1977–78 Nottingham Forest F.C. season

The 1977–78 season was Nottingham Forest's first year back in the First Division since their relegation in 1972. They had finished third in the Second Division the previous season to earn promotion.

Nottingham Forest F.C.
1977–78 season
ChairmanS.M. Dryden, J.P.
ManagerBrian Clough
Football League Division One1st
FA CupSixth Round
League CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: John Robertson, Peter Withe (12)
All: Peter Withe, Tony Woodcock (19)
Highest home attendance47,218 vs. Liverpool (Division One, 26 December 1977)
Lowest home attendance18,224 vs West Ham United (League Cup, 30 August 1977)
Average home league attendance32,501

Summary

Forest's credentials at the start of the season did not appear to be especially impressive. Promotion from Division Two in 1976–77 had been achieved only by the skin of their teeth and the squad of players was a mixture of underachievers, journeymen and inexperienced youngsters. Many pundits tipped them to struggle. However, Brian Clough and Peter Taylor had already proved at Derby County that they were capable of blending a winning formula from apparently limited resources and they would now do so again. No player epitomised Forest's success more than Kenny Burns, who arrived for £150,000 in pre-season from Birmingham City where he had acquired something of a 'wild man' reputation. Having spent several years playing as a forward, Burns was converted back to the defensive role where he had begun his career and although it took a few matches for him to settle he ended the season by being voted Footballer of the Year.

Forest confounded the critics from the outset, registering three straight league wins to top the first table of the season and thrashing West Ham United 5–0 in the second round of the League Cup. Although their 100% record ended with a 3–0 defeat at Arsenal, Forest won the next three and ended September second in the table behind Manchester City on goal difference. A 4–0 win over Ipswich Town at the beginning of October (Peter Withe scoring all four) restored them to the top of the table and there they stayed for the rest of the season. After a slight hiccup in November saw them lose consecutive away matches at Chelsea and Leeds United they went unbeaten in their remaining 26 league fixtures and were confirmed as champions following a goalless draw at Coventry City in April.

Two further additions had been made to the playing squad in the early weeks of the season. Peter Shilton was signed from Stoke City for £325,000, then a record transfer fee for a goalkeeper, and Archie Gemmill joined from Derby in a deal that also saw Shilton's predecessor John Middleton move in the opposite direction. Middleton had conceded six goals in Forest's opening five league matches - Shilton would concede only 18 in the remaining 37. In December, Forest bought David Needham from Queens Park Rangers for £140,000 to add depth to the defence. Nevertheless, they used just 17 players during the season, one of whom (teenage reserve goalkeeper Chris Woods) only appeared in the League Cup as cover for the cup-tied Shilton.

Forest's League Cup run saw them score 23 goals in just six matches en route to facing Liverpool in the final at Wembley where Woods performed heroics to keep the reigning league and European champions at bay and earn Forest a goalless draw. Liverpool also had the better of the replay at Old Trafford but a controversial penalty converted by John Robertson was enough to give Forest their first piece of major silverware since the FA Cup in 1959. A clean sweep of domestic trophies looked a distinct possibility until defeat at West Bromwich Albion in the FA Cup quarter-final.

Players

Squad Stats

The statistics for the following players are for their time during 1977-78 season playing for Nottingham Forest. Any stats from a different club during 1977-78 are not included. Includes all competitive matches.

Position Nation Name Total Division One League Cup FA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK John Middleton 6 0 5 0 1 0 0 0
GK Peter Shilton 43 0 37 0 0 0 6 0
GK Chris Woods 7 0 0 0 7 0 0 0
DF Viv Anderson 50 4 37 3 8 1 5 0
DF Colin Barrett 41(2) 1 33(2) 1 5 0 3 0
DF Kenny Burns 55 4 41 4 8 0 6 0
DF Frank Clark 19(1) 1 12(1) 1 4 0 3 0
DF Bryn Gunn 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF Larry Lloyd 34 1 26 0 6 1 2 0
DF David Needham 22 4 16 4 0 0 6 0
MF Ian Bowyer 36(3) 10 25(3) 4 8 6 3 0
MF Steve Burke 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF Archie Gemmill 36(2) 3 32(2) 3 0 0 4 0
MF John McGovern 42 5 31 4 7 1 4 0
MF Martin O'Neill 52(2) 13 38(2) 8 8 3 6 2
MF John Robertson 56 18 42 12 8 3 6 3
FW Garry Birtles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW Steve Elliott 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW John O'Hare 11(2) 1 10 0 1(1) 1 0(1) 0
FW Peter Withe 54 19 40 12 8 5 6 2
FW Tony Woodcock 50 19 36 11 8 4 6 4
Own goals 2 2

Transfers In
Pos Player From Fee Date
DF Kenny Burns Birmingham City£150,000July 1977
GK Peter Shilton Stoke City£325,000September 1977
MF Archie Gemmill Derby County£25,000 & P/ESeptember 1977
DF David Needham Queens Park Rangers£140,000December 1977

Transfers Out
Pos Player To Fee Date
DF Sammy Chapman Notts County£7,500July 1977
FW Barry Butlin Peterborough United£20,000September 1977
MF Sean Haslegrave Preston North End£25,000September 1977
GK John Middleton Derby CountyP/ESeptember 1977
MF Terry Curran Derby County£50,000November 1977

Club Kit

Supplier: Adidas

Home
Away

Source: Wikipedia Nottingham Forest Article

Table
Main article: 1977–78 Football League § First Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Nottingham Forest (C) 42 25 14 3 69 24 +45 64 League Champions, qualified for European Cup 1978–79 First round[lower-alpha 1]
2 Liverpool 42 24 9 9 65 34 +31 57 European Cup 1978–79 First round[lower-alpha 2]
3 Everton 42 22 11 9 76 45 +31 55 UEFA Cup 1978–79 First round
4 Manchester City 42 20 12 10 74 51 +23 52
5 Arsenal 42 21 10 11 60 37 +23 52
Source:
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. Nottingham Forest also won the League cup this year.
  2. Liverpool won the European Cup, now for the second year running, and thus qualified for the following season's competition.

Matches

A list of Nottingham Forest's matches in the 1977-78 season.[1][2][3]

Competitive

Division One
20 August 1977 1Everton1–3Nottingham ForestLiverpool
Pearson  44' Withe  20'
Robertson  38'
O'Neill  77'		 Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 38,001
23 August 1977 2Nottingham Forest1–0Bristol CityNottingham
Withe  82' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 21,743
27 August 1977 3Nottingham Forest3–0Derby CountyNottingham
Withe  31', 67'
Robertson  78'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 28,807
3 September 1977 4Arsenal3–0Nottingham ForestLondon
Stapleton  3', 60'
Brady  69' (pen.)		 Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 40,810
10 September 1977 5Wolverhampton Wanderers2–3Nottingham ForestWolverhampton
Bell  73'
Daley  82' (pen.)		 Withe  18'
Bowyer  64'
Woodcock  72'		 Stadium: Molineux
Attendance: 24,662
17 September 1977 6Nottingham Forest2–0Aston VillaNottingham
Woodcock  5'
Robertson  89'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 31,016
24 September 1977 7Leicester City0–3Nottingham ForestLeicester
O'Neill  18'
Woodcock  63'
Robertson  89' (pen.)		 Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,447
1 October 1977 8Nottingham Forest1–1Norwich CityNottingham
Burns  73' Peters  78' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 23,741
4 October 1977 9Nottingham Forest4–0Ipswich TownNottingham
Withe  43', 58', 86', 89' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 26,845
8 October 1977 10West Ham United0–0Nottingham ForestLondon
Stadium: Upton Park
Attendance: 26,128
15 October 1977 11Nottingham Forest2–1Manchester CityNottingham
Woodcock  34'
Withe  86'		 Kidd  21' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 35,572
22 October 1977 12Queens Park Rangers0–2Nottingham ForestLondon
Bowyer  59'
Burns  82'		 Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 24,248
29 October 1977 13Nottingham Forest4–0MiddlesbroughNottingham
Anderson  31', 44'
Bowyer  40'
McGovern  55'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 27,373
5 November 1977 14Chelsea1–0Nottingham ForestLondon
Aylott  55' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 36,116
12 November 1977 15Nottingham Forest2–1Manchester UnitedNottingham
Burns  49'
Gemmill  74'		 Pearson  5' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 30,183
19 November 1977 16Leeds United1–0Nottingham ForestLeeds
Hankin  36' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 42,925
26 November 1977 17Nottingham Forest0–0West Bromwich AlbionNottingham
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 31,908
3 December 1977 18Birmingham City0–2Nottingham ForestBirmingham
O'Neill  10'
Woodcock  52'		 Stadium: St. Andrew's
Attendance: 29,925
10 December 1977 19Nottingham Forest2–1Coventry CityNottingham
O'Neill  40'
McGovern  44'		 Wallace  41' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 29,823
17 December 1977 20Manchester United0–4Nottingham ForestManchester
B. Greenhoff  23' (o.g.)
Woodcock  28', 89'
Robertson  53'		 Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 54,375
26 December 1977 21Nottingham Forest1–1LiverpoolNottingham
Gemmill  21' Heighway  39' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 47,218
28 December 1977 22Newcastle United0–2Nottingham ForestNewcastle-upon-Tyne
Needham  16'
McGovern  71'		 Stadium: St. James' Park
Attendance: 54,375
31 December 1977 23Bristol City1–3Nottingham ForestBristol
Mabbutt  82' Needham  11'
Woodcock  21'
O'Neill  58'		 Stadium: Ashton Gate
Attendance: 31,990
2 January 1978 24Nottingham Forest1–1EvertonNottingham
Robertson  25' (pen.) Ross  85' (pen.) Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 44,030
14 January 1978 25Derby County0–0Nottingham ForestDerby
Stadium: Baseball Ground
Attendance: 36,500
21 January 1978 26Nottingham Forest2–0ArsenalNottingham
Needham  32'
Gemmill  64'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 35,743
4 February 1978 27Nottingham Forest2–0Wolverhampton WanderersNottingham
Woodcock  40'
McGovern  53'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 28,803
25 February 1978 28Norwich City3–3Nottingham ForestNorwich
Ryan  44' (pen.)
Suggett  68'
Robson  70'		 Withe  16'
Barrett  22'
O'Neill  24'		 Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 26,004
4 March 1978 29Nottingham Forest2–0West Ham UnitedNottingham
Needham  79'
Robertson  81' (pen.)		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 33,924
14 March 1978 30Nottingham Forest1–0Leicester CityNottingham
Robertson  13' (pen.) Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 32,355
25 March 1978 31Nottingham Forest2–0Newcastle UnitedNottingham
Robertson  32' (pen.)
Anderson  67'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 35,552
29 March 1978 32Middlesbrough2–2Nottingham ForestMiddlesbrough
Mills  13'
Cummins  22'		 Woodcock  20'
O'Neill  54'		 Stadium: Ayresome Park
Attendance: 25,445
1 April 1978 33Nottingham Forest3–1ChelseaNottingham
Burns  68'
O'Neill  82'
Robertson  87'		 Langley  8' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 31,262
5 April 1978 34Aston Villa0–1Nottingham ForestBirmingham
Woodcock  86' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 44,315
11 April 1978 35Manchester City0–0Nottingham ForestManchester
Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 43,428
15 April 1978 36Nottingham Forest1–1Leeds UnitedNottingham
Withe  65' F. Gray  41' (pen.) Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 38,662
18 April 1978 37Nottingham Forest1–0Queens Park RangersNottingham
Robertson  29' (pen.) Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 30,339
22 April 1978 38Coventry City0–0Nottingham ForestCoventry
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 36,881
25 April 1978 39Ipswich Town0–2Nottingham ForestIpswich
Mariner  73' (o.g.)
Clark  78'		 Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 30,062
29 April 1978 40Nottingham Forest0–0Birmingham CityNottingham
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 37,625
2 May 1978 41West Bromwich Albion2–2Nottingham ForestWest Bromwich
T. Brown  28'
Hughes  35'		 Bowyer  16'
Robertson  36' (pen.)		 Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 23,612
4 May 1978 42Liverpool0–0Nottingham ForestLiverpool
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 50,021

League Cup
30 August 1977 R2Nottingham Forest5–0West Ham UnitedNottingham
O'Neill  9'
Bowyer  25', 85'
Woodcock  65'
Withe  78'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 18,224
25 October 1977 R3Nottingham Forest4–0Notts CountyNottingham
Robertson  16' (pen.)
Woodcock  46'
Bowyer  65', 84'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 26,931
29 November 1977 R4Nottingham Forest4–2Aston VillaNottingham
Lloyd  7'
Anderson  13'
Withe  25'
Woodcock  52'		 Little  79'
Carrodus  85'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 29,333
17 January 1978 R5Bury0–3Nottingham ForestBury
Bowyer  8'
O'Neill  55'
Robertson  78'		 Stadium: Gigg Lane
Attendance: 21,500
8 February 1978 Semi-Final, 1st LegLeeds United1–3Nottingham ForestLeeds
E. Gray  28' Withe  19', 21'
O'Hare  75'		 Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 43,222
22 February 1978 Semi-Final, 2nd LegNottingham Forest4–2
(7–3 agg.)		Leeds UnitedNottingham
Withe  18'
Bowyer  49'
O'Neill  72'
Woodcock  75'		 F. Gray  13'
Graham  19'		 Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 38,131
18 March 1978 FinalNottingham Forest0–0 (a.e.t.)LiverpoolLondon
Stadium: Wembley
Attendance: 100,000
22 March 1978 Final ReplayNottingham Forest1–0LiverpoolManchester
Robertson  52' (pen.) Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 54,375

FA Cup
7 January 1978 R3Nottingham Forest4–1Swindon TownNottingham
Woodcock  37', 77'
Withe  55'
Robertson  67'		 Moss  84' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 28,953
31 January 1978 R4Nottingham Forest2–1Manchester CityNottingham
Robertson  3'
Withe  59'		 Kidd  61' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 38,509
18 February 1978 R5Queens Park Rangers1–1Nottingham ForestLondon
Busby  18' O'Neill  89' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 26,803
27 February 1978 R5 ReplayNottingham Forest1–1 (a.e.t.)Queens Park RangersNottingham
Robertson  19' (pen.) Shanks  43' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 40,097
2 March 1978 R5 2nd ReplayNottingham Forest3–1Queens Park RangersNottingham
O'Neill  2'
Woodcock  65', 79'		 Bowles  64' Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 33,960
11 March 1978 R6West Bromwich Albion2–0Nottingham ForestWest Bromwich
Martin  15'
Regis  47'		 Stadium: The Hawthorns
Attendance: 36,506

Pre-season and Friendlies
1 August 1977 FriendlySt Gallen 2–3Nottingham ForestSt Gallen, Switzerland
Bowyer  51'
Withe  7'  37'		 Stadium: Espenmoos
Attendance: 2,300
3 August 1977 FriendlyWacker Innsbruck 0–2Nottingham ForestInnsbruck, Austria
Woodcock
Robertson 		Attendance: 7,300
5 August 1977 FriendlySV Plattling 1–5Nottingham ForestPlattling, Germany
O'Neill
Elliott
Birtles 		Stadium: Rennbahnstadion
Attendance: 1,500
6 August 1977 FriendlyVfR Neuburg 1–5Nottingham ForestNeuberg, Germany
Woodcock
Barrett
O'Neill
Bowyer 		Attendance: 1,000
9 August 1977 FriendlySC Bregenz 0–3Nottingham ForestBregenz, Austria
Elliott
Woodcock 		Stadium: Casino Stadium
Attendance: 2,000
13 August 1977 Centenary MatchSkegness Town0–4Nottingham ForestSkegness
Burns
Bowyer
Elliott
Robertson  (pen.)'		 Stadium: Burgh Road
Attendance: 2,500
15 August 1977 County Cup FinalNottingham Forest1–1
(3–2 p)		Notts CountyNottingham
Bowyer  49' Smith Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 11,569
Referee: G. Flint
12 September 1977 Liam O'Kane TestimonialNottingham Forest XI0–0Leicester City XINottingham
Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 5,190
Referee: B. Martin
17 October 1977 John Harris TestimonialSheffield United XI1–6Nottingham ForestSheffield
Burns
Withe
Woodcock
Robertson 		Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 6,780
Referee: K. Styles
14 November 1977 Alan Goad TestimonialHartlepool United2–2Nottingham ForestHartlepool
Burns
Woodcock 		Stadium: Victoria Park
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: P. Partridge
22 November 1977 FriendlyMaccabi Tel Aviv 1–6Nottingham ForestTel Aviv, Israel
Anderson
McGovern
Lloyd
Woodcock
O'Hare 		Stadium: Bloomfield Stadium
Attendance: 19,000
3 April 1978 Henry Newton TestimonialDerby County1–2Nottingham ForestDerby
Lloyd
Bowyer 		Stadium: The Baseball Ground
Attendance: 9,070
Referee: M. Taylor
12 April 1978 Les Bradd TestimonialNotts County0–1Nottingham ForestNottingham
O'Hare Stadium: Meadow Lane
Attendance: 10,129
Referee: B. Martin
1 May 1978 Brian Clough & Peter Taylor TestimonialNottingham Forest2–1Derby CountyNottingham
McGovern
Withe 		Stadium: City Ground
Attendance: 18,272
Referee: C. White

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. Smales, Ken (1991). Forest - The First 125 Years. Nottingham: Temple Printing. ISBN 978-1870010092.
  3. Attaway, Pete (2010). Nottingham Forest: Brian Clough and His Legacy - A Complete Record 1975 - 2010. Southend-on-Sea: Desert Island Book. ISBN 978-1905328833.
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