The 1978–79 season was Manchester United's 77th season in the Football League, and their fourth consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1] They finished the season ninth in the league, but were more successful in the FA Cup, reaching the final where they lost 3-2 to Arsenal at Wembley, conceding a late goal from Alan Sunderland in the final minute of the game after coming from 2-0 down make it 2-2 in the closing minutes of the game.
1978–79 season | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() Steve Coppell taking a corner against Norwich City, 7 April 1979 | ||||
Chairman | Louis Edwards | |||
Manager | Dave Sexton | |||
First Division | 9th | |||
FA Cup | Runners-up | |||
League Cup | Third Round | |||
Top goalscorer | League: Steve Coppell (11) Jimmy Greenhoff (11) All: Jimmy Greenhoff (17) | |||
Highest home attendance | 56,139 vs Birmingham City (19 August 1978) | |||
Lowest home attendance | 33,678 vs Norwich City (25 April 1979) | |||
Average home league attendance | 46,164 | |||
First Division
Date | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
19 August 1978 | Birmingham City | H | 1–0 | Jordan | 56,139 |
23 August 1978 | Leeds United | A | 3–2 | Macari, McIlroy, McQueen | 36,845 |
26 August 1978 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–3 | 21,802 | |
2 September 1978 | Everton | H | 1–1 | Buchan | 53,982 |
9 September 1978 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 1–1 | J. Greenhoff | 23,477 |
16 September 1978 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–1 | J. Greenhoff | 53,039 |
23 September 1978 | Arsenal | A | 1–1 | Coppell | 45,393 |
30 September 1978 | Manchester City | H | 1–0 | Jordan | 55,301 |
7 October 1978 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–2 | Macari (2), Jordan | 45,402 |
14 October 1978 | Aston Villa | A | 2–2 | Macari, McIlroy | 36,204 |
21 October 1978 | Bristol City | H | 1–3 | J. Greenhoff | 47,211 |
28 October 1978 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 4–2 | J. Greenhoff (2), B. Greenhoff, Jordan | 23,141 |
4 November 1978 | Southampton | H | 1–1 | J. Greenhoff | 46,259 |
11 November 1978 | Birmingham City | A | 1–5 | Jordan | 23,550 |
18 November 1978 | Ipswich Town | H | 2–0 | Coppell, J. Greenhoff | 42,109 |
21 November 1978 | Everton | A | 0–3 | 42,126 | |
25 November 1978 | Chelsea | A | 1–0 | J. Greenhoff | 28,162 |
9 December 1978 | Derby County | A | 3–1 | Ritchie (2), J. Greenhoff | 23,180 |
16 December 1978 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–0 | McIlroy, Ritchie | 52,026 |
22 December 1978 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 0–3 | 32,390 | |
26 December 1978 | Liverpool | H | 0–3 | 54,910 | |
30 December 1978 | West Bromwich Albion | H | 3–5 | B. Greenhoff, McIlroy, McQueen | 45,091 |
3 February 1979 | Arsenal | H | 0–2 | 45,460 | |
10 February 1979 | Manchester City | A | 3–0 | Coppell (2), Ritchie | 46,151 |
24 February 1979 | Aston Villa | H | 1–1 | J. Greenhoff | 44,437 |
28 February 1979 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 2–0 | Coppell, J. Greenhoff | 36,085 |
3 March 1979 | Bristol City | A | 2–1 | McQueen, Ritchie | 24,583 |
20 March 1979 | Coventry City | A | 3–4 | Coppell (2), McIlroy | 25,382 |
24 March 1979 | Leeds United | H | 4–1 | Ritchie (3), Thomas | 51,191 |
27 March 1979 | Middlesbrough | A | 2–2 | Coppell, McQueen | 20,138 |
7 April 1979 | Norwich City | A | 2–2 | Macari, McQueen | 19,382 |
11 April 1979 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–2 | Buchan | 49,617 |
14 April 1979 | Liverpool | A | 0–2 | 46,608 | |
16 April 1979 | Coventry City | H | 0–0 | 43,035 | |
18 April 1979 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | Jordan | 33,074 |
21 April 1979 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | McQueen | 36,665 |
25 April 1979 | Norwich City | H | 1–0 | Macari | 33,678 |
28 April 1979 | Derby County | H | 0–0 | 42,546 | |
30 April 1979 | Southampton | A | 1–1 | Ritchie | 21,616 |
5 May 1979 | West Bromwich Albion | A | 0–1 | 27,960 | |
7 May 1979 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 3–2 | Coppell (2), Ritchie | 39,402 |
16 May 1979 | Chelsea | H | 1–1 | Coppell | 38,109 |
Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7 | Arsenal | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 48 | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
8 | Aston Villa | 42 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 59 | 49 | +10 | 46 | |
9 | Manchester United | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 60 | 63 | −3 | 45 | |
10 | Coventry City | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 58 | 68 | −10 | 44 | |
11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 48 | 61 | −13 | 41 |
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
FA Cup
Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 January 1979 | Round 3 | Chelsea | H | 3–0 | Coppell, J. Greenhoff, Grimes | 38,743 |
31 January 1979 | Round 4 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | J. Greenhoff | 25,229 |
12 February 1979 | Round 4 Replay | Fulham | H | 1–0 | J. Greenhoff | 41,200 |
20 February 1979 | Round 5 | Colchester United | A | 1–0 | J. Greenhoff | 13,171 |
10 March 1979 | Round 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 1–1 | Thomas | 51,800 |
14 March 1979 | Round 6 Replay | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 2–0 | McIlroy, Jordan | 55,584 |
31 March 1979 | Semi-Final | Liverpool | N | 2–2 | Jordan, B. Greenhoff | 52,524 |
4 April 1979 | Semi-Final Replay | Liverpool | N | 1–0 | J. Greenhoff | 53,069 |
12 May 1979 | Final | Arsenal | N | 2–3 | McQueen, McIlroy | 100,000 |
League Cup
Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Result F–A | Scorers | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
30 August 1978 | Round 2 | Stockport County | H | 3–2 | McIlroy, J. Greenhoff, Jordan | 41,761 |
4 October 1978 | Round 3 | Watford | H | 1–2 | Jordan | 40,534 |
Squad statistics
Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
GK | ![]() | 28 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
GK | ![]() | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
DF | ![]() | 32(1) | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 41(1) | 0 |
DF | ![]() | 37 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 48 | 2 |
DF | ![]() | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
DF | ![]() | 21(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24(1) | 0 |
DF | ![]() | 36 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 47 | 7 |
DF | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
DF | ![]() | 19(2) | 0 | 6(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25(4) | 0 |
DF | ![]() | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(2) | 0 |
MF | ![]() | 42 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 53 | 12 |
MF | ![]() | 32(1) | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 39(1) | 3 |
MF | ![]() | 5(11) | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10(11) | 1 |
MF | ![]() | 31(1) | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37(1) | 6 |
MF | ![]() | 14(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 14(2) | 0 |
MF | ![]() | 0(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 |
MF | ![]() | 40 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 8 |
MF | ![]() | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3(1) | 0 |
MF | ![]() | 25 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 2 |
FW | ![]() | 33 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 17 |
FW | ![]() | 30 | 6 | 4(1) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 36(1) | 10 |
FW | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
FW | ![]() | 16(1) | 10 | 3(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19(2) | 10 |
References
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