Norwich City flashback: When the Canaries gave Liverpool a scare on the opening day of the 1984/85 campaign

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Norwich City 3, Liverpool 3 - our match report from August 28, 1984, by Bill Walker

Every footballer dreams of a dream debut - and has nightmares about a bad one, writes Bill walker.

We had both - and much more besides - in this rip-roaring start to the new soccer season at Carrow Road on Saturday.

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

WHAT A DEBUT... for City new-boy Steve Bruce who headed into his own net after just three minutes of his first First Division game...

WHAT A DEBUT... for Liverpool's £200,000 signing Jan Moldy whose teasing cross it was that Bruce sent past the helpless Chris Woods...

WHAT A DEBUT... for City winger Dale Gordon who performed admirably against such star-studded opposition and...

WHAT A DEBUT... for England striker Paul Walsh who was involved in the amazing incident which gave Liverpool a second-half penalty.

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Bruce showed tremendous courage to shake off that nightmare start.

He put his game together and showed up well alongside central defensive partner Dave Watson.

And I've some good news for Bruce tonight... he's not the first player to score an own goal on his Canary debut - nor the quickest.

I reckon the last player to go through that nightmare was Stanley Ramsey who put into his own net in the very first minute of his debut at home to Watford on August 27th, 1932.

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Said Bruce: 'Some start that was. I even got my head to Kenny Dalglish's shot for their second goal but couldn't stop it going in.

'But there was no way I could hide out there. I knew that I had to dig in and pull myself through. I felt quite pleased with the way things went after that dreadful start.'

Bruce had to go for Molby's cross but could only look on in horror as Woods' frantic saving efforts proved in vain.

The match looked as good as won and lost after 23 minutes when Dalglish fired home a fine curling shot, but battling Peter Mendham made it 2-1 within five minutes.

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

City looked set to equalise five minutes from half-time when John Deehan was bundled to the ground by Bruce Grobbelaar. But he sliced the spot-kick horribly wide.

Keith Bertschin made his point with a 47th minute leveller - earning a head injury as his colleagues rushed to congratulate him rather over-zealously.

Then Paul Haycock and Walsh tangled in the box, only for referee Ray Lewis to remarkably award a penalty which Phil Neal converted in the 68th minute.

But justice was done in the closing seconds when Mike Channon fell under pressure from Mark Lawrenson and picked himself up to convert the day's third penalty to square matters at 3-3.

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Carrow Road went wild... what a start to the new campaign.

NORWICH - Woods, Haylock, van Wyk, Mendham, Bruce, Watson, Devine, Channon, Deehan, Bertschin, Gordon. Sub: Goss.

LIVERPOOL - Grobbelaar, Neal, Kennedy, Lawrenson, Whelan, Hansen, Dalglish (Robinson), Lee, Walsh, Wark, Molby.

Referee - Ray Lewis (Great Bookham, Surrey)

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

Attendance - 22,005

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)

25th August 1984, NCFC 3 V Liverpool 3. Photo: Archant Library (Image: Archant Library)