 The activity in the Sunderland manager's seat continued, with Alan Durban's appointment in 1981. He lasted two years, before being sacked in the 1983 – 84 season after a defeat by Manchester United. Former player Pop Robson was brought in for a single game, before Len Ashurst's appointment as regular manager. In the 1984 – 85 season Ashurst led Sunderland to their first League Cup final, where they lost 1 – 0 to Norwich through an own goal from Gordon Chisholm, after Clive Walker had missed a penalty for Sunderland. At the end of the season Sunderland were relegated back to the Second Division, and Ashurst was sacked.
