Why Steve Watson's outrageous Anfield goal nearly didn't happen
Steve Watson has told a podcast that he nearly didn't get to score the best goal of his career because he was about to come on as a goalkeeper
Andrew Hankinson
Steve Watson playing for Newcastle United. (Image: Getty Images)
Former Newcastle full-back Steve Watson says he nearly missed out on scoring 'the best' of goal of his career against Liverpool because he was almost brought on as a substitute goalkeeper.
In November 1995, Watson scored a famous 20-yard-chip over Liverpool goalkeeper David James during a League Cup tie at Anfield. However, in a new episode of the Searching for Shineys podcast, co-hosted by Chronicle's Matthew Ketchell, Watson explained that it almost never happened.
Teams were only allowed three substitutes at the time, and Newcastle United's bench in that match comprised Watson, Scott Sellars and Philippe Albert. So when Shaka Hislop went down injured, it looked like stand-in keeper Watson might have to put his gloves on.
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Watson told the podcast: "I was worried if Shaka hadn't of got back up I'd have been in the green shirt in the middle of the Kop. That was as close as I ever came to coming on in goal."
However, Hislop recovered, but about 10 minutes later striker Les Ferdinand went down with a head injury and had to come off. So instead of manager Kevin Keegan sending Watson on as a replacement goalkeeper, he sent him on as a replacement forward, giving the defender the chance to score the spectacular goal.
Watson said: "I think that goal and that whole situation kind of sums up my Newcastle career. Ten minutes earlier I'd have been on in goal.
"I wasn't handed a start again and then I come on in a position which I've played a few times up front with Coley, but I probably hadn't played regularly since I signed for Newcastle.
"I just remember, I think Peter [Beardsley] played me through, I had decent pace and by the time I got to facing up the defenders, just a quick look round and thinking, 'Yeah, nobody here.'
"I knew that I couldn't trust my left foot enough to actually try and ping one. So I just dragged it, had a quick look up, seen that the only way I was going to do anything was to try and chip him and obviously it's just one of them things that works.
"Nine times out of 10 something different would have happened. It's certainly my favourite goal and certainly my best goal. For a defender I've scored quite a few goals but certainly that one's my standout."
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It ended up being the winning goal for Newcastle, who haven't won at Anfield since.
Listen to the whole interview here.
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