Manchester United 1978-1979
45
Points · Division One 1978-1979
9th in the Division One after 42 matches
Manchester United finished 9th in the Division One with 45 points from 42 games in 1978-1979, scoring 78 goals in all competitions. They won 21, drew 18 and lost 14 of their 53 games in all competitions under Dave Sexton.
Stats
21
Won
18
Drawn
14
Lost
Form
D
L
W
L
D
Season at a Glance
78
Goals Scored
74
Conceded
53
Played
How this season compares
of 123 seasons
1.53
Points per game
87th-best of 123 full seasons
1.47
Goals per game
97th-best of 123 full seasons
1.40
Conceded per game
84th-best of 123 full seasons
40%
Win rate
94th-best of 123 full seasons
In the Division One, United ranked 7th of 22 for goals scored (+0.11 per game vs the league average) and 15th for fewest conceded. That was 1 place higher than 1977-1978 (+3 points).
Cup Runs
Top Scorers
1
Jimmy Greenhoff
44 apps
16
— ast
2
Steve Coppell
53 apps
12
— ast
3
Andy Ritchie
21 apps
10
— ast
4
Joe Jordan
37 apps
10
— ast
5
Sammy McIlroy
51 apps
8
— ast
6
Gordon McQueen
47 apps
7
— ast
7
Lou Macari
38 apps
6
— ast
8
Brian Greenhoff
40 apps
3
— ast
9
Mickey Thomas
33 apps
2
— ast
10
Martin Buchan
48 apps
2
— ast
All Results
53 matches
August 1978 3W · 0D · 1L
W
Birmingham City H
D1 Jordan
1–0
19 Aug 56,139 1-0-0 W1
W
Leeds United A
D1 McQueen, McIlroy, Macari
3–2
23 Aug 36,845 2-0-0 W2
L
Ipswich Town A
D1
0–3
26 Aug 21,802 2-0-1 L1
W
Stockport County H
LC Jordan, McIlroy, Greenhoff (pen)
3–2
30 Aug 41,761 3-0-1 W1
September 1978 1W · 4D · 0L
D
Everton H
D1 Buchan
1–1
2 Sep 53,982 3-1-1 D1
D
Queens Park Rangers A
D1 Greenhoff
1–1
9 Sep 23,477 3-2-1 D2
D
Nottingham Forest H
D1 Greenhoff
1–1
16 Sep 53,039 3-3-1 D3
D
Arsenal A
D1 Coppell
1–1
23 Sep 45,393 3-4-1 D4
W
Manchester City H
D1 Jordan
1–0
30 Sep 55,301 4-4-1 W1
October 1978 2W · 1D · 2L
L
Watford H
LC Jordan
1–2
4 Oct 40,534 4-4-2 L1
W
Middlesbrough H
D1 Macari 2, Jordan
3–2
7 Oct 45,402 5-4-2 W1
D
Aston Villa A
D1 McIlroy, Macari
2–2
14 Oct 36,204 5-5-2 D1
L
Bristol City H
D1 Greenhoff
1–3
21 Oct 47,211 5-5-3 L1
W
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
D1 Greenhoff 3, Jordan
4–2
28 Oct 23,141 6-5-3 W1
November 1978 2W · 1D · 2L
D
Southampton H
D1 Greenhoff
1–1
4 Nov 46,259 6-6-3 D1
L
Birmingham City A
D1 Jordan
1–5
11 Nov 23,550 6-6-4 L1
W
Ipswich Town H
D1 Coppell, Greenhoff
2–0
18 Nov 42,109 7-6-4 W1
L
Everton A
D1
0–3
21 Nov 42,126 7-6-5 L1
W
Chelsea A
D1 Greenhoff
1–0
25 Nov 28,162 8-6-5 W1
December 1978 2W · 0D · 3L
W
Derby County A
D1 Ritchie 2, Greenhoff
3–1
9 Dec 23,180 9-6-5 W2
W
Tottenham Hotspur H
D1 Ritchie, McIlroy
2–0
16 Dec 52,026 10-6-5 W3
L
Bolton Wanderers A
D1
0–3
22 Dec 32,390 10-6-6 L1
L
Liverpool H
D1
0–3
26 Dec 54,910 10-6-7 L2
L
West Bromwich Albion H
D1 Greenhoff, McQueen, McIlroy
3–5
30 Dec 45,091 10-6-8 L3
January 1979 1W · 1D · 0L
W
Chelsea H
FAC Coppell, Grimes, Greenhoff
3–0
15 Jan 38,743 11-6-8 W1
D
Fulham A
FAC Greenhoff
1–1
31 Jan 25,229 11-7-8 D1
February 1979 4W · 1D · 1L
L
Arsenal H
D1
0–2
3 Feb 45,460 11-7-9 L1
W
Manchester City A
D1 Coppell 2, Ritchie
3–0
10 Feb 46,151 12-7-9 W1
W
Fulham H
FAC Replay Greenhoff
1–0
12 Feb 41,200 13-7-9 W2
W
Colchester United A
FAC Greenhoff
1–0
20 Feb 13,171 14-7-9 W3
D
Aston Villa H
D1 Greenhoff (pen)
1–1
24 Feb 44,437 14-8-9 D1
W
Queens Park Rangers H
D1 Greenhoff, Coppell
2–0
28 Feb 36,085 15-8-9 W1
March 1979 3W · 3D · 1L
W
Bristol City A
D1 Ritchie, McQueen
2–1
3 Mar 24,583 16-8-9 W2
D
Tottenham Hotspur A
FAC Thomas
1–1
10 Mar 51,800 16-9-9 D1
W
Tottenham Hotspur H
FAC Replay McIlroy, Jordan
2–0
14 Mar 55,584 17-9-9 W1
L
Coventry City A
D1 Coppell 2, McIlroy
3–4
20 Mar 25,382 17-9-10 L1
W
Leeds United H
D1 Ritchie 3, Thomas
4–1
24 Mar 51,191 18-9-10 W1
D
Middlesbrough A
D1 McQueen, Coppell
2–2
27 Mar 20,138 18-10-10 D1
D
Liverpool N
FAC Jordan, Greenhoff
2–2
31 Mar 52,524 18-11-10 D2
April 1979 2W · 6D · 2L
W
Liverpool N
FAC Replay Greenhoff
1–0
4 Apr 53,069 19-11-10 W1
D
Norwich City A
D1 McQueen, Macari
2–2
7 Apr 19,382 19-12-10 D1
L
Bolton Wanderers H
D1 Buchan
1–2
11 Apr 49,617 19-12-11 L1
L
Liverpool A
D1
0–2
14 Apr 46,608 19-12-12 L2
D
Coventry City H
D1
0–0
16 Apr 43,035 19-13-12 D1
D
Nottingham Forest A
D1 Jordan
1–1
18 Apr 33,074 19-14-12 D2
D
Tottenham Hotspur A
D1 McQueen
1–1
21 Apr 36,665 19-15-12 D3
W
Norwich City H
D1 Macari
1–0
25 Apr 33,678 20-15-12 W1
D
Derby County H
D1
0–0
28 Apr 42,546 20-16-12 D1
D
Southampton A
D1 Ritchie
1–1
30 Apr 21,616 20-17-12 D2
May 1979 1W · 1D · 2L
L
West Bromwich Albion A
D1
0–1
5 May 27,960 20-17-13 L1
W
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
D1 Ritchie, Coppell 2
3–2
7 May 39,402 21-17-13 W1
L
Arsenal N
FAC McQueen, McIlroy
2–3
12 May 99,219 21-17-14 L1
D
Chelsea H
D1 Coppell
1–1
16 May 38,109 21-18-14 D1
Home & Away
| Venue | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win% | CS | Avg Att |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 26 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 29 | +10 | 50% | 11 | 45,879 |
| Away | 24 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 34 | 40 | -6 | 29% | 3 | 30,335 |
| Neutral | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 33% | 1 | 68,271 |
Home crowds averaged 45,879, away 30,335. Their biggest crowd was 99,219 v Arsenal, the smallest 13,171 v Colchester United.
Season Records
4–1
Biggest win
v Leeds United · 24 Mar 1979
1–5
Heaviest defeat
v Birmingham City · 11 Nov 1978
3
Longest win streak
8
Longest unbeaten run
6
Longest winless run
15
Clean sheets
9
Failed to score
1–1
Most common score
12 times
United completed the league double over Leeds United, Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers. They lost both league meetings with Bolton Wanderers, Liverpool and West Bromwich Albion.
When Goals Were Scored
Scored Conceded
1-15
16-30
31-45
46-60
61-75
76+
United's average goal came in the 49', the average one conceded in the 44'. They scored 14 from the 81st minute on and conceded 8. Penalties: 2 scored, 3 conceded. Own goals: 0 for, 1 against.
| Min | Scorer | Opponent | Comp | Before | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 70' | Joe Jordan | vs Birmingham City | D1 | 0–0 | 19 Aug 1978 |
| 12' | Gordon McQueen | @ Leeds United | D1 | 0–0 | 23 Aug 1978 |
| 20' | Paul Hart | @ Leeds United | D1 | 1–0 | 23 Aug 1978 |
| 37' | Sammy McIlroy | @ Leeds United | D1 | 1–1 | 23 Aug 1978 |
| 48' | Frankie Gray pen | @ Leeds United | D1 | 2–1 | 23 Aug 1978 |
| 82' | Lou Macari | @ Leeds United | D1 | 2–2 | 23 Aug 1978 |
| 16' | Paul Mariner | @ Ipswich Town | D1 | 0–0 | 26 Aug 1978 |
| 67' | Paul Mariner | @ Ipswich Town | D1 | 0–1 | 26 Aug 1978 |
| 69' | Brian Talbot | @ Ipswich Town | D1 | 0–2 | 26 Aug 1978 |
| 10' | Joe Jordan | vs Stockport County | LC | 0–0 | 30 Aug 1978 |
| 58' | Alan Thompson pen | vs Stockport County | LC | 1–0 | 30 Aug 1978 |
| 78' | Terry Park | vs Stockport County | LC | 1–1 | 30 Aug 1978 |
| 88' | Sammy McIlroy | vs Stockport County | LC | 1–2 | 30 Aug 1978 |
| 90' | Jimmy Greenhoff pen | vs Stockport County | LC | 2–2 | 30 Aug 1978 |
| 6' | Andy King | vs Everton | D1 | 0–0 | 2 Sep 1978 |
| 90' | Martin Buchan | vs Everton | D1 | 0–1 | 2 Sep 1978 |
| 5' | Ian Gillard | @ Queens Park Rangers | D1 | 0–0 | 9 Sep 1978 |
| 87' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Queens Park Rangers | D1 | 0–1 | 9 Sep 1978 |
| 6' | Ian Bowyer | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 0–0 | 16 Sep 1978 |
| 66' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Nottingham Forest | D1 | 0–1 | 16 Sep 1978 |
| 29' | Steve Coppell | @ Arsenal | D1 | 0–0 | 23 Sep 1978 |
| 34' | David Price | @ Arsenal | D1 | 1–0 | 23 Sep 1978 |
| 89' | Joe Jordan | vs Manchester City | D1 | 0–0 | 30 Sep 1978 |
| 40' | Joe Jordan | vs Watford | LC | 0–0 | 4 Oct 1978 |
| 46' | Luther Blissett | vs Watford | LC | 1–0 | 4 Oct 1978 |
| 71' | Luther Blissett | vs Watford | LC | 1–1 | 4 Oct 1978 |
| 3' | Lou Macari | vs Middlesbrough | D1 | 0–0 | 7 Oct 1978 |
| 26' | David Mills | vs Middlesbrough | D1 | 1–0 | 7 Oct 1978 |
| 30' | Lou Macari | vs Middlesbrough | D1 | 1–1 | 7 Oct 1978 |
| 66' | Mickey Burns | vs Middlesbrough | D1 | 2–1 | 7 Oct 1978 |
| 76' | Joe Jordan | vs Middlesbrough | D1 | 2–2 | 7 Oct 1978 |
| 33' | John Gregory | @ Aston Villa | D1 | 0–0 | 14 Oct 1978 |
| 45' | John Gregory | @ Aston Villa | D1 | 0–1 | 14 Oct 1978 |
| 50' | Sammy McIlroy | @ Aston Villa | D1 | 0–2 | 14 Oct 1978 |
| 71' | Lou Macari | @ Aston Villa | D1 | 1–2 | 14 Oct 1978 |
| 11' | Kevin Mabbutt | vs Bristol City | D1 | 0–0 | 21 Oct 1978 |
| 50' | Kevin Mabbutt | vs Bristol City | D1 | 0–1 | 21 Oct 1978 |
| 70' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Bristol City | D1 | 0–2 | 21 Oct 1978 |
| 88' | Kevin Mabbutt | vs Bristol City | D1 | 1–2 | 21 Oct 1978 |
| 21' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–0 | 28 Oct 1978 |
| 28' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 1–0 | 28 Oct 1978 |
| 31' | Ken Hibbitt | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 2–0 | 28 Oct 1978 |
| 45' | Brian Greenhoff | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 2–1 | 28 Oct 1978 |
| 52' | Joe Jordan | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 3–1 | 28 Oct 1978 |
| 66' | Steve Daley | @ Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 4–1 | 28 Oct 1978 |
| 30' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Southampton | D1 | 0–0 | 4 Nov 1978 |
| 50' | Nick Holmes | vs Southampton | D1 | 1–0 | 4 Nov 1978 |
| 13' | Joe Jordan | @ Birmingham City | D1 | 0–0 | 11 Nov 1978 |
| 23' | Kevin Dillon | @ Birmingham City | D1 | 1–0 | 11 Nov 1978 |
| 36' | Alan Buckley 32' | @ Birmingham City | D1 | 1–1 | 11 Nov 1978 |
| 51' | Don Givens | @ Birmingham City | D1 | 1–2 | 11 Nov 1978 |
| 90' | Jimmy Calderwood | @ Birmingham City | D1 | 1–3 | 11 Nov 1978 |
| 7' | Steve Coppell | vs Ipswich Town | D1 | 0–0 | 18 Nov 1978 |
| 85' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Ipswich Town | D1 | 1–0 | 18 Nov 1978 |
| 4' | Trevor Ross | @ Everton | D1 | 0–0 | 21 Nov 1978 |
| 43' | Andy King | @ Everton | D1 | 0–1 | 21 Nov 1978 |
| 82' | Bob Latchford | @ Everton | D1 | 0–2 | 21 Nov 1978 |
| 68' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Chelsea | D1 | 0–0 | 25 Nov 1978 |
| 3' | Gerry Daly | @ Derby County | D1 | 0–0 | 9 Dec 1978 |
| 32' | Andy Ritchie | @ Derby County | D1 | 0–1 | 9 Dec 1978 |
| 45' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Derby County | D1 | 1–1 | 9 Dec 1978 |
| 53' | Andy Ritchie | @ Derby County | D1 | 2–1 | 9 Dec 1978 |
| 17' | Andy Ritchie | vs Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 0–0 | 16 Dec 1978 |
| 75' | Sammy McIlroy | vs Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 1–0 | 16 Dec 1978 |
| 12' | Frank Worthington | @ Bolton Wanderers | D1 | 0–0 | 22 Dec 1978 |
| 21' | Frank Worthington | @ Bolton Wanderers | D1 | 0–1 | 22 Dec 1978 |
| 49' | Alan Gowling | @ Bolton Wanderers | D1 | 0–2 | 22 Dec 1978 |
| 5' | Ray Kennedy | vs Liverpool | D1 | 0–0 | 26 Dec 1978 |
| 25' | Jimmy Case | vs Liverpool | D1 | 0–1 | 26 Dec 1978 |
| 67' | David Fairclough | vs Liverpool | D1 | 0–2 | 26 Dec 1978 |
| 21' | Brian Greenhoff | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 0–0 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 27' | Tony Brown | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 1–0 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 28' | Len Cantello | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 1–1 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 30' | Gordon McQueen | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 1–2 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 32' | Sammy McIlroy | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 2–2 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 45' | Tony Brown | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 3–2 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 76' | Laurie Cunningham | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 3–3 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 84' | Cyrille Regis | vs West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 3–4 | 30 Dec 1978 |
| 27' | Steve Coppell | vs Chelsea | FAC | 0–0 | 15 Jan 1979 |
| 61' | Ashley Grimes | vs Chelsea | FAC | 1–0 | 15 Jan 1979 |
| 70' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Chelsea | FAC | 2–0 | 15 Jan 1979 |
| 40' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Fulham | FAC | 0–0 | 31 Jan 1979 |
| 62' | John Margerrison | @ Fulham | FAC | 1–0 | 31 Jan 1979 |
| 64' | Alan Sunderland | vs Arsenal | D1 | 0–0 | 3 Feb 1979 |
| 66' | Alan Sunderland | vs Arsenal | D1 | 0–1 | 3 Feb 1979 |
| 22' | Steve Coppell | @ Manchester City | D1 | 0–0 | 10 Feb 1979 |
| 35' | Steve Coppell | @ Manchester City | D1 | 1–0 | 10 Feb 1979 |
| 69' | Andy Ritchie | @ Manchester City | D1 | 2–0 | 10 Feb 1979 |
| 65' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Fulham | FAC | 0–0 | 12 Feb 1979 |
| 86' | Jimmy Greenhoff | @ Colchester United | FAC | 0–0 | 20 Feb 1979 |
| 60' | Ken Swain | vs Aston Villa | D1 | 0–0 | 24 Feb 1979 |
| 75' | Jimmy Greenhoff pen | vs Aston Villa | D1 | 0–1 | 24 Feb 1979 |
| 2' | Jimmy Greenhoff | vs Queens Park Rangers | D1 | 0–0 | 28 Feb 1979 |
| 47' | Steve Coppell | vs Queens Park Rangers | D1 | 1–0 | 28 Feb 1979 |
| 19' | Gerry Gow | @ Bristol City | D1 | 0–0 | 3 Mar 1979 |
| 47' | Andy Ritchie | @ Bristol City | D1 | 0–1 | 3 Mar 1979 |
| 76' | Gordon McQueen | @ Bristol City | D1 | 1–1 | 3 Mar 1979 |
| 27' | Osvaldo Ardiles | @ Tottenham Hotspur | FAC | 0–0 | 10 Mar 1979 |
| 63' | Mickey Thomas | @ Tottenham Hotspur | FAC | 0–1 | 10 Mar 1979 |
| 10' | Sammy McIlroy | vs Tottenham Hotspur | FAC | 0–0 | 14 Mar 1979 |
| 60' | Joe Jordan | vs Tottenham Hotspur | FAC | 1–0 | 14 Mar 1979 |
| 2' | Barry Powell | @ Coventry City | D1 | 0–0 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 8' | Garry Thompson | @ Coventry City | D1 | 0–1 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 36' | Steve Coppell | @ Coventry City | D1 | 0–2 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 42' | Tommy Hutchinson | @ Coventry City | D1 | 1–2 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 47' | Bobby McDonald | @ Coventry City | D1 | 1–3 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 64' | Sammy McIlroy | @ Coventry City | D1 | 1–4 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 89' | Steve Coppell | @ Coventry City | D1 | 2–4 | 20 Mar 1979 |
| 8' | Andy Ritchie | vs Leeds United | D1 | 0–0 | 24 Mar 1979 |
| 18' | Andy Ritchie | vs Leeds United | D1 | 1–0 | 24 Mar 1979 |
| 20' | Mickey Thomas | vs Leeds United | D1 | 2–0 | 24 Mar 1979 |
| 67' | Ray Hankin | vs Leeds United | D1 | 3–0 | 24 Mar 1979 |
| 79' | Andy Ritchie | vs Leeds United | D1 | 3–1 | 24 Mar 1979 |
| 24' | Dave Armstrong pen | @ Middlesbrough | D1 | 0–0 | 27 Mar 1979 |
| 43' | Mark Proctor | @ Middlesbrough | D1 | 0–1 | 27 Mar 1979 |
| 48' | Gordon McQueen | @ Middlesbrough | D1 | 0–2 | 27 Mar 1979 |
| 51' | Steve Coppell | @ Middlesbrough | D1 | 1–2 | 27 Mar 1979 |
| 17' | Kenny Dalglish | v Liverpool | FAC | 0–0 | 31 Mar 1979 |
| 19' | Joe Jordan | v Liverpool | FAC | 0–1 | 31 Mar 1979 |
| 56' | Brian Greenhoff | v Liverpool | FAC | 1–1 | 31 Mar 1979 |
| 82' | Alan Hansen | v Liverpool | FAC | 2–1 | 31 Mar 1979 |
| 78' | Jimmy Greenhoff | v Liverpool | FAC | 0–0 | 4 Apr 1979 |
| 62' | Graham Paddon | @ Norwich City | D1 | 0–0 | 7 Apr 1979 |
| 71' | Keith Robson | @ Norwich City | D1 | 0–1 | 7 Apr 1979 |
| 74' | Gordon McQueen | @ Norwich City | D1 | 0–2 | 7 Apr 1979 |
| 83' | Lou Macari | @ Norwich City | D1 | 1–2 | 7 Apr 1979 |
| 25' | Martin Buchan | vs Bolton Wanderers | D1 | 0–0 | 11 Apr 1979 |
| 53' | Frank Worthington | vs Bolton Wanderers | D1 | 1–0 | 11 Apr 1979 |
| 90' | Frank Worthington | vs Bolton Wanderers | D1 | 1–1 | 11 Apr 1979 |
| 36' | Kenny Dalglish | @ Liverpool | D1 | 0–0 | 14 Apr 1979 |
| 46' | Phil Neal | @ Liverpool | D1 | 0–1 | 14 Apr 1979 |
| 47' | Joe Jordan | @ Nottingham Forest | D1 | 0–0 | 18 Apr 1979 |
| 86' | Trevor Francis | @ Nottingham Forest | D1 | 1–0 | 18 Apr 1979 |
| 14' | Gordon McQueen | @ Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 0–0 | 21 Apr 1979 |
| 71' | Chris Jones | @ Tottenham Hotspur | D1 | 1–0 | 21 Apr 1979 |
| 88' | Lou Macari | vs Norwich City | D1 | 0–0 | 25 Apr 1979 |
| 13' | Andy Ritchie | @ Southampton | D1 | 0–0 | 30 Apr 1979 |
| 25' | Phil Boyer | @ Southampton | D1 | 1–0 | 30 Apr 1979 |
| 24' | Cyrille Regis | @ West Bromwich Albion | D1 | 0–0 | 5 May 1979 |
| 6' | Gary Bailey OG | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–0 | 7 May 1979 |
| 14' | Andy Ritchie | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 0–1 | 7 May 1979 |
| 41' | Steve Coppell | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 1–1 | 7 May 1979 |
| 76' | John Richards | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 2–1 | 7 May 1979 |
| 86' | Steve Coppell | vs Wolverhampton Wanderers | D1 | 2–2 | 7 May 1979 |
| 12' | Brian Talbot | v Arsenal | FAC | 0–0 | 12 May 1979 |
| 43' | Frank Stapleton | v Arsenal | FAC | 0–1 | 12 May 1979 |
| 86' | Gordon McQueen | v Arsenal | FAC | 0–2 | 12 May 1979 |
| 88' | Sammy McIlroy | v Arsenal | FAC | 1–2 | 12 May 1979 |
| 89' | Alan Sunderland | v Arsenal | FAC | 2–2 | 12 May 1979 |
| 7' | Steve Coppell | vs Chelsea | D1 | 0–0 | 16 May 1979 |
| 21' | Gary Johnson | vs Chelsea | D1 | 1–0 | 16 May 1979 |
Squad
23 players
| Player | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Total | Red | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | Apps | Gls | ||
| Steve Coppell | 42 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 2 | – | 53 | 12 | – |
| Sammy McIlroy | 40 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 8 | – |
| Martin Buchan | 37 | 2 | 9 | – | 2 | – | 48 | 2 | – |
| Gordon McQueen | 36 | 6 | 9 | 1 | 2 | – | 47 | 7 | 1 |
| Jimmy Greenhoff | 33 | 11 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 44 | 16 | – |
| Arthur Albiston | 33 (1) | – | 7 | – | 2 | – | 42 (1) | – | – |
| Brian Greenhoff | 33 (1) | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | – | 40 (1) | 3 | – |
| Lou Macari | 32 (1) | 6 | 5 | – | 1 | – | 38 (1) | 6 | – |
| Joe Jordan | 30 | 6 | 5 (1) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 37 (1) | 10 | – |
| Gary Bailey | 28 | – | 9 | – | – | – | 37 | – | – |
| Mickey Thomas | 25 | 1 | 8 | 1 | – | – | 33 | 2 | – |
| Jimmy Nicholl | 21 (2) | – | 8 (2) | – | – | – | 29 (4) | – | – |
| Stewart Houston | 22 (1) | – | 2 | – | 1 | – | 25 (1) | – | – |
| Andy Ritchie | 17 (1) | 10 | 4 (1) | – | – | – | 21 (2) | 10 | – |
| Ashley Grimes | 16 (11) | – | 3 | 1 | 2 | – | 21 (11) | 1 | – |
| David McCreery | 15 (1) | – | – | – | 1 (1) | – | 16 (2) | – | – |
| Paddy Roche | 14 | – | – | – | 2 | – | 16 | – | – |
| Thomas Sloan | 4 (1) | – | – | – | – | – | 4 (1) | – | – |
| Steven Paterson | 3 (2) | – | – | – | – | – | 3 (2) | – | – |
| Thomas Connell | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | – | – |
| Chris McGrath | 2 (2) | – | – | – | – | – | 2 (2) | – | – |
| Stuart Pearson | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | 2 | – | – |
| Kevin Moran | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – |
Division One Table
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 42 | 30 | 8 | 4 | 85 | 16 | +69 | 68 |
| 2 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 21 | 18 | 3 | 61 | 26 | +35 | 60 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 24 | 11 | 7 | 72 | 35 | +37 | 59 |
| 4 | Everton | 42 | 17 | 17 | 8 | 52 | 40 | +12 | 51 |
| 5 | Leeds United | 42 | 18 | 14 | 10 | 70 | 52 | +18 | 50 |
| 6 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 63 | 49 | +14 | 49 |
| 7 | Arsenal | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 61 | 48 | +13 | 48 |
| 8 | Aston Villa | 42 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 59 | 49 | +10 | 46 |
| 9 | Manchester United | 42 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 60 | 63 | -3 | 45 |
| 10 | Coventry City | 42 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 58 | 68 | -10 | 44 |
| 11 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 48 | 61 | -13 | 41 |
| 12 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 57 | 50 | +7 | 40 |
| 13 | Bristol City | 42 | 15 | 10 | 17 | 47 | 51 | -4 | 40 |
| 14 | Southampton | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 47 | 53 | -6 | 40 |
| 15 | Manchester City | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 58 | 56 | +2 | 39 |
| 16 | Norwich City | 42 | 7 | 23 | 12 | 51 | 57 | -6 | 37 |
| 17 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 54 | 75 | -21 | 35 |
| 18 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 44 | 68 | -24 | 34 |
| 19 | Derby County | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 44 | 71 | -27 | 31 |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 42 | 6 | 13 | 23 | 45 | 73 | -28 | 25 |
| 21 | Birmingham City | 42 | 6 | 10 | 26 | 37 | 64 | -27 | 22 |
| 22 | Chelsea | 42 | 5 | 10 | 27 | 44 | 92 | -48 | 20 |
Points Progression
Division One
Transfers
7 moves
In
- Tom Sloan Central Midfield
- Mickey Thomas Left Midfield
- Tom Connell Left-Back
Out
- Gordon Hill Left Winger
- Jonathon Clark Midfielder
- Tommy Jackson Central Midfield
Loans
Debuts & Farewells
Debuts this season
- Gary Bailey 37 apps
- Mickey Thomas 33 apps, 2 goals
- Thomas Sloan 4 apps
- Thomas Connell 2 apps
- Kevin Moran 1 app
Final appearances
- Brian Greenhoff last of 40 apps
- David McCreery last of 16 apps
- Stuart Pearson last of 2 apps
Quick Quiz
Who was Manchester United's top scorer in 1978-1979?
On this day in 1978-1979