replay | Southampton | 2–0 | Coventry City | 29/01/1991 |
| 10 | Portsmouth | 5–1 | AFC Bournemouth | 26/01/1991 |
| 11 | Manchester United | 1–0 | Bolton Wanderers | 26/01/1991 |
| 12 | Norwich City | 3–1 | Swindon Town | 26/01/1991 |
| 13 | Millwall | 4–4 | Sheffield Wednesday | 26/01/1991 |
| Replay | Sheffield Wednesday | 2–0 | Millwall | 30/01/1991 |
| 14 | Port Vale | 1–2 | Manchester City | 26/01/1991 |
| 15 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Leeds United | 27/01/1991 |
| Replay | Leeds United | 1–1 | Arsenal | 30/01/1991 |
| Replay | Arsenal | 0–0 | Leeds United | 13/02/1991 |
| Replay | Leeds United | 1–2 | Arsenal | 16/02/1991 |
| 16 | Cambridge United | 2–0 | Middlesbrough | 26/01/1991 |

## Fifth round proper

The fifth set of games were mainly played over the weekend 16–18 February 1991, with replays being played on 20 February. The Merseyside derby went to an extra replay played on 27 February, the last FA Cup tie to go to multiple replays before a rule change the following season limited ties to one replay. Kenny Dalglish resigned as Liverpool's manager between the two replays. Because Nottingham Forest did not win their fourth round tie until 18 February, their fifth round match was not played until 25 February with a replay on 4 March. Similarly, Arsenal were late beating Leeds United in the previous round and so played Shrewsbury Town on 27 February.
| Tie no | Home team | Score | Away team | Date |
| 1 | Liverpool | 0–0 | Everton | 17/02/1991 |
| Replay | Everton | 4–4 | Liverpool | 20/02/1991 |
| Replay | Everton | 1–0 | Liverpool | 27/02/1991 |
| 2 | Southampton | 1–1 | Nottingham Forest | 25/02/1991 |
| Replay | Nottingham Forest | 3–1 | Southampton | 04/03/1991 |
| 3 | Notts County | 1–0 | Manchester City | 16/02/1991 |
| 4 | Shrewsbury Town | 0–1 | Arsenal | 27/02/1991 |
| 5 | Portsmouth | 1–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | 16/02/1991 |
| 6 | West Ham United | 1–0 | Crewe Alexandra | 16/02/1991 |
| 7 | Norwich City | 2–1 | Manchester United | 18/02/1991 |
| 8 | Cambridge United | 4–0 | Sheffield Wednesday | 16/02/1991 |

## Semi-finals

Tottenham's 3–1 triumph over Arsenal, marked by a Paul Gascoigne goal from 35 yards, ended their opposition's chances of the double.
Nottingham Forest beat West Ham United 4–0 to reach their first FA Cup final for 32 years and give Brian Clough the chance of winning his first FA Cup to add to the two European Cups, one league title and four League Cups that he had already won with them.

## Final

An own goal by Des Walker in extra time gave Tottenham Hotspur their eighth FA Cup triumph, a record at the time. Paul Gascoigne went off with a knee injury in the opening 15 minutes, and Gary Lineker had a first-half penalty saved by Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley.

## Media coverage

For the third consecutive season in the United Kingdom, the BBC were the free to air broadcasters while Sky Sports (formerly The Sports Channel on BSB), were the subscription broadcasters.
The live matches on the BBC were: Crystal Palace vs Nottingham Forest (R3); Arsenal vs Leeds United (R4); Liverpool vs Everton (R5); Tottenham Hotspur vs Notts County (QF); both Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal and Nottingham Forest vs West Ham United (SF); and Tottenham Hotspur vs Nottingham Forest (Final). The BBC did not show a goal live until the quarter-finals.