SEASON: 1978-79

Season count: 81Prev Season: 1977-78
This Season: 1978-79
Next Season: 1979-80

DIVISION: English First Division (Tier 1)
MANAGER(s):
Brian Clough
FA Cup:
5th Round (Arsenal (H) 0-1)
League Cup:
Winners  (Southampton (Wembley) 3-2)

Player Of The Year:
Garry Birtles
Top Goalscorer:
Garry Birtles (26 goals)
Ever Present:
John Robertson (63 games)
 
Peter Shilton (63 games)
GAME COUNTS
Competitive Games:
63
Competitive Goals:
111
Goals per game:
1.8
League Games:
42
League Points:
60 out of 84 (2 points per win)
Points Percentage:
71.4%

ATTENDANCES (HOME)
Highest League Attendance:
41,898 (Liverpool)
Lowest League Attendance:
20,388 (Southampton)
Average League Attendance:
29,339
Highest Cup Attendance:
40,804 (Cologne)
Lowest Cup Attendance:
18,669 (Oldham Athletic)


SEASON HONOURS:

ENGLAND
Champions:
Liverpool
FA Cup:
Arsenal
League Cup:
Nottingham Forest
Community Shield:
Nottingham Forest

EUROPE
 
European Cup:
Nottingham Forest
UEFA Cup:
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Cup Winners Cup:
Barcelona
Super Cup:
Anderlecht

SEASON RECORDS

Most Goals scored: 6
6-0 (Wed Mar 28, 1979, Chelsea, Home, League Tier 1)

Biggest Winning Margin: 6
6-0 (Wed Mar 28, 1979, Chelsea, Home, League Tier 1)

Most Goals Conceded: 3
3-3 (Wed Apr 11, 1979, Cologne, Home, European Cup)

Biggest Losing Margin: 2
0-2 (Sat Dec 09, 1978, Liverpool, Away, League Tier 1)

MISCELLANEOUS
Clean Sheets:
28
Yellow Cards:
12
Red Cards:
0   
Own goals (for):
0   (scored by opponents for us)
Own goals (against):
0   (scored by us for opponents)   
Penalties scored:
6
Penalties conceded:
6
Penalties missed:
1
Penalties saved:
0


TABLE

FIRST DIVISION (Tier 1) - 1978-79
SEASON END TABLE Home AwayResults
Pos Team P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F AGDPtsResultHomeAway
1Liverpool42308485161920514116434126968European Cup First Round0-00-2
2Nottingham Forest42211836126111003410108327163560European Cup First Round
3West Bromwich Albion4224117723513533815116434203759UEFA Cup First Round0-01-0
4Everton4217178524012723217510620231251UEFA Cup First Round0-01-1
5Leeds United42181410705211464125710429271850UEFA Cup First Round0-02-1
6Ipswich Town422091363491146342195729281449UEFA Cup First Round1-01-1
7Arsenal4217141161481182371866924301348Cup Winners Cup First Round2-11-2
8Aston Villa4215161159498943726777222310464-02-1
9Manchester United42151512606397529256873138-3451-11-1
10Coventry City421416125868117341293991739-10443-00-0
11Tottenham Hotspur42131514486178619256782936-13411-13-1
12Middlesbrough42151017575010563321551124297402-23-1
13Bristol City4215101747511164341944131332-4402-03-1
14Southampton4212161447539102352036121233-6401-00-0
15Manchester City421313165856957342848924282393-10-0
16Norwich City427231251577104291901382238-6372-11-1
17Bolton Wanderers4212111954751056362826131847-21351-11-0
18Wolverhampton Wanderers421382144681047262634141842-24343-10-1
19Derby County421011214471858252526131946-27311-12-1
20Queens Park Rangers42613234573498243324152140-2825Relegated0-00-0
21Birmingham City42610263764597242511191339-2722Relegated1-02-0
22Chelsea425102744923513234225142150-4820Relegated6-03-1
Points per win: 2

Click here for all tables for 1978-79

LEAGUE POSITIONS

GOALS
Goals scored, conceded and win and loss margins
Goal count:1 goal2 goals3 goals4 goals5+ goals
Scored17 times11 times13 times3 times4 times
Conceded28 times6 times1 time
Won By15 times14 times2 times2 times3 times
Lost By3 times1 time

LEAGUE POSITION ANALYSIS
Analysis of the league positions
This table shows:
(a) how many days we spent in each of the league positions
(b) how we did when we played teams in each of the league positions.

Position days Record against teams in each position
Forest
Pos
Num Days Opp
Pos
PWDLFAPointsResults (Green=win; Blue=draw; Red=loss)
1 12-11021 Liverpool (0-2), Liverpool (0-0)
23 2413-215 West Bromwich Albion (0-0), Everton (0-0), Everton (1-1), West Bromwich Albion (1-0)
353 31-1-001 Coventry City (0-0)
458 41--1120 Arsenal (1-2)
535 511--212 Leeds United (2-1)
688 61-1-001 Leeds United (0-0)
7 733--716 Aston Villa (2-1), Bristol City (2-0), Coventry City (3-0)
87 81-1-111 Manchester United (1-1)
97 933--836 Arsenal (2-1), Bristol City (3-1), Tottenham Hotspur (3-1)
1014 10-------
11 1111--212 Norwich City (2-1)
12 12211-213 Ipswich Town (1-1), Southampton (1-0)
137 13312-624 Derby County (1-1), Aston Villa (4-0), Manchester United (1-1)
14 1411--312 Manchester City (3-1)
15 15312-214 Ipswich Town (1-0), Manchester City (0-0), Norwich City (1-1)
16 16-------
17 17312-424 Queens Park Rangers (0-0), Middlesbrough (3-1), Bolton Wanderers (1-1)
18 1821-1222 Derby County (2-1), Wolverhampton Wanderers (0-1)
19 19413-325 Queens Park Rangers (0-0), Middlesbrough (2-2), Southampton (0-0), Bolton Wanderers (1-0)
20 2011--312 Wolverhampton Wanderers (3-1)
21 2122--304 Birmingham City (1-0), Birmingham City (2-0)
22 2222--914 Chelsea (6-0), Chelsea (3-1)
Not included: Week 1 game against Tottenham Hotspur (1-1) as all teams were unplaced at the time


GAMES
 
Manager for all games: Brian Clough
League
WeekDateTimeOpponentH/AScoreAttPosScorersStatus
1Sat Aug 19, 19783:00 pmTottenham HotspurH1-141,22313O'Neill (12')
2Tue Aug 22, 19787:45 pmCoventry CityA0-028,62213
3Sat Aug 26, 19783:00 pmQueens Park RangersA0-017,97110
4Sat Sep 02, 19783:00 pmWest Bromwich AlbionH0-028,23910
5Sat Sep 09, 19783:00 pmArsenalH2-128,1246Robertson (52' pen), Bowyer (70')
6Sat Sep 16, 19783:00 pmManchester UnitedA1-153,0399Bowyer (6')
7Sat Sep 23, 19783:00 pmMiddlesbroughH2-226,2878Birtles (18'), O'Neill (44')
8Sat Sep 30, 19783:00 pmAston VillaA2-136,7356Woodcock (49'), Robertson (78' pen)
9Sat Oct 07, 19783:00 pmWolverhampton WanderersH3-129,3134Birtles (26', 60'), O'Neill (56')
10Sat Oct 14, 19783:00 pmBristol CityA3-126,9473Birtles (5'), Robertson (26' pen, 54' pen)
11Sat Oct 21, 19783:00 pmIpswich TownH1-028,9113O'Neill (12')
12Sat Oct 28, 19783:00 pmSouthamptonA0-038,0693
13Sat Nov 04, 19783:00 pmEvertonH0-035,5154
14Sat Nov 11, 19783:00 pmTottenham HotspurA3-150,5414Anderson (62'), Robertson (69'), Birtles (85')
15Sat Nov 18, 19783:00 pmQueens Park RangersH0-028,0324
16Sat Nov 25, 19783:00 pmBolton WanderersA1-025,6924Robertson (65')
17Sat Dec 09, 19783:00 pmLiverpoolA0-251,4695
18Sat Dec 16, 19783:00 pmBirmingham CityH1-025,2245Gemmill (70')
19Sat Dec 23, 19783:00 pmManchester CityA0-037,0125
20Tue Dec 26, 19787:45 pmDerby CountyH1-134,2565Woodcock (55')
21Sat Jan 13, 19793:00 pmArsenalA1-252,1586Robertson (37')
22Sat Feb 03, 19793:00 pmMiddlesbroughA3-121,3306Birtles (17', 62'), Robertson (48')
23Sat Feb 24, 19793:00 pmBristol CityH2-028,0086Needham (8'), Birtles (16')
24Sat Mar 03, 19793:00 pmIpswich TownA1-127,1886Birtles (24')
25Sat Mar 10, 19793:00 pmEvertonA1-137,7456Barrett (17')
26Wed Mar 14, 19797:45 pmNorwich CityH2-124,0466Woodcock (50', 58')
27Sat Mar 24, 19793:00 pmCoventry CityH3-024,5146Woodcock (25'), Birtles (64'), Needham (83')
28Wed Mar 28, 19797:45 pmChelseaH6-024,5144O'Neill (44', 64', 70'), Woodcock (46', 62'), Birtles (54')
29Sat Mar 31, 19793:00 pmBolton WanderersH1-129,0154Francis (89')Safe
30Wed Apr 04, 19797:45 pmAston VillaH4-027,0564Allan Evans (13' OG), Woodcock (49'), Francis (55'), O'Neill (71')Safe
31Sat Apr 07, 19793:00 pmChelseaA3-129,2133Francis (8'), O'Neill (42'), Bowyer (48')Safe
32Sat Apr 14, 19793:00 pmDerby CountyA2-130,1563Birtles (27'), O'Neill (34')Safe
33Mon Apr 16, 19797:45 pmLeeds UnitedH0-037,3974Safe
34Wed Apr 18, 19797:45 pmManchester UnitedH1-133,0743Francis (86')Safe
35Sat Apr 21, 19793:00 pmBirmingham CityA2-022,1982Birtles (5'), Robertson (48')Safe
36Sat Apr 28, 19793:00 pmLiverpoolH0-041,8983Safe
37Mon Apr 30, 19797:45 pmWolverhampton WanderersA0-123,6133Safe
38Wed May 02, 19797:45 pmSouthamptonH1-020,3883Francis (66')Safe
39Sat May 05, 19793:00 pmNorwich CityA1-116,6163Woodcock (55')Safe
40Wed May 09, 19797:45 pmManchester CityH3-121,1043Birtles (4'), Bowyer (60'), Woodcock (61')Safe
41Tue May 15, 19797:45 pmLeeds UnitedA2-133,5943Mills (5'), John Hawley (86' OG)Safe
42Fri May 18, 19797:45 pmWest Bromwich AlbionA1-028,2102Francis (81')Safe

FA Cup
DateTimeOpponentRoundReplayH/AScoreAttScorers
Wed Jan 10, 19797:45 pmAston Villa3H2-029,550Needham (58'), Woodcock (76')
Sat Jan 27, 19793:00 pmYork City4H3-125,228Lloyd (14'), McGovern (44'), O'Neill (72')
Mon Feb 26, 19797:45 pmArsenal5H0-135,906

League Cup
DateTimeOpponentRoundLegReplayH/AScoreAttScorers
Tue Aug 29, 19787:45 pmOldham Athletic2A0-013,793
Wed Sep 06, 19787:45 pmOldham Athletic21H4-218,669Needham (49'), Burns (57'), Woodcock (61'), Robertson (63' pen)
Wed Oct 04, 19787:45 pmOxford United3A5-014,287Birtles (24'), McGovern (30'), O'Neill (43'), Robertson (59'), Anderson (89')
Tue Nov 07, 19787:45 pmEverton4A3-248,503Lloyd (52'), Anderson (73'), Woodcock (75')
Wed Dec 13, 19787:45 pmBrighton and Hove AlbionQuarterH3-130,672McGovern (21'), Robertson (59'), Birtles (66')
Wed Jan 17, 19797:45 pmWatfordSemi1H3-132,438Birtles (13', 49'), Robertson (79')
Tue Jan 30, 19797:45 pmWatfordSemi2A0-027,656
Sat Mar 17, 19793:00 pmSouthamptonFinalN3-296,952Birtles (51', 79'), Woodcock (83')

European Cup
DateTimeOpponentCountryRoundLegH/AScoreAttScorers
Wed Sep 13, 19787:45 pmLiverpoolEngland11H2-038,316Birtles (26'), Barrett (87')
Wed Sep 27, 19787:45 pmLiverpoolEngland12A0-051,679
Wed Oct 18, 19787:45 pmAEK AthensGreece21A2-135,000McGovern (10'), Birtles (45')
Wed Nov 01, 19787:45 pmAEK AthensGreece22H5-138,069Needham (8'), Woodcock (36'), Anderson (40'), Birtles (66', 72')
Wed Mar 07, 19797:45 pmGrasshoppers ZurichSwitzerlandQuarter1H4-131,949Birtles (31'), Robertson (47' pen), Gemmill (87'), Lloyd (89')
Wed Mar 21, 19797:45 pmGrasshoppers ZurichSwitzerlandQuarter2A1-117,800O'Neill (38')
Wed Apr 11, 19797:45 pmCologneGermanySemi1H3-340,804Birtles (28'), Bowyer (53'), Robertson (63')
Wed Apr 25, 19797:45 pmCologneGermanySemi2A1-062,000Bowyer (65')
Wed May 30, 19798:15 pmMalmo FFSwedenFinalN1-065,000Francis (45')

Charity Shield
DateTimeOpponentRoundH/AScoreAttScorers
Sat Aug 12, 19783:00 pmIpswich TownFinalN5-068,000O'Neill (10', 75'), Withe (27'), Lloyd (46'), Robertson (87')

County Cup
DateTimeOpponentRoundH/AScoreAttScorers
Tue Sep 19, 19787:45 pmMansfield TownFinalH4-05,339Barrett (?), McGovern (?), Robertson (?), Burke (?)
Wed May 23, 19797:45 pmMansfield TownFinalH3-19,165Lloyd (52'), Francis (66'), Robertson (76')

Pre-Season Friendly
DateTimeOpponentCountryH/AScoreAttScorers
Tue Jul 25, 19787:45 pmRed Star BelgradeYugoslaviaA2-333,000Withe (42'), O'Neill (73')
Thu Jul 27, 19787:45 pmDynamo ZagrebYugoslaviaA1-135,000Needham (87')
Sun Jul 30, 19783:00 pmNK OsijekCroatiaA1-115,000Bowyer (65')
Wed Aug 02, 19787:45 pmAEK AthensGreeceA1-130,000Woodcock (14')
Mon Aug 14, 19787:45 pmCelta VigoSpainA1-113,000Withe (90')
Wed Aug 16, 19787:45 pmFC PortoPortugalA0-125,000

Friendly
DateTimeOpponentCountryH/AScoreAttScorers
Tue Dec 05, 19787:45 pmDynamo ZagrebYugoslaviaA2-05,338Birtles (20', 60')

Testimonial
DateTimeOpponentCountryH/AScoreAttScorers
Mon Sep 04, 19787:45 pmMansfield TownEnglandA6-07,051Needham (?), Robertson (?), O'Neill (?, ?), Woodcock (?, ?)
Mon Feb 19, 19797:45 pmExeter CityEnglandA5-09,479Woodcock (?, 43', 44'), Anderson (57'), Bowyer (73')
Wed Feb 21, 19797:45 pmWest Bromwich AlbionEnglandA0-03,500
Fri May 11, 19797:45 pmSouthamptonEnglandA4-114,693Birtles (?), Mills (?), Bowyer (?, ?)



TRANSFERS
Transfers before, during and immediately after the season.
In (1) - £1,000,000 Out (6) - £575,000
Date Player Details Fee Date Player Details Fee
Feb 17, 1979Trevor FrancisBought£1,000,000Chris WoodsSold£250,000
Frank ClarkRetired
Steve ElliottSold
Aug 19, 1978Peter WitheSold£175,000
Apr 11, 1979Archie GemmillSold
Sep 01, 1979Stephen BurkeSold£150,000


SQUAD
*Age = Player age on August 1stSeason Record (Competitive Games only)
Pos Num Player Country Age* P W D L Goals Yellows Reds Went Off Came On Unused Sub Notes
Goalkeepers
GK Peter Shilton England286336234
Defenders
D Bryn Gunn England19113
D Colin Barrett England251871121
D David Needham England2938211435144
D Frank Clark England34322183211
D Kenny Burns Scotland243721151121
D Larry Lloyd England295634184411
D Viv Anderson England22593421443
Midfielders
M Gary Mills England16651112
M Ian Bowyer England2742261426135
M John McGovern Scotland285530214411
M Martin O'Neill N. Ireland26422317215133
M Steve Elliott England196141
Forwards
F Archie Gemmill Scotland3142231632223
F Garry Birtles England225332174261
F John O'Hare Scotland311595147
F John Robertson Scotland25633623416
F Peter Withe England262111
F Tony Woodcock England225733213152
F Trevor Francis England2421137171


GOALSCORERS


Number of different scorers: 17
Goals (Pens)PlayerNum
Games
26Garry Birtles53
16 (6)John Robertson63
15Martin O'Neill42
15Tony Woodcock57
7Trevor Francis21
6Ian Bowyer42
5David Needham38
4John McGovern55
4Larry Lloyd56
4Viv Anderson59
2Archie Gemmill42
2Colin Barrett18
2Own Goals63
1Gary Mills6
1Kenny Burns37
1Peter Withe2


LEAGUE DOUBLES (FOR)
Home and away victories for the season
Game 1 Game 2
Opponent Date H/A Score Date H/A Score
Aston VillaSat Sep 30, 1978Away2-1Wed Apr 04, 1979Home4-0
Birmingham CitySat Dec 16, 1978Home1-0Sat Apr 21, 1979Away2-0
Bristol CitySat Oct 14, 1978Away3-1Sat Feb 24, 1979Home2-0
ChelseaWed Mar 28, 1979Home6-0Sat Apr 07, 1979Away3-1



LEAGUE DOUBLES (AGAINST)
Home and away losses for the season
Game 1 Game 2
Opponent Date H/A Score Date H/A Score