Manchester United 1971-1972
48
Points · Division One 1971-1972
8th in the Division One after 42 matches
Manchester United finished 8th in the Division One with 48 points from 42 games in 1971-1972, scoring 88 goals in all competitions. They won 24, drew 16 and lost 15 of their 55 games in all competitions under Frank O'Farrell.
Stats
24
Won
16
Drawn
15
Lost
Form
W
L
D
W
L
Season at a Glance
88
Goals Scored
71
Conceded
55
Played
How this season compares
of 123 seasons
1.60
Points per game
76th-best of 123 full seasons
1.60
Goals per game
85th-best of 123 full seasons
1.29
Conceded per game
76th-best of 123 full seasons
44%
Win rate
83rd-best of 123 full seasons
In the Division One, United ranked 3rd of 22 for goals scored (+0.39 per game vs the league average) and 18th for fewest conceded.
Cup Runs
Top Scorers
1
George Best
53 apps
26
— ast
2
Denis Law
42 apps
13
— ast
3
Bobby Charlton
53 apps
12
— ast
4
Brian Kidd
43 apps
10
— ast
5
Alan Gowling
50 apps
9
— ast
6
Ian Storey-Moore
11 apps
5
— ast
7
Sammy McIlroy
21 apps
4
— ast
8
Willie Morgan
48 apps
3
— ast
9
David Sadler
49 apps
2
— ast
10
John Aston Jnr
14 apps
1
— ast
All Results
55 matches
August 1971 3W · 2D · 1L
D
Derby County A
D1 Law, Gowling
2–2
14 Aug 35,886 0-1-0 D1
W
Chelsea A
D1 Kidd, Morgan (pen), Charlton
3–2
18 Aug 54,763 1-1-0 W1
W
Arsenal H
D1 Kidd, Charlton, Gowling
3–1
20 Aug 27,649 2-1-0 W2
W
West Bromwich Albion H
D1 Best 2, Gowling
3–1
23 Aug 23,146 3-1-0 W3
D
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
D1 Best
1–1
28 Aug 46,471 3-2-0 D1
L
Everton A
D1
0–1
31 Aug 52,151 3-2-1 L1
September 1971 4W · 1D · 0L
W
Ipswich Town H
D1 Best
1–0
4 Sep 45,656 4-2-1 W1
W
Ipswich Town A
LC Morgan (pen), Best 2
3–1
7 Sep 28,143 5-2-1 W2
W
Crystal Palace A
D1 Kidd, Law 2
3–1
11 Sep 44,020 6-2-1 W3
W
West Ham United H
D1 Best 3, Charlton
4–2
18 Sep 53,339 7-2-1 W4
D
Liverpool A
D1 Law, Charlton
2–2
25 Sep 55,634 7-3-1 D1
October 1971 5W · 2D · 1L
W
Sheffield United H
D1 Best, Gowling
2–0
2 Oct 51,735 8-3-1 W1
D
Burnley H
LC Charlton
1–1
6 Oct 44,600 8-4-1 D1
W
Huddersfield Town A
D1 Best, Law, Charlton
3–0
9 Oct 33,458 9-4-1 W1
W
Derby County H
D1 Best
1–0
16 Oct 53,247 10-4-1 W2
W
Burnley A
LC Replay Charlton
1–0
18 Oct 27,511 11-4-1 W3
W
Newcastle United A
D1 Best
1–0
23 Oct 52,411 12-4-1 W4
D
Stoke City H
LC Gowling
1–1
27 Oct 47,062 12-5-1 D1
L
Leeds United H
D1
0–1
30 Oct 53,960 12-5-2 L1
November 1971 3W · 2D · 1L
D
Manchester City A
D1 McIlroy, Kidd, Gowling
3–3
6 Nov 63,326 12-6-2 D1
D
Stoke City A
LC Replay
0–0
8 Nov 40,805 12-7-2 D2
W
Tottenham Hotspur H
D1 McIlroy, Law 2
3–1
13 Nov 54,058 13-7-2 W1
L
Stoke City A
LC 2nd Replay Best
1–2
15 Nov 42,249 13-7-3 L1
W
Leicester City H
D1 Kidd, Law 2
3–2
20 Nov 48,757 14-7-3 W1
W
Southampton A
D1 Best 3, McIlroy, Kidd
5–2
27 Nov 30,323 15-7-3 W2
December 1971 1W · 3D · 0L
W
Nottingham Forest H
D1 Law, Kidd 2
3–2
4 Dec 45,411 16-7-3 W3
D
Stoke City A
D1 Law
1–1
11 Dec 33,857 16-8-3 D1
D
Ipswich Town A
D1
0–0
18 Dec 29,229 16-9-3 D2
D
Coventry City H
D1 Law, James
2–2
27 Dec 52,117 16-10-3 D3
January 1972 1W · 1D · 4L
L
West Ham United A
D1
0–3
1 Jan 41,892 16-10-4 L1
L
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
D1 McIlroy
1–3
8 Jan 46,781 16-10-5 L2
D
Southampton A
FAC Charlton
1–1
15 Jan 30,190 16-11-5 D1
W
Southampton H
FAC Replay Best 2, Sadler, Jnr
4–1
19 Jan 50,960 17-11-5 W1
L
Chelsea H
D1
0–1
22 Jan 55,927 17-11-6 L1
L
West Bromwich Albion A
D1 Kidd
1–2
29 Jan 47,012 17-11-7 L2
February 1972 2W · 1D · 2L
W
Preston North End A
FAC Gowling 2
2–0
5 Feb 27,025 18-11-7 W1
L
Newcastle United H
D1
0–2
12 Feb 44,983 18-11-8 L1
L
Leeds United A
D1 Burns
1–5
19 Feb 45,399 18-11-9 L2
D
Middlesbrough H
FAC
0–0
26 Feb 53,850 18-12-9 D1
W
Middlesbrough A
FAC Replay Morgan (pen), Best, Charlton
3–0
29 Feb 39,683 19-12-9 W1
March 1972 2W · 2D · 2L
L
Tottenham Hotspur A
D1
0–2
4 Mar 54,814 19-12-10 L1
D
Everton H
D1
0–0
8 Mar 38,415 19-13-10 D1
W
Huddersfield Town H
D1 Best, Storey-Moore
2–0
11 Mar 53,581 20-13-10 W1
D
Stoke City H
FAC Best
1–1
18 Mar 54,226 20-14-10 D1
L
Stoke City A
FAC Replay Best
1–2
22 Mar 49,192 20-14-11 L1
W
Crystal Palace H
D1 Gowling, Charlton, Storey-Moore, Law
4–0
25 Mar 41,550 21-14-11 W1
April 1972 3W · 2D · 4L
W
Coventry City A
D1 Best, Storey-Moore, Charlton
3–2
1 Apr 37,901 22-14-11 W2
L
Liverpool H
D1
0–3
3 Apr 53,826 22-14-12 L1
D
Sheffield United A
D1 Sadler
1–1
4 Apr 45,045 22-15-12 D1
L
Leicester City A
D1
0–2
8 Apr 35,970 22-15-13 L1
L
Manchester City H
D1 Buchan
1–3
12 Apr 56,362 22-15-14 L2
W
Southampton H
D1 Best (pen), Storey-Moore, Kidd
3–2
15 Apr 38,437 23-15-14 W1
D
Nottingham Forest A
D1
0–0
22 Apr 35,063 23-16-14 D1
L
Arsenal A
D1
0–3
25 Apr 49,125 23-16-15 L1
W
Stoke City H
D1 Charlton, Storey-Moore, Best (pen)
3–0
29 Apr 34,959 24-16-15 W1
Home & Away
| Venue | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win% | CS | Avg Att |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 26 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 46 | 30 | +16 | 54% | 8 | 47,100 |
| Away | 29 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 42 | 41 | +1 | 34% | 8 | 41,674 |
Home crowds averaged 47,100, away 41,674. Their biggest crowd was 63,326 v Manchester City, the smallest 23,146 v West Bromwich Albion.
Season Records
4–0
Biggest win
v Crystal Palace · 25 Mar 1972
1–5
Heaviest defeat
v Leeds United · 19 Feb 1972
4
Longest win streak
12
Longest unbeaten run
6
Longest winless run
16
Clean sheets
14
Failed to score
1–1
Most common score
7 times
United completed the league double over Crystal Palace, Huddersfield Town and Southampton. They lost both league meetings with Leeds United.
When Goals Were Scored
Scored Conceded
1-15
16-30
31-45
46-60
61-75
76+
United's average goal came in the 52', the average one conceded in the 55'. They scored 16 from the 81st minute on and conceded 11. Penalties: 5 scored, 3 conceded.
| Min | Scorer | Opponent | Comp | Before | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15' | Denis Law | @ Derby County | D1 | 0–0 | 14 Aug 1971 |
| 25' | Alan Gowling | @ Derby County | D1 | 1–0 | 14 Aug 1971 |
| 50' | Kevin Hector | @ Derby County | D1 | 2–0 | 14 Aug 1971 |
| 60' | Frank Wignall | @ Derby County | D1 | 2–1 | 14 Aug 1971 |
| 39' | Tommy Baldwin | @ Chelsea | D1 | 0–0 | 18 Aug 1971 |
| 66' | Brian Kidd | @ Chelsea | D1 | 0–1 | 18 Aug 1971 |
| 69' | Willie Morgan pen | @ Chelsea | D1 | 1–1 | 18 Aug 1971 |
| 75' | Bobby Charlton | @ Chelsea | D1 | 2–1 | 18 Aug 1971 |
| 87' | Peter Osgood | @ Chelsea | D1 | 3–1 | 18 Aug 1971 |
| 4' | Frank McLintock | vs Arsenal | D1 | 0–0 | 20 Aug 1971 |
| 35' | Brian Kidd | vs Arsenal | D1 | 0–1 | 20 Aug 1971 |
| 78' | Bobby Charlton | vs Arsenal | D1 | 1–1 | 20 Aug 1971 |
| 89' | Alan Gowling | vs Arsenal | D1 | 2–1 | 20 Aug 1971 |
| 10' | George Best | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 0–0 | 23 Aug 1971 |
| 37' | Alan Gowling | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 1–0 | 23 Aug 1971 |
| 57' | George Best | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 2–0 | 23 Aug 1971 |
| 89' | Tony Brown | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 3–0 | 23 Aug 1971 |
| 16' | George Best | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–0 | 28 Aug 1971 |
| 78' | Bernard Shaw | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 1–0 | 28 Aug 1971 |
| 37' | David Johnson | @ Everton | D1 | 0–0 | 31 Aug 1971 |
| 43' | George Best | vs Ipswich Town | D1 | 0–0 | 4 Sep 1971 |
| 8' | Jimmy Robertson | @ Ipswich Town | LC | 0–0 | 7 Sep 1971 |
| 29' | Willie Morgan pen | @ Ipswich Town | LC | 0–1 | 7 Sep 1971 |
| 37' | George Best | @ Ipswich Town | LC | 1–1 | 7 Sep 1971 |
| 43' | George Best | @ Ipswich Town | LC | 2–1 | 7 Sep 1971 |
| 31' | Brian Kidd | @ Crystal Palace | D1 | 0–0 | 11 Sep 1971 |
| 34' | Mel Blyth | @ Crystal Palace | D1 | 1–0 | 11 Sep 1971 |
| 79' | Denis Law | @ Crystal Palace | D1 | 1–1 | 11 Sep 1971 |
| 90' | Denis Law | @ Crystal Palace | D1 | 2–1 | 11 Sep 1971 |
| 21' | George Best | vs West Ham United | D1 | 0–0 | 18 Sep 1971 |
| 24' | Clyde Best | vs West Ham United | D1 | 1–0 | 18 Sep 1971 |
| 43' | George Best | vs West Ham United | D1 | 1–1 | 18 Sep 1971 |
| 58' | Trevor Brooking | vs West Ham United | D1 | 2–1 | 18 Sep 1971 |
| 62' | Bobby Charlton | vs West Ham United | D1 | 2–2 | 18 Sep 1971 |
| 80' | George Best | vs West Ham United | D1 | 3–2 | 18 Sep 1971 |
| 7' | Bobby Graham | @ Liverpool | D1 | 0–0 | 25 Sep 1971 |
| 24' | Brian Hall | @ Liverpool | D1 | 0–1 | 25 Sep 1971 |
| 53' | Denis Law | @ Liverpool | D1 | 0–2 | 25 Sep 1971 |
| 72' | Bobby Charlton | @ Liverpool | D1 | 1–2 | 25 Sep 1971 |
| 83' | George Best | vs Sheffield United | D1 | 0–0 | 2 Oct 1971 |
| 86' | Alan Gowling | vs Sheffield United | D1 | 1–0 | 2 Oct 1971 |
| 35' | Bobby Charlton | vs Burnley | LC | 0–0 | 6 Oct 1971 |
| 60' | Leighton James | vs Burnley | LC | 1–0 | 6 Oct 1971 |
| 65' | George Best | @ Huddersfield Town | D1 | 0–0 | 9 Oct 1971 |
| 73' | Denis Law | @ Huddersfield Town | D1 | 1–0 | 9 Oct 1971 |
| 82' | Bobby Charlton | @ Huddersfield Town | D1 | 2–0 | 9 Oct 1971 |
| 52' | George Best | vs Derby County | D1 | 0–0 | 16 Oct 1971 |
| 80' | Bobby Charlton | @ Burnley | LC | 0–0 | 18 Oct 1971 |
| 46' | George Best | @ Newcastle United | D1 | 0–0 | 23 Oct 1971 |
| 72' | John Ritchie | vs Stoke City | LC | 0–0 | 27 Oct 1971 |
| 85' | Alan Gowling | vs Stoke City | LC | 0–1 | 27 Oct 1971 |
| 4' | Peter Lorimer | vs Leeds United | D1 | 0–0 | 30 Oct 1971 |
| 39' | Sammy McIlroy | @ Manchester City | D1 | 0–0 | 6 Nov 1971 |
| 46' | Brian Kidd | @ Manchester City | D1 | 1–0 | 6 Nov 1971 |
| 57' | Francis Lee pen | @ Manchester City | D1 | 2–0 | 6 Nov 1971 |
| 64' | Alan Gowling | @ Manchester City | D1 | 2–1 | 6 Nov 1971 |
| 64' | Colin Bell | @ Manchester City | D1 | 3–1 | 6 Nov 1971 |
| 88' | Mike Summerbee | @ Manchester City | D1 | 3–2 | 6 Nov 1971 |
| 40' | Sammy McIlroy | vs Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 0–0 | 13 Nov 1971 |
| 54' | Denis Law | vs Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 1–0 | 13 Nov 1971 |
| 82' | Denis Law | vs Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 2–0 | 13 Nov 1971 |
| 84' | Martin Chivers | vs Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 3–0 | 13 Nov 1971 |
| 37' | George Best | @ Stoke City | LC | 0–0 | 15 Nov 1971 |
| 72' | Peter Dobing | @ Stoke City | LC | 1–0 | 15 Nov 1971 |
| 88' | John Ritchie | @ Stoke City | LC | 1–1 | 15 Nov 1971 |
| 2' | Brian Kidd | vs Leicester City | D1 | 0–0 | 20 Nov 1971 |
| 32' | Denis Law | vs Leicester City | D1 | 1–0 | 20 Nov 1971 |
| 41' | Alan Birchenall | vs Leicester City | D1 | 2–0 | 20 Nov 1971 |
| 46' | Denis Law | vs Leicester City | D1 | 2–1 | 20 Nov 1971 |
| 78' | Len Glover | vs Leicester City | D1 | 3–1 | 20 Nov 1971 |
| 7' | George Best | @ Southampton | D1 | 0–0 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 43' | Sammy McIlroy | @ Southampton | D1 | 1–0 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 47' | George Best | @ Southampton | D1 | 2–0 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 51' | Jimmy Gabriel | @ Southampton | D1 | 3–0 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 58' | George Best | @ Southampton | D1 | 3–1 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 59' | Ron "Tudor" Davies | @ Southampton | D1 | 4–1 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 84' | Brian Kidd | @ Southampton | D1 | 4–2 | 27 Nov 1971 |
| 17' | Denis Law | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 0–0 | 4 Dec 1971 |
| 37' | Brian Kidd | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 1–0 | 4 Dec 1971 |
| 41' | Peter Cormack | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 2–0 | 4 Dec 1971 |
| 46' | Brian Kidd | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 2–1 | 4 Dec 1971 |
| 69' | Martin O'Neill | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 3–1 | 4 Dec 1971 |
| 27' | John Mahoney | @ Stoke City | D1 | 0–0 | 11 Dec 1971 |
| 28' | Denis Law | @ Stoke City | D1 | 0–1 | 11 Dec 1971 |
| 35' | Quintin Young | vs Coventry City | D1 | 0–0 | 27 Dec 1971 |
| 66' | Willie Carr | vs Coventry City | D1 | 0–1 | 27 Dec 1971 |
| 70' | Denis Law | vs Coventry City | D1 | 0–2 | 27 Dec 1971 |
| 78' | Steve James | vs Coventry City | D1 | 1–2 | 27 Dec 1971 |
| 40' | Bryan "Pop" Robson | @ West Ham United | D1 | 0–0 | 1 Jan 1972 |
| 55' | Clyde Best | @ West Ham United | D1 | 0–1 | 1 Jan 1972 |
| 83' | Geoff Hurst pen | @ West Ham United | D1 | 0–2 | 1 Jan 1972 |
| 21' | Derek Dougan | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–0 | 8 Jan 1972 |
| 30' | John Richards | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–1 | 8 Jan 1972 |
| 75' | Jim McCalliog pen | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–2 | 8 Jan 1972 |
| 86' | Sammy McIlroy | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–3 | 8 Jan 1972 |
| 36' | Bobby Charlton | @ Southampton | FAC | 0–0 | 15 Jan 1972 |
| 55' | Jimmy Gabriel | @ Southampton | FAC | 1–0 | 15 Jan 1972 |
| 22' | Mick Channon | vs Southampton | FAC | 0–0 | 19 Jan 1972 |
| 68' | George Best | vs Southampton | FAC | 0–1 | 19 Jan 1972 |
| 94' | David Sadler | vs Southampton | FAC | 1–1 | 19 Jan 1972 |
| 115' | George Best | vs Southampton | FAC | 2–1 | 19 Jan 1972 |
| 118' | John Aston Jnr | vs Southampton | FAC | 3–1 | 19 Jan 1972 |
| 48' | Peter Osgood | vs Chelsea | D1 | 0–0 | 22 Jan 1972 |
| 24' | Brian Kidd | @ West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 0–0 | 29 Jan 1972 |
| 60' | Bobby Gould | @ West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 1–0 | 29 Jan 1972 |
| 78' | Jeff Astle | @ West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 1–1 | 29 Jan 1972 |
| 85' | Alan Gowling | @ Preston North End | FAC | 0–0 | 5 Feb 1972 |
| 88' | Alan Gowling | @ Preston North End | FAC | 1–0 | 5 Feb 1972 |
| 37' | John Tudor | vs Newcastle United | D1 | 0–0 | 12 Feb 1972 |
| 71' | Stewart Barrowclough | vs Newcastle United | D1 | 0–1 | 12 Feb 1972 |
| 47' | Mick Jones | @ Leeds United | D1 | 0–0 | 19 Feb 1972 |
| 54' | Allan Clarke | @ Leeds United | D1 | 0–1 | 19 Feb 1972 |
| 57' | Francis Burns | @ Leeds United | D1 | 0–2 | 19 Feb 1972 |
| 58' | Mick Jones | @ Leeds United | D1 | 1–2 | 19 Feb 1972 |
| 62' | Mick Jones | @ Leeds United | D1 | 1–3 | 19 Feb 1972 |
| 74' | Peter Lorimer | @ Leeds United | D1 | 1–4 | 19 Feb 1972 |
| 12' | Willie Morgan pen | @ Middlesbrough | FAC | 0–0 | 29 Feb 1972 |
| 50' | George Best | @ Middlesbrough | FAC | 1–0 | 29 Feb 1972 |
| 68' | Bobby Charlton | @ Middlesbrough | FAC | 2–0 | 29 Feb 1972 |
| 69' | Steve Perryman | @ Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 0–0 | 4 Mar 1972 |
| 70' | Martin Chivers | @ Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 0–1 | 4 Mar 1972 |
| 35' | George Best | vs Huddersfield Town | D1 | 0–0 | 11 Mar 1972 |
| 62' | Ian Storey-Moore | vs Huddersfield Town | D1 | 1–0 | 11 Mar 1972 |
| 61' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Stoke City | FAC | 0–0 | 18 Mar 1972 |
| 85' | George Best | vs Stoke City | FAC | 0–1 | 18 Mar 1972 |
| 70' | George Best | @ Stoke City | FAC | 0–0 | 22 Mar 1972 |
| 72' | Terence Smith | @ Stoke City | FAC | 1–0 | 22 Mar 1972 |
| 102' | Terry Conroy | @ Stoke City | FAC | 1–1 | 22 Mar 1972 |
| 5' | Alan Gowling | vs Crystal Palace | D1 | 0–0 | 25 Mar 1972 |
| 24' | Bobby Charlton | vs Crystal Palace | D1 | 1–0 | 25 Mar 1972 |
| 62' | Ian Storey-Moore | vs Crystal Palace | D1 | 2–0 | 25 Mar 1972 |
| 81' | Denis Law | vs Crystal Palace | D1 | 3–0 | 25 Mar 1972 |
| 13' | George Best | @ Coventry City | D1 | 0–0 | 1 Apr 1972 |
| 20' | Ian Storey-Moore | @ Coventry City | D1 | 1–0 | 1 Apr 1972 |
| 45' | Bobby Charlton | @ Coventry City | D1 | 2–0 | 1 Apr 1972 |
| 45' | Roy Barry | @ Coventry City | D1 | 3–0 | 1 Apr 1972 |
| 48' | Bobby Graham | @ Coventry City | D1 | 3–1 | 1 Apr 1972 |
| 60' | Chris Lawler | vs Liverpool | D1 | 0–0 | 3 Apr 1972 |
| 62' | John Toshack | vs Liverpool | D1 | 0–1 | 3 Apr 1972 |
| 84' | Emlyn Hughes | vs Liverpool | D1 | 0–2 | 3 Apr 1972 |
| 40' | Geoff Salmons | @ Sheffield United | D1 | 0–0 | 4 Apr 1972 |
| 72' | David Sadler | @ Sheffield United | D1 | 0–1 | 4 Apr 1972 |
| 12' | Keith Weller | @ Leicester City | D1 | 0–0 | 8 Apr 1972 |
| 89' | Alan Birchenall | @ Leicester City | D1 | 0–1 | 8 Apr 1972 |
| 59' | Martin Buchan | vs Manchester City | D1 | 0–0 | 12 Apr 1972 |
| 61' | Francis Lee | vs Manchester City | D1 | 1–0 | 12 Apr 1972 |
| 65' | Rodney Marsh | vs Manchester City | D1 | 1–1 | 12 Apr 1972 |
| 85' | Francis Lee | vs Manchester City | D1 | 1–2 | 12 Apr 1972 |
| 26' | George Best pen | vs Southampton | D1 | 0–0 | 15 Apr 1972 |
| 32' | Ian Storey-Moore | vs Southampton | D1 | 1–0 | 15 Apr 1972 |
| 43' | Brian Kidd | vs Southampton | D1 | 2–0 | 15 Apr 1972 |
| 57' | Ron "Tudor" Davies | vs Southampton | D1 | 3–0 | 15 Apr 1972 |
| 87' | Ron "Tudor" Davies | vs Southampton | D1 | 3–1 | 15 Apr 1972 |
| 28' | Ray Kennedy | @ Arsenal | D1 | 0–0 | 25 Apr 1972 |
| 38' | Peter Simpson | @ Arsenal | D1 | 0–1 | 25 Apr 1972 |
| 70' | John Radford | @ Arsenal | D1 | 0–2 | 25 Apr 1972 |
| 1' | Bobby Charlton | vs Stoke City | D1 | 0–0 | 29 Apr 1972 |
| 16' | Ian Storey-Moore | vs Stoke City | D1 | 1–0 | 29 Apr 1972 |
| 44' | George Best pen | vs Stoke City | D1 | 2–0 | 29 Apr 1972 |
Squad
21 players
| Player | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | Red | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | ||
| George Best | 40 | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 53 | 26 | 1 |
| Bobby Charlton | 40 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 53 | 12 | – |
| Alex Stepney | 39 | – | 7 | – | 6 | – | 52 | – | – |
| Alan Gowling | 37 (2) | 6 | 7 (1) | 2 | 6 | 1 | 50 (3) | 9 | – |
| Thomas O'Neil | 37 | – | 7 | – | 6 | – | 50 | – | – |
| David Sadler | 37 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 | – | 49 | 2 | – |
| Willie Morgan | 35 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 48 | 3 | – |
| Steve James | 37 | 1 | 5 | – | 6 | – | 48 | 1 | – |
| Brian Kidd | 34 | 10 | 4 | – | 5 | – | 43 | 10 | – |
| Denis Law | 33 (1) | 13 | 7 | – | 2 | – | 42 (1) | 13 | – |
| Tony Dunne | 34 | – | 4 | – | 3 | – | 41 | – | – |
| Francis Burns | 17 (2) | – | 5 | – | 3 | – | 25 (2) | – | – |
| Sammy McIlroy | 16 (8) | 4 | 3 (2) | – | 2 | – | 21 (10) | 4 | – |
| Martin Buchan | 13 | 1 | 2 | – | – | – | 15 | 1 | – |
| John Aston Jnr | 9 (7) | – | 1 (1) | 1 | 4 (2) | – | 14 (10) | 1 | – |
| Ian Storey-Moore | 11 | 5 | – | – | – | – | 11 | 5 | – |
| Tony Young | 7 (2) | – | – | – | – | – | 7 (2) | – | – |
| Paul Edwards | 4 | – | 2 | – | – | – | 6 | – | – |
| Patrick Connaughton | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | – | – |
| Carlo Sartori | 2 (2) | – | – | – | 1 | – | 3 (2) | – | – |
| John Fitzpatrick | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
Division One Table
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Derby County | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 69 | 33 | +36 | 58 |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 31 | +42 | 57 |
| 3 | Liverpool | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 64 | 30 | +34 | 57 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 45 | +32 | 57 |
| 5 | Arsenal | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 40 | +18 | 52 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 63 | 42 | +21 | 51 |
| 7 | Chelsea | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 58 | 49 | +9 | 48 |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 69 | 61 | +8 | 48 |
| 9 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 65 | 57 | +8 | 47 |
| 10 | Sheffield United | 42 | 17 | 12 | 13 | 61 | 60 | +1 | 46 |
| 11 | Newcastle United | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 49 | 52 | -3 | 41 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 41 | 46 | -5 | 39 |
| 13 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 39 | 53 | -14 | 38 |
| 14 | West Ham United | 42 | 12 | 12 | 18 | 47 | 51 | -4 | 36 |
| 15 | Everton | 42 | 9 | 18 | 15 | 37 | 48 | -11 | 36 |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 42 | 54 | -12 | 35 |
| 17 | Stoke City | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 39 | 56 | -17 | 35 |
| 18 | Coventry City | 42 | 9 | 15 | 18 | 44 | 67 | -23 | 33 |
| 19 | Southampton | 42 | 12 | 7 | 23 | 52 | 80 | -28 | 31 |
| 20 | Crystal Palace | 42 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 39 | 65 | -26 | 29 |
| 21 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 47 | 81 | -32 | 25 |
| 22 | Huddersfield Town | 42 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 27 | 59 | -34 | 25 |
Points Progression
Division One
Transfers
5 moves
In
- Martin Buchan Centre-Back
Out
- Nobby Stiles Defensive Midfield
- Barney Daniels Striker
- Ian Ure Centre-Back
- Pat Crerand Central Midfield
Debuts & Farewells
Debuts this season
- Sammy McIlroy 21 apps, 4 goals
- Martin Buchan 15 apps, 1 goal
- Ian Storey-Moore 11 apps, 5 goals
- Patrick Connaughton 3 apps
Final appearances
- Alan Gowling last of 50 apps
- Francis Burns last of 25 apps
- John Aston Jnr last of 14 apps
- Carlo Sartori last of 3 apps
Quick Quiz
Who was Manchester United's top scorer in 1971-1972?
On this day in 1971-1972