Manchester United Data

Manchester United 1971-1972

48
Points ยท 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

All Results

55 matches
August 1971 3W ยท 2D ยท 1L
D
Derby County A
D1 Law, Gowling
2โ€“2
14 Aug 35,886 0-1-0 D1
W
Chelsea A
D1 Kidd, Morgan (pen), Charlton
3โ€“2
18 Aug 54,763 1-1-0 W1
W
Arsenal H
D1 Kidd, Charlton, Gowling
3โ€“1
20 Aug 27,649 2-1-0 W2
W
West Bromwich Albion H
D1 Best 2, Gowling
3โ€“1
23 Aug 23,146 3-1-0 W3
D
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
D1 Best
1โ€“1
28 Aug 46,471 3-2-0 D1
L
Everton A
D1
0โ€“1
31 Aug 52,151 3-2-1 L1
September 1971 4W ยท 1D ยท 0L
W
Ipswich Town H
D1 Best
1โ€“0
4 Sep 45,656 4-2-1 W1
W
Ipswich Town A
LC Morgan (pen), Best 2
3โ€“1
7 Sep 28,143 5-2-1 W2
W
Crystal Palace A
D1 Kidd, Law 2
3โ€“1
11 Sep 44,020 6-2-1 W3
W
West Ham United H
D1 Best 3, Charlton
4โ€“2
18 Sep 53,339 7-2-1 W4
D
Liverpool A
D1 Law, Charlton
2โ€“2
25 Sep 55,634 7-3-1 D1
October 1971 5W ยท 2D ยท 1L
W
Sheffield United H
D1 Best, Gowling
2โ€“0
2 Oct 51,735 8-3-1 W1
D
Burnley H
LC Charlton
1โ€“1
6 Oct 44,600 8-4-1 D1
W
Huddersfield Town A
D1 Best, Law, Charlton
3โ€“0
9 Oct 33,458 9-4-1 W1
W
Derby County H
D1 Best
1โ€“0
16 Oct 53,247 10-4-1 W2
W
Burnley A
LC Replay Charlton
1โ€“0
18 Oct 27,511 11-4-1 W3
W
Newcastle United A
D1 Best
1โ€“0
23 Oct 52,411 12-4-1 W4
D
Stoke City H
LC Gowling
1โ€“1
27 Oct 47,062 12-5-1 D1
L
Leeds United H
D1
0โ€“1
30 Oct 53,960 12-5-2 L1
November 1971 3W ยท 2D ยท 1L
D
Manchester City A
D1 McIlroy, Kidd, Gowling
3โ€“3
6 Nov 63,326 12-6-2 D1
D
Stoke City A
LC Replay
0โ€“0
8 Nov 40,805 12-7-2 D2
W
Tottenham Hotspur H
D1 McIlroy, Law 2
3โ€“1
13 Nov 54,058 13-7-2 W1
L
Stoke City A
LC 2nd Replay Best
1โ€“2
15 Nov 42,249 13-7-3 L1
W
Leicester City H
D1 Kidd, Law 2
3โ€“2
20 Nov 48,757 14-7-3 W1
W
Southampton A
D1 Best 3, McIlroy, Kidd
5โ€“2
27 Nov 30,323 15-7-3 W2
December 1971 1W ยท 3D ยท 0L
W
Nottingham Forest H
D1 Law, Kidd 2
3โ€“2
4 Dec 45,411 16-7-3 W3
D
Stoke City A
D1 Law
1โ€“1
11 Dec 33,857 16-8-3 D1
D
Ipswich Town A
D1
0โ€“0
18 Dec 29,229 16-9-3 D2
D
Coventry City H
D1 Law, James
2โ€“2
27 Dec 52,117 16-10-3 D3
January 1972 1W ยท 1D ยท 4L
L
West Ham United A
D1
0โ€“3
1 Jan 41,892 16-10-4 L1
L
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
D1 McIlroy
1โ€“3
8 Jan 46,781 16-10-5 L2
D
Southampton A
FAC Charlton
1โ€“1
15 Jan 30,190 16-11-5 D1
W
Southampton H
FAC Replay Best 2, Sadler, Jnr
4โ€“1
19 Jan 50,960 17-11-5 W1
L
Chelsea H
D1
0โ€“1
22 Jan 55,927 17-11-6 L1
L
West Bromwich Albion A
D1 Kidd
1โ€“2
29 Jan 47,012 17-11-7 L2
February 1972 2W ยท 1D ยท 2L
W
Preston North End A
FAC Gowling 2
2โ€“0
5 Feb 27,025 18-11-7 W1
L
Newcastle United H
D1
0โ€“2
12 Feb 44,983 18-11-8 L1
L
Leeds United A
D1 Burns
1โ€“5
19 Feb 45,399 18-11-9 L2
D
Middlesbrough H
FAC
0โ€“0
26 Feb 53,850 18-12-9 D1
W
Middlesbrough A
FAC Replay Morgan (pen), Best, Charlton
3โ€“0
29 Feb 39,683 19-12-9 W1
March 1972 2W ยท 2D ยท 2L
L
Tottenham Hotspur A
D1
0โ€“2
4 Mar 54,814 19-12-10 L1
D
Everton H
D1
0โ€“0
8 Mar 38,415 19-13-10 D1
W
Huddersfield Town H
D1 Best, Storey-Moore
2โ€“0
11 Mar 53,581 20-13-10 W1
D
Stoke City H
FAC Best
1โ€“1
18 Mar 54,226 20-14-10 D1
L
Stoke City A
FAC Replay Best
1โ€“2
22 Mar 49,192 20-14-11 L1
W
Crystal Palace H
D1 Gowling, Charlton, Storey-Moore, Law
4โ€“0
25 Mar 41,550 21-14-11 W1
April 1972 3W ยท 2D ยท 4L
W
Coventry City A
D1 Best, Storey-Moore, Charlton
3โ€“2
1 Apr 37,901 22-14-11 W2
L
Liverpool H
D1
0โ€“3
3 Apr 53,826 22-14-12 L1
D
Sheffield United A
D1 Sadler
1โ€“1
4 Apr 45,045 22-15-12 D1
L
Leicester City A
D1
0โ€“2
8 Apr 35,970 22-15-13 L1
L
Manchester City H
D1 Buchan
1โ€“3
12 Apr 56,362 22-15-14 L2
W
Southampton H
D1 Best (pen), Storey-Moore, Kidd
3โ€“2
15 Apr 38,437 23-15-14 W1
D
Nottingham Forest A
D1
0โ€“0
22 Apr 35,063 23-16-14 D1
L
Arsenal A
D1
0โ€“3
25 Apr 49,125 23-16-15 L1
W
Stoke City H
D1 Charlton, Storey-Moore, Best (pen)
3โ€“0
29 Apr 34,959 24-16-15 W1

Home & Away

Venue PWDL GFGAGDWin%CSAvg Att
Home 261466 4630+16 54%8 47,100
Away 2910109 4241+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

4โ€“0
Biggest win
v Crystal Palace ยท 25 Mar 1972
1โ€“5
Heaviest defeat
v Leeds United ยท 19 Feb 1972
4
Longest win streak
12
Longest unbeaten run
6
Longest winless run
16
Clean sheets
14
Failed to score
1โ€“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
8
5
1-15
11
7
16-30
20
11
31-45
13
17
46-60
15
17
61-75
21
14
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 0โ€“0 14 Aug 1971
25' Alan Gowling @ Derby County D1 1โ€“0 14 Aug 1971
66' Brian Kidd @ Chelsea D1 0โ€“1 18 Aug 1971
69' Willie Morgan pen @ Chelsea D1 1โ€“1 18 Aug 1971
75' Bobby Charlton @ Chelsea D1 2โ€“1 18 Aug 1971
35' Brian Kidd vs Arsenal D1 0โ€“1 20 Aug 1971
78' Bobby Charlton vs Arsenal D1 1โ€“1 20 Aug 1971
89' Alan Gowling vs Arsenal D1 2โ€“1 20 Aug 1971
10' George Best vs West Bromwich Albion D1 0โ€“0 23 Aug 1971
37' Alan Gowling vs West Bromwich Albion D1 1โ€“0 23 Aug 1971
57' George Best vs West Bromwich Albion D1 2โ€“0 23 Aug 1971
16' George Best @ Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 0โ€“0 28 Aug 1971
43' George Best vs Ipswich Town D1 0โ€“0 4 Sep 1971
29' Willie Morgan pen @ Ipswich Town LC 0โ€“1 7 Sep 1971
37' George Best @ Ipswich Town LC 1โ€“1 7 Sep 1971
43' George Best @ Ipswich Town LC 2โ€“1 7 Sep 1971
31' Brian Kidd @ Crystal Palace D1 0โ€“0 11 Sep 1971
79' Denis Law @ Crystal Palace D1 1โ€“1 11 Sep 1971
90' Denis Law @ Crystal Palace D1 2โ€“1 11 Sep 1971
21' George Best vs West Ham United D1 0โ€“0 18 Sep 1971
43' George Best vs West Ham United D1 1โ€“1 18 Sep 1971
62' Bobby Charlton vs West Ham United D1 2โ€“2 18 Sep 1971
80' George Best vs West Ham United D1 3โ€“2 18 Sep 1971
53' Denis Law @ Liverpool D1 0โ€“2 25 Sep 1971
72' Bobby Charlton @ Liverpool D1 1โ€“2 25 Sep 1971
83' George Best vs Sheffield United D1 0โ€“0 2 Oct 1971
86' Alan Gowling vs Sheffield United D1 1โ€“0 2 Oct 1971
35' Bobby Charlton vs Burnley LC 0โ€“0 6 Oct 1971
65' George Best @ Huddersfield Town D1 0โ€“0 9 Oct 1971
73' Denis Law @ Huddersfield Town D1 1โ€“0 9 Oct 1971
82' Bobby Charlton @ Huddersfield Town D1 2โ€“0 9 Oct 1971
52' George Best vs Derby County D1 0โ€“0 16 Oct 1971
80' Bobby Charlton @ Burnley LC 0โ€“0 18 Oct 1971
46' George Best @ Newcastle United D1 0โ€“0 23 Oct 1971
85' Alan Gowling vs Stoke City LC 0โ€“1 27 Oct 1971
39' Sammy McIlroy @ Manchester City D1 0โ€“0 6 Nov 1971
46' Brian Kidd @ Manchester City D1 1โ€“0 6 Nov 1971
64' Alan Gowling @ Manchester City D1 2โ€“1 6 Nov 1971
40' Sammy McIlroy vs Tottenham Hotspur D1 0โ€“0 13 Nov 1971
54' Denis Law vs Tottenham Hotspur D1 1โ€“0 13 Nov 1971
82' Denis Law vs Tottenham Hotspur D1 2โ€“0 13 Nov 1971
37' George Best @ Stoke City LC 0โ€“0 15 Nov 1971
2' Brian Kidd vs Leicester City D1 0โ€“0 20 Nov 1971
32' Denis Law vs Leicester City D1 1โ€“0 20 Nov 1971
46' Denis Law vs Leicester City D1 2โ€“1 20 Nov 1971
7' George Best @ Southampton D1 0โ€“0 27 Nov 1971
43' Sammy McIlroy @ Southampton D1 1โ€“0 27 Nov 1971
47' George Best @ Southampton D1 2โ€“0 27 Nov 1971
58' George Best @ Southampton D1 3โ€“1 27 Nov 1971
84' Brian Kidd @ Southampton D1 4โ€“2 27 Nov 1971
17' Denis Law vs Nottingham Forest D1 0โ€“0 4 Dec 1971
37' Brian Kidd vs Nottingham Forest D1 1โ€“0 4 Dec 1971
46' Brian Kidd vs Nottingham Forest D1 2โ€“1 4 Dec 1971
28' Denis Law @ Stoke City D1 0โ€“1 11 Dec 1971
70' Denis Law vs Coventry City D1 0โ€“2 27 Dec 1971
78' Steve James vs Coventry City D1 1โ€“2 27 Dec 1971
86' Sammy McIlroy vs Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 0โ€“3 8 Jan 1972
36' Bobby Charlton @ Southampton FAC 0โ€“0 15 Jan 1972
68' George Best vs Southampton FAC 0โ€“1 19 Jan 1972
94' David Sadler vs Southampton FAC 1โ€“1 19 Jan 1972
115' George Best vs Southampton FAC 2โ€“1 19 Jan 1972
118' John Aston Jnr vs Southampton FAC 3โ€“1 19 Jan 1972
24' Brian Kidd @ West Bromwich Albion D1 0โ€“0 29 Jan 1972
85' Alan Gowling @ Preston North End FAC 0โ€“0 5 Feb 1972
88' Alan Gowling @ Preston North End FAC 1โ€“0 5 Feb 1972
57' Francis Burns @ Leeds United D1 0โ€“2 19 Feb 1972
12' Willie Morgan pen @ Middlesbrough FAC 0โ€“0 29 Feb 1972
50' George Best @ Middlesbrough FAC 1โ€“0 29 Feb 1972
68' Bobby Charlton @ Middlesbrough FAC 2โ€“0 29 Feb 1972
35' George Best vs Huddersfield Town D1 0โ€“0 11 Mar 1972
62' Ian Storey-Moore vs Huddersfield Town D1 1โ€“0 11 Mar 1972
85' George Best vs Stoke City FAC 0โ€“1 18 Mar 1972
70' George Best @ Stoke City FAC 0โ€“0 22 Mar 1972
5' Alan Gowling vs Crystal Palace D1 0โ€“0 25 Mar 1972
24' Bobby Charlton vs Crystal Palace D1 1โ€“0 25 Mar 1972
62' Ian Storey-Moore vs Crystal Palace D1 2โ€“0 25 Mar 1972
81' Denis Law vs Crystal Palace D1 3โ€“0 25 Mar 1972
13' George Best @ Coventry City D1 0โ€“0 1 Apr 1972
20' Ian Storey-Moore @ Coventry City D1 1โ€“0 1 Apr 1972
45' Bobby Charlton @ Coventry City D1 2โ€“0 1 Apr 1972
72' David Sadler @ Sheffield United D1 0โ€“1 4 Apr 1972
59' Martin Buchan vs Manchester City D1 0โ€“0 12 Apr 1972
26' George Best pen vs Southampton D1 0โ€“0 15 Apr 1972
32' Ian Storey-Moore vs Southampton D1 1โ€“0 15 Apr 1972
43' Brian Kidd vs Southampton D1 2โ€“0 15 Apr 1972
1' Bobby Charlton vs Stoke City D1 0โ€“0 29 Apr 1972
16' Ian Storey-Moore vs Stoke City D1 1โ€“0 29 Apr 1972
44' George Best pen vs Stoke City D1 2โ€“0 29 Apr 1972

Squad

21 players
Player LeagueFA CupLeague 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 โ€“
Alex Stepney 39 โ€“ 7 โ€“ 6 โ€“ 52 โ€“ โ€“
Alan Gowling 37 (2) 6 7 (1) 2 6 1 50 (3) 9 โ€“
Thomas O'Neil 37 โ€“ 7 โ€“ 6 โ€“ 50 โ€“ โ€“
David Sadler 37 1 6 1 6 โ€“ 49 2 โ€“
Willie Morgan 35 1 7 1 6 1 48 3 โ€“
Steve James 37 1 5 โ€“ 6 โ€“ 48 1 โ€“
Brian Kidd 34 10 4 โ€“ 5 โ€“ 43 10 โ€“
Denis Law 33 (1) 13 7 โ€“ 2 โ€“ 42 (1) 13 โ€“
Tony Dunne 34 โ€“ 4 โ€“ 3 โ€“ 41 โ€“ โ€“
Francis Burns 17 (2) โ€“ 5 โ€“ 3 โ€“ 25 (2) โ€“ โ€“
Sammy McIlroy 16 (8) 4 3 (2) โ€“ 2 โ€“ 21 (10) 4 โ€“
Martin Buchan 13 1 2 โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 15 1 โ€“
John Aston Jnr 9 (7) โ€“ 1 (1) 1 4 (2) โ€“ 14 (10) 1 โ€“
Ian Storey-Moore 11 5 โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 11 5 โ€“
Tony Young 7 (2) โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 7 (2) โ€“ โ€“
Paul Edwards 4 โ€“ 2 โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 6 โ€“ โ€“
Patrick Connaughton 3 โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 3 โ€“ โ€“
Carlo Sartori 2 (2) โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 1 โ€“ 3 (2) โ€“ โ€“
John Fitzpatrick 1 โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ โ€“ 1 โ€“ โ€“

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
Out
  • Nobby Stiles Defensive Midfield
    to Middlesbroughโ‚ฌ25k
  • Barney Daniels Striker
    to Ashton UnitedUndisclosed
  • Ian Ure Centre-Back
    to St. MirrenFree
  • Pat Crerand Central Midfield
    to Wits UniversityUndisclosed

Debuts & Farewells

Debuts this season
Final appearances

Quick Quiz

Who was Manchester United's top scorer in 1971-1972?

All Manchester United seasons since 1886 →