United 1977/78 Season Review

lysglimt

Full Member
Scout
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
15,101
I was horribly bored - so I thought I would do a season review of Dave Sextons first season in charge. A lot of youtube, google and books - and this is what I ended up with. There might be some errors here and there as I couldnt be bothered to check for errors and typos :) Enjoy if you can be bothered to read :)


United 1977/78 – Pre Season


Dave Sexton had a quiet first summer in charge of United with no first-team players joining or leaving the club. So he joined the club with the same squad Tommy Docherty had used the season before with the exception of irish youngster Ashley Grimes who signed just before Sexton became the manager of United.

There was a big question mark about the goalkeeping-situation. Alex Stepney was almost 35 and was at the end of his career, and former Shelbourne-keeper Paddy Roche struggled wth nerves especially at Old Trafford.

28 year old Martin Buchan was a quality defender and was considered one of the best in the country. His partner was the former midfielder Brian Greenhoff who had been with the club since joining United as a 15-year old in 1968.

3 players were expected to battle it out for the full-back positions. 28 year old Stewart Houston who joined United from Brentford in 1973. 20 year old Jimmy Nicholl, who was mainly used as a right-back, but who could also play in other defensive positions. Finally Arthur Albiston

In midfield Northern-Ireland international Sammy McIlroy was the obvious first choice. The goal-scoring midfielder who had just missed 3 matches over the last 3 seasons was expected to be Scottish international Lou Macari who had blossomed into a fine attacking midfielder under Tommy Docherty. Behind these 2 players United could chose from 20 year old David McCreery and 22 year old Chris McGrath, or new signing Ashley Grimes. Talented as these boys were, the general feeling was that United looked light in central midfield. On the flanks United had 2 of the most talented players in the country in Gordon Hill and Steve Coppell. Both had been instrumental in United winning the FA-Cup 3 months earlier and scored 30 goals combined in all competition the season before.

Up front United had 3 players to choose from. 28 year old Stuart Pearson had been a big hit since joining from Hull 3 years earlier and was the obvious first choice. He scored 15 goals the season before and had even broken into the English national side. His striking partner was Jimmy Greenhoff, the older brother of Brian. Jimmy had turned 31 and many believed he had seen his best days on a football pitch, but he was still a skilled footballer.



August

Sextons first match in charge at United was in the 0-0 draw in the Charity Shield against Liverpool. United got off to a dream start with a 4-1 win away to Birmingham. Lou Macari scored a hat-trick and Gordon Hill got the last goal. 4 days later United beat Coventry at home by 2-1 after goals from McCreery and Hill. In the last leaguegame in August, United without the injured Jimmy Greenhoff and Stuart Pearson only managed 0-0 at home against Ipswich.

United went out of the League Cup after a 3-2 defeat to a strong Arsenal-side. Pearson and McCreery scored for United but a goal from Brady and 2 from Malcolm McDonald meant Dave Sexton experienced his first defeat as United-manager.





September

United returned to winning ways in the first League-game in September. Lou Macari scored his 4th goal of the season as United won 1-0 away to Derby County. But that was all the joy United would have in September.

A week later a weak United-side were brushed away from rivals City by 3-1. Brian Kidd sent a freekick home in the first-half to make it 1-0, then added a second after a poor clearance from Arthur Albiston. Channon scored the third goal from close range before Jimmy Nicholl scored the best goal of his career. He picked the ball, advanced a few yards and hammered the ball into the net from 40 yards. Corrigan should have saved it, but it was still an unbelievable strike from the defender.

United started their European campaign by drawing 1-1 to St.Etienne after a goal by Gordon Hill. The game however was mostly remembered for a riot inside the stadium, according to most witnesses started by the French fans throwing bottles at United-fans. Roughly 100 United-fans attacked the French supporters with knives and bottles and the result was that United was kicked out of Europe by UEFA. After intense lobbying by Sir Matt Busby and other United-delegates, United were allowed back in as long as they played the return-tie more than 200 km away from Manchester.

Uniteds poor form continued when they met Chelsea at home. Experienced striker Bill Garner scored the only goal of the game, as United played their third game in a row without a win.

A few days later United played Leeds away and against the run of the play took the lead when Gordon Hill headed home Lou Macaris cross, but Leeds got their deserved equalizer when in-form 21 year old striker Ray Hankin hammered home from close range. The match ended 1-1



October

United started October by playing Liverpool who arguably was the best side in Europe at the time and had one of their best performances of the season. Lou Macari gave United the lead when he arrived at the far post to hammer home Gordon Hills cross from the right. Sammy McIlroy added the second when he turned home another cross from the right to make the final score 2-0.

United built on the win against Liverpool with a 2-0 win against St.Etienne. Stuart Pearson scored the first goal after the goalkeeper failed to hold Steve Coppells low cross. Steve Coppell scored the second goal at the end of the game, when he was put through by Albiston.

With Pearson and McIlroy missing, United lost away to Middlesboro 4 days later. David Mills gave Boro the lead in injury-time in the first half, but Steve Coppell equalized just seconds before the referee blew his whistle for half-time. Boro stole the win in injury-time when central defender Billy Ashcroft scored the 2-1 goal in the 92nd minute.

United returned to winning ways against Newcastle the week after, but in the end the matche ended a lot more dramatic than necessary for United. Coppell and J.Greenhoff scored before the break and Lou Macari added a third early in the second half, but Newcastle fought back and scored twice in the last 15 minutes. Experienced striker Micky Burns got the first goal and Dennis Martin signed from Carlisle in the summer, added the second. A memorable moment for Martin, he only played 11 matches and scored 2 goals in total for Newcastle and left for Mansfield after just one season.

The last 2 weeks of October probably was amongst the worst in Dave Sextons managerial career. First United were hammered 4-0 by Porto in 2nd Round of the ECW Cup. 3 days later without key-players such as Houston, Albiston and both Greenhoff-brothers, WBA beat United by the same margin. David Cross 2, John Wile and Laurie Cunningham were the goalscorers for WBA, who also beat United by the same result the season before.

United finished an awful October by losing 1-2 at Villa Park. Jimmy Nicholl scored his 2nd goal of the season, but goals from Alex Cropley and Andy Gray gave Villa all the points.



November

United had the almost impossible task to turn a 0-4 defeat against Porto. Steve Coppell gave United an early lead with a shot from 18 yards. Seninho equalized shortly after but United reclaimed the lead in the 40th minute, when a cross from Hill was misjudged by the goalie and the ball hit a defender and rolled into the empty net. Jimmy Nicholl hammered home 3-1 in injury-time after a poor clearance by the Porto-goalkeeper. Steve Coppell got his 2nd of the day when he turned home a corner from the right, and at this stage the United-fans really believed they could qualify for the next round. Seninho scored his 2nd of the day on a counter-attack with less than 10 minutes to play. United scoret the last goal of the game in injury-time when a defender trying to clear Pearsons goalbounds chip over the goalkeeper, hammered it into his own net. It was too little, too late and United lost by 5-6 on aggregate.

The good performance against Porto was temporary as United lost to Arsenal for the second time of the season, this time at home. Gordon Hill gave United the lead, but Frank Stapleton equalized before Malcolm McDonald scored the winner as he did at home. The result saw United drop to 13th in the table.

The weekend after saw United lose by 1-2 again, this time to Nottingham away. Stuart Pearson gave United the lead in the first half, but Forest turned the match around in the second half inspired by Archie Gemmill. His shot was deflected into the legs of Kenny Burns who equalized to 1-1 at the start of half, before Gemmill headed home the winner. Forest could even afford to miss a penalty by John Robertson after a clumsy challenge by Brian Greenhoff on Woodcock.

On November 19th, United finally got their first win in the league for over a month. Stuart Pearson was the goalscorer, but it was Steve Coppells superb individual performance that created the goal. He quickly turned 2 Norwich-defenders, rushed into the box and when goalkeeper Kevin Keelan only managed to block his shot – Stuart Pearson had the easiest task of scoring.

On the last weekend in November, United took their first point away from Old Trafford for 2 months when they drew 2-2 with QPR. United twice came from behind courtesy of goals from Gordon Hill, after David Needham and Don Givens had given the home-team the lead by 1-0 and 2-1.



December

United started December by winning 3-1 against Wolves at Old Trafford. Sammy McIlroy and Jimmy Greenhoff put United 2-0 up before the break. John Richards pulled a goal back for Wolves before Stuart Pearson scored the final goal of the game to make it 3-1.

After a strong period, United-fans were less than pleased when United lost away to West Ham by 2-1. The Hammers had struggled all season and only won 2 out of the first 18 games. Without Sammy McIlroy and Lou Macari, United struggled. Derek Hales gave West Ham the lead, Chris McGrath got the equalizer before Trevor Brooking scored the winner

With a week to go before Christmas, United were feeling really generous against league-leaders Nottingham when United lost 0-4 at home. Brian Greenhoff was the first to look like Santa when he first missed the ball, and then put the ball into the empty net when Woodcock tried to shoot from an impossible angle. The 2-0 goal was a superb attack from Forest and the low cross from Robertson was backheeled out to Woodcock, who drove the ball home from 10 yards. 3-0 came from a United-freekick. Nottingham with a quick counter-attack and Robertson scored alone with Paddy Roche. Tony Woodcocks 4-0 goal was almost identical to the third goal. United opened up and Gemmill easily put Woodcock through on goal.

The fixture on Boxing day was away to Everton. The Liverpool-club was 2nd in the table and in superb form with 11-0 goal difference in their last 4 matches and undefeated in the league for 4 months, but United arguably played their best game in many years as they destroyed Everton 6-2 at Goodison Park. Lou Macari and Gordon Hill score before the break to make it 2-0. Macari scored his second in the 53rd minute, Coppell made it 4-0 only 5 minutes later. Brian Greenhoff made it 5-0 before Bob Latchford pulled one goal back for Everton. Sammy McIlroy scored the 6th goal in the 75th minute before Martin Dobson scored Evertons 2nd. An incredible result against Everton who hadn’t lost in the league since august.

With less than 24 hours rest, United played their next match at Old Trafford December 27th against struggling Leicester. Just 2 wins in their first 21 matches and 8 goals scored, Leicester looked destined for relegation. Manchester United had few problems, Jimmy Greenhoff and Steve Coppell put United 2 up at half-time. Mark Goodwin scored a rare goal for Leicester, that was only the 3rd game the 17 year old played, before Gordon Hill added the final goal of the game to make it 3-1 United.

The final game of 1977 was to be played at Highfield Road against Coventry, and United inconsistency continued as they played one of their worst games of the season. Coventry completely out-played Dave Sextons side winning 3-0 after goals by Michael Ferguson, Ian Wallace and Terry Yorath. Coventry-manager Gordon Milne probably had made the best signing in Coventry’s history when he picked up Ian Wallace from Dumbarton the year before for £70.000. The young Scot would go on to score 58 goals in 130 matches before becoming one of the first players to cost over £1 million pounds when Forest signed him in 1980. Wallace and Ferguson between them scored 37 league goals for Coventry in the 77/78 season.



January
: United started the new year just as badly as the old one finished by losing 1-2 at home to Birmingham. Kevin Dillion and striker Trevor Francis put the visitors 2-0 up before Jimmy Greenhoff pulled a goal back for United.

United had been drawn away to Carlisle in the 3rd round of the FA Cup. Carlisle were mid-table in division 3 but pulled off an unlikely upset when they managed a 1-1 draw. Lou Macari gave United the lead before Scottish central defender Iain McDonald scored the most important goal of his career to earn Carlisle a re-match.

Lou Macari chipped the goalkeeper at Old Trafford to put United 1-0 up early on in the rematch. Stuart Pearson added the 2nd just before the break. Carlisle started strongly in the 2nd half and pulled a goal back from Mick Tait. Stuart Pearson scored after a corner to make it 3-1 in the 70th minute and Lou Macari got his 2nd a few minutes later. Carlisle scored the last goal of the game when Rafferty got on the end of a cross from Tait. United qualified for the 4th round where they would play WBA.

United continued their fine form with a 4-0 win at home to Derby County. Gordon Hill scored the first on penalty before Stuart Pearson grabbed his 4th goal in 7 days to make it 2-0. Hill made it 3-0 after the break before a rare goal by Martin Buchan sealed the win for United. But this would be the last time United would celebrate a win for almost 2 months.

Next up was the 4th round of the FA Cup against WBA – a team United often struggled with. Prior to the game United had signed Scottish international Joe Jordan from Leeds for £350.000 and Jordan made his debut against WBA. The first match at Old Trafford ended with a 1-1 draw. Willie Johnston gave WBA the lead in the 77th minute, but Steve Coppell equalized in the last minute of ordinary time.





February:

The replay of the 4th round tie against WBA was played on a soggy pitch, but it was a very good game of football that was played at the Hawthorns where United ended up losing 3-2. Tony Brown gave WBA the lead after 13 minutes when he scored from close range. Stuart Pearson equalized 6 minutes later after a nice pass from McIlroy, but the brilliance of Cyrille Regis would be too much for United to handle. He scored 2-1 early in the 2nd half, Gordon Hill got a really late equalizer but Regis won the game for WBA deep into injury-time.

United drew 1-1 at home to struggling Bristol City in the next league game. Experienced midfielder (and former Liverpool-player) Peter Cormack put the visitors ahead, but United equalized when Gordon Hill scored from the penalty-spot.

Stamford Bridge next and Chelsea went 2-0 up before United fought back and yet again grabbed a late equalizer from the spot. Talented striker Clive Walker gave Chelsea the lead before England international Ray Wilkins added the second. But United fought back. Sammy McIlroy pulled a goal back before the break and Gordon Hill scored from the spot to earn United a point. Not long after the game, the news broke that United had raided Leeds for the second time in less than a month by signing Gordon McQueen for £495.000. The transfer sparked a lot of hostility from the Leeds-fans when McQueen had claimed weeks before that he wanted to stay at Elland Road for the rest of his career. But after signing for United he exclaimed: “99% of all footballers want to play for United, the rest are liars”

McQueen made his debut away to Liverpool in a game United ended up losing 3-1. United kept Liverpool out for a long time with balls hitting the post and getting blocked on the line, but finally Liverpools pressure paid off when Graeme Souness volleyed home a cross from the right in the 40th minute. Souness had signed for Liverpool just a month earlier in a £350.000 deal from Middlesboro, and this was his first ever goal for Liverpool. Ray Kennedy added a second goal 5 minutes after the break following a good counter-attack. Sammy McIlroy pulled a goal back 10 minutes later, after Liverpool failed to clear a cross from the right. Liverpool finished the game off when Jimmy Case got on the end of a low cross from Heighway.



March:

Next up was a match at Old Trafford against Leeds and Uniteds poor form continued with a defeat at home by 0-1. Gordon McQueen missed the game through injury and Joe Jordan left the pitch goalless yet again. The winner was scored by Alan Clarke in the second half to the delight of the Leeds-fans who had seen 2 of their best players leave for Manchester United, and in addition were in hot water with the FA after several riots in their last home-matches.

The defeat to Leeds was followed by a poor, uninspiring game against Middlesboro that finished 0-0. Sexton had spent close to £850.000 on McQueen and Jordon to help United achieve European football, but the signings so far had failed to pay off and United found themselves 12th in the table.

Joe Jordan scored his first goal for United against Newcastle away in a match that ended 2-2. Mark McGhee had given Newcastle the lead, but United scored twice at the end of the half to lead 2-1 at the break. Jordan got the equalizer before Gordon Hill scored the second. But yet again, it wasn’t meant to be for Manchester United. Micky Burns scored on penalty to earn Newcastle a point.

Against WBA the week after, United yet again took the lead only to see WBA grab a late equalizer. Gordon McQueen headed United in front, but the Scottish central defender Alistair Robertson scored a rare goal. Robertson played a total of 506 matches for WBA but only scored a total of 9 goals.

Almost exactly 2 months since their last win, United finally picked up all the points when they beat Leicester 3-2 away. Leicester took the lead when youngster Dean Smith scored his first and only goal for the club, but Stuart Pearson equalized for United to make 1-1 at half-time. Leicester regained the lead after Geoff Salmons scored early in the second half, but United hit back. Gordon Hill equalized before Jimmy Greenhoff scored the winner late in the game.

Everton got revenge for the 2-6 defeat at Goodison, by winning at Old Trafford by 2-1. Bob Latchtford who is famous for being one of few people ever to score twice against a sibling (Peter Latchford who was the goalkeeper at WBA), scored either side of a penalty from Gordon Hill. The defeat left United stranded at 11th place, while Everton were 2nd behind leaders Nottingham Forest.

United finished march by drawing 1-1 at home to Aston Villa. Sammy McIlroy gave United the lead, but Villa equalized by England U-21 international John Deehan in the 2nd half. The result meant United had won 1 game in the last 13.



April:

United started April by losing 3-1 to Arsenal at Highbury, and just like in the League Cup defeat earlier in the season, the goals were scored by Brady and McDonald 2. Arsenal were by far the better side and could have scored 2-3 goals before they finally beat Stepney who had returned in goal for Roche. McDonald gave Arsenal the lead after Price hit the post and Super-Mac could roll the ball into the empty net. Against the run of play United equalized by Joe Jordan. A long ball forward by Brian Greenhoff was flicked on by Coppell. Jordan drilled the ball home from 10 yards out to score his second goal for United. Liam Brady restored Arsenals with a superb volley on 70 minutes. Malcolm McDonald who scored the first and set up Brady for the second, finished the game when he scored from close range following a header into the box by Pat Rice.

United got their 2nd win in almost 3 months when they bottom QPR by 3-1 at Old Trafford. The visitors were fighting against relegation and needed points, but United controlled the game and in the end won fairly easily. Stuart Pearson gave United the lead in the 1st half. Stan Bowles equalized on a penalty, but not long afterwards United were awarded a penalty and Pearson scored his second of the game. Ashley Grimes scored the last goal of the game, but United were still in 13th place. But much of the talk prior to the game was regarding Gordon Hill. Sexton had decided to drop Hill and play him in the reserves, and at half-time in the reserve game, Hill was taken off the pitch and informed that United had accepted an offer from Derby County to sell Hill for £250.000. This was a bold move by Sexton as Hill was the clubs leading scorer, and one of the most popular players with the fans. Former United-manager Docherty who now was a manager for Derby said: “I am flabbergasted that he came on the market. It’s a joke really, a catastrophe for United. “

The results did improve with Hill out of the side. The weekend after they followed up the win against QPR by beating Norwich 3-1 away. Phillip Lythgoe gave Norwich the lead in the first half, but goals from Jordan, McIlroy and Coppell turned the match around. United for the first time since December won twice in a row.

The good form continued when West Ham were brushed aside at Old Trafford. Ashley Grimes gave United the lead from the penalty spot. Sammy McIlroy and Stuart Pearson scored in the 2nd half to make it 3-0. The result made United climbed up to 10th place while West Ham with 3 matches to play were in a relegation battle with neighbours QPR, who had won the last 2 games and climbed above West Ham.

The 41st league game of the season was played at Bristol City, and United won their 4th game in a row. Stuart Pearson scored the only goal of the game in a pretty dire game between 2 teams with little to play for.

United finished the season by playing Wolverhampton away and losing 1-2. Brian Greenhoff scored for United in the 1st half, but goals by Martin Patching and Melvyn Eves secured the win for Wolves.


The defeat meant United ended 10th in the table with 42 Points.
 
Last edited:

Luke1995

Full Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2016
Messages
3,444
Sounds like the years between Busby and Ferguson were really bad. It gives me hope that one day, a new Busby or a new Ferguson will arrive here and return us to glory.

But to keep the thread on these late 70's times, how many of these players ended up playing some part in the 80's ?
 

montpelier

Full Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
10,637
Sounds like the years between Busby and Ferguson were really bad. It gives me hope that one day, a new Busby or a new Ferguson will arrive here and return us to glory.

But to keep the thread on these late 70's times, how many of these players ended up playing some part in the 80's ?
Albiston, Mcqueen, Coppell

Sexton bought Wilkins quite soon after this.
 

montpelier

Full Member
Joined
Oct 24, 2011
Messages
10,637
And Bailey, Duxbury, Moran first emerged with Sexton.

I think
 
Last edited:

Class of 63

Sourness
Joined
Aug 15, 2017
Messages
9,028
Location
Going through the Desert on a Horse with no Name

With the 2nd leg having to be 200km from Old Trafford Arsenal offered to rent out Highbury for the night, Wembley was considered as well, but the head of the football league Alan Hardaker poo pooed the idea saying United have a lot of fans in London and they are the worst of the lot :lol:

Oh yeah, great effort @lysglimt, enjoyed the op, thanks.
 

lysglimt

Full Member
Scout
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
15,101
Loads of moaning went on in the RedCafe pen pal discussion, I tell you.
Yeah I heard there was a poll for Sexton Out - but they had to change name of the pro-Sexton because Sextin was not accepted by the admins
 

Robertd0803

Full Member
Joined
Sep 1, 2014
Messages
6,530
I wont even acknowledge the seasons we finished lower than first so fair play for putting yourself through this.