It was Graham Taylor’s second season in charge of Watford FC. During his maiden campaign the young manager had led the Hornets to the Division Four championship and excitement was rife for another thrilling campaign.

That said, Watford were still a lowly Division Three side and, despite a scalp against Newcastle United in the second round of the League Cup, when Manchester United away was drawn in the next tie, nobody expected another upset. Unfortunately for United, our GT would make a name for himself in upsetting the odds.

It was Blissett who netted both goals to dispatch the Magpies and it was déjà vu at Old Trafford little more than a month later, as the man who would go on to become Watford’s highest all-time goal scorer and appearance holder scored twice in the second-half to turn around a 1-0 deficit and send United crashing out of the cup.

Blissett had scored six times the previous campaign but this was truly his breakthrough season, and what bigger stage to make your mark than the home of the Red Devils? Born in Jamaica, Blissett was the subject of abhorrent chants from the stands targeting the colour of his skin, the likes of which should never be heard in a football stadium or anywhere else. The crowds were silenced though when, after Joe Jordan had put the hosts ahead in the opening 45, Blissett wreaked havoc with two leaping headers.

The first came moments after the interval, the unmarked No.8 powering his effort in from a Bobby Downes cross from the left. Then, in the 71st minute, the Hornets were ahead as Blissett planted an even better effort into the top corner from Dennis Booth’s whipped delivery. The second would be named Watford’s Goal of the Season, and rightly so.

Watford were finally knocked out by eventual winners Nottingham Forest in the semi-final but take nothing away from what this night in Manchester meant. Chairman Sir Elton John described the match afterwards as “magic”, while Blissett said it was one he would never forget. More than 40 years later, it’s still as memorable as ever.