A first-half Allan Simonsen penalty decided this European championship qualifier on a soaking-wet pitch and gave Bobby Robson what he described as 'the blackest day of my career.' England disputed the penalty that was awarded when the ball bounced up and struck Phil Neal on the hand. The midfield trio of Sammy Lee, John Gregory and Ray Wilkins failed to function together, and England did not deserve to take a point from the Danes, who were always the more inventive and industrious team. The England players were jeered off and a section of the crowd turned on Robson as he made the long, lonely walk back to the dressing-room.  The tabloid press were unmerciful with their criticism and poured scorn on Robson, who said privately: 'Even the Prime Minister does not get the pressure and criticism of an England manager. Some of things written and said are completely out of order, but you just have to bite your tongue and take it.'

Source Notes

TheFA.com
UEFA.com
Original newspaper reports
Official Teamsheet
Matchday Programme
Rothman's Yearbooks
Mike Payne's England: The Complete Post-War Record (Breedon Books Publishing Company, Derby, U.K., 1993)
Norman Giller, Football Author
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CG