Below is the third part of Tony Park's look back over "The Sexton Years". You can find the first two parts by clicking on my Blog Archive down the right hand side.
With a full season behind him and a better understanding of what was required to take Manchester United back to the top of the 1st Division, manager Dave Sexton was upbeat in the opening day’s programme notes.
“This is the moment we have all been waiting for…the first battle of the campaign to try and win the League championship.”
“We feel we have the resources and players at the club to make a determined bid for honours. Last season was something of an anti-climax after two successive years of reaching the FA Cup final, but it was my first year with the club and there was a lot of work to do getting to know one another and discovering the strengths and weaknesses of the team.”
“As you know, early in the New Year I embarked on a major rebuilding process with the addition of a top-class defender in Gordon McQueen and an equally outstanding international in Joe Jordan.”
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| Joe Jordan |
“It was too late by the time the new players had settled in to influence our challenge for honours, but we did complete the season in much more impressive form.”
"We lost only three of the last thirteen games, and of the five we won four. I think we were beginning to see the results of our first season in action together, and now I hope to see us build on that foundation.”
It makes interesting reading thirty years later. Sexton still had faith in Jordan and McQueen even though we conceded 63 goals and Jordan only hit the back of the net three times during 1977/78.
The summer saw United celebrate their 100th anniversary with Real Madrid coming to Old Trafford for a Centenary match and the Reds showed excellent form winning 4-0. On the playing front, Stuart Pearson was once again injured, this time playing for England, as was Stewart Houston, while Stepney and McQueen were all doubtful for the season opener versus Birmingham City.
With no major signings to talk of, Tom Connell, Tom Sloan and Phil McCandless all arrived without much fanfare and hardly caught the locals attention.
AUGUST
With Paddy Roche in goal, a back four of Greenhoff, Albiston, Buchan and McQueen it was not Sexton’s preferred defensive line-up. The midfield contained Steve Coppell, McIlroy, Macari and David McCreery who filled in for departed Gordon Hill. Up front Jimmy Greenhoff partnered Joe Jordan. United opened the campaign with a 1-0 win over Birmingham City, courtesy of a Joe Jordan goal in front of 56, 139 fans. Four days later a tricky trip to Leeds United saw the Reds come away with a 3-2 victory with goals from McIlroy, McQueen and Lou Macari. A 0-3 reverse at Ipswich Town gave a fair indication that the defensive problems of the previous term had not entirely been rectified. With Arnold Muhren pulling the strings in only his second start for Ipswich, Bobby Robson commented that United could do with someone of Muhren’s quality!!! The final instalment of the month came in the shape of a League Cup tie with 4th Division Stockport. Originally drawn away, County agreed to the switch to Old Trafford in order to improve their gate-keepings. A nervy United squeezed through 3-2 on the night with two goals in the last two minutes.
League: Won 2 Drew 0 Lost 1
SEPTEMBER
Everton were the visitors on the second of the month and came to Manchester with an unbeaten record. It took a rare late goal from Martin Buchan to equalise for the Reds in a 1-1 draw when he let fly from a full 30 yards. It was a similar story at Loftus Road as Jimmy Greenhoff scored the Reds equaliser in another 1-1 draw. The next two games at home to Forest and away to Arsenal saw similar results with Jimmy Greenhoff and Steve Coppell scoring respectively. As so to the derby and 55, 301 hard-core supporters watched a tense affair with Jordan scoring United’s single goal and ultimately the winner after Gordon McQueen’s header was saved in the 89th minute. It was hardly championship form.
League: Won 1 Drew 4 Lost 0
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| Jimmy Greenhoff (courtesy of mufcinfo.com) |
OCTOBER
Watford arrived in town early in the month for the next round of the League Cup and Graham Taylor fancied his chances. He had every right to as a poor United failed to impress and lost 1-2 and were subsequently knocked out of the competition. In league action United were still trying to find any kind of consistency. A 3-2 home win over Middlesbrough saw Lou Macari hit a brace and Jordan the other before a trip to Villa Park. Two down at half-time, United did well to fight back for a draw thanks to McIlroy and Macari. The following match saw unfancied Bristol City take United to the cleaners, and a Kevin Mabbutt hat-trick saw him take home the match ball. It was the first time an opposing player had scored three goals at Old Trafford since the early 1970’s. Jimmy Greenhoff scored United’s consolation. The final match of the month saw United take the M6 down to Wolves and for once things clicked. Jimmy Greenhoff (2) Jordan and Brian Greenhoff were all on the scoresheet. Meanwhile behind the scenes, Stuart Pearson was recovering from a cartilage operation, Alex Stepney had broken his finger and Gary Bailey was waiting in the wings. Additionally, Dave McCreery and Ashley Grimes had both failed to impress at outside left and Sexton was looking externally for options.
League: Won 2 Drew 1 Lost 1
NOVEMBER
Dave Sexton’s matchday notes for the visit of Southampton talked about grit, determination and battling. While important qualities of any team, it was hardly characteristics first associated with Manchester United. However, after 12 league games the Reds were in sixth place, six points behind leaders Liverpool. On the surface it didn’t seem too bad, but Liverpool had a goals for and against ratio of 35:5 while United’s 19:18 looked embarrassing in comparison. Jimmy Greenhoff notched his sixth goal of the term as United drew 1-1 at home once more. The natives started to get restless and all was not well on the terraces. The following game saw United visit Birmingham City who were without a win all season. A 1-5 reverse at St. Andrews was hardly the confidence booster Sexton had talked about. A lone Jordan goal was all United had to show for a terrible defensive performance.
Sexton decided to make changes. Gary Bailey was brought into the team for the visit of Ipswich, the club his father had played for in the early 1960’s, Lou Macari was replaced by Tom Sloan and Sammy McIlroy moved to the left wing. The changes brought good fortune as the Reds kept their first clean sheet in eight games as Coppell and J. Greenhoff helped United to a 2-0 win. Just when Sexton thought a corner had been turned, a 0-3 reverse at Everton in the next match was clear evidence that United were just not good enough.
During the week, Sexton entered the transfer market and signed Mickey Thomas from Wrexham. It was a much needed left sided player…..but not who the fans expected. Dave Thomas and Leighton James had been discussed in pubs throughout town so the arrival of Thomas left supporters a little fazed.
The arrival of a new face gave fresh impetus and United went to London to record a 1-0 win over Chelsea courtesy of another Jimmy Greenhoff strike.
League: Won 2 Drew 1 Lost 2
In the next installment, follow United's run to Wembley in the FA Cup and the climax to a poor league season.
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