4 Ipswich Town 1981

After the first game at Portman Road, Ipswich manager Bobby Robson famously declared that Aberdeen could not play as well again following a 1-1 draw.

Well he was wrong.

A sensational night in the return saw Aberdeen defeat the holders 3-1 with two second half goals from Peter Weir.

Aberdeen displayed all the passion and craft that was too much for an Ipswich side, highly rated as the most ‘complete’ side in British football at that time.

They will never play as good as that again” was the after-match comment by the legendary Bobby Robson, the then manager of his impressive Ipswich town side in 1981.

As holders of the UEFA Cup and early leaders in the top division in England, Ipswich were one of the best sides around at that time. Many believe Robson’s squad were the best ever team in England not to win the English top League.

Not surprisingly the English media were dismissive of Aberdeen as they were paired with the holders in the opening round of the 1981.82 UEFA Cup competition.

Robson was also confident his side would prevail, even after the Dons went to Portman Road and came back with a 1-1 draw, a result which was well merited.

Bobby Robson was happy enough with his team and he was unconcerned that the ‘Battle of Britain’ tag would work against his side.

What the Ipswich manager did not count on was a passionate full house at Pittodrie for the return and a team so pumped up by their manager that they set about Ipswich like a pack of dervishes from the kick off.

In what was a classic European night at Pittodrie, the Dons showed a class and guile that was too much for Ipswich who were eventually out thought, out played and out classed by a slick Aberdeen side.

Peter Weir was the Aberdeen hero with two goals in the second half as the Aberdeen support in the Beach End behind the goal almost took the roof off the old place. Weir was in direct opposition to England captain and full back Mick Mills, who was tormented by the Aberdeen winger for long spells.

Aberdeen could even afford a missed Gordon Strachan penalty late in the game as the 3-1 second leg win was one of the finest results that Aberdeen ever achieved in the European arena.

AFC Heritage Trust | match stats click here

Peter Weir dashes off to celebrate after scoring for Aberdeen.