1893/94 Season - October
Summary
The difficult start to the season continued with three away matches in a row followed by a solitary home game. Three defeats and only one victory left United in tenth.
Two of the defeats would prove crucial as they involved Small Heath and Notts County who would only just pip United to a play-off place.
Keir and Inglis were brought in on trial from Dalmuir Thistle.
| 1893/94 | 7th Oct | Div 2 | Lincoln C [A] | Lost | 1-2 [1-1] | 1,000 |
- Lowery
- Jeffrey
- Miller
- Crielly
- Graham
- McKane
- Quinn
- Crate
- Thompson
- Gilhespy
- Wallace [1]
In a fiercely contested game United had a goal disallowed for offside before going behind to a penalty. Wallace equalised before half-time
In the second half Lincoln grabbed the winner from a corner. United dropped to 12th
| 1893/94 | 14th Oct | Div 2 | Notts C [A] | Lost | 1-3 [1-2] | 5,000 |
- Lowery
- Jeffrey
- Miller
- Crielly
- Graham
- McKane
- Keir
- Crate
- Thompson
- Wallace
- Inglis
New recruits Keir and Inglis were handed their debuts for United's trip to Nottingham against a County side who had been relegated in the previous season.
The other Magpies started very strongly and were two goals to the good after only ten minutes. It was all Nottingham as half-back Daft and his merry men laid siege to the United citadel and only the upright (twice) prevented the situation from worsening.
On 35 minutes United pulled one back through Kier (although some sources credit Wallace with the goal)
Play was fairly even in the second half but Kier inexplicably shot against his own cross-bar and when the ball came back it was headed in to make it three.
A third defeat in five left United in 12th.
| 1893/94 | 21st Oct | Div 2 | Ardwick [A] | Won | 3-2 [0-2] | 3,000 |
- Lowery
- Jeffrey
- Miller
- Crielly
- Graham
- McKane
- Patten
- Crate
- Thompson
- Wallace
- Inglis
Next game was Ardwick (precursors of Man City) away, United's fifth away game in six matches. Patten replaced Kier at outside right.
It was a fairly even first half but again United leaked a couple of goals through Morris and Yates.
The second period saw United bounce back in style to record their first ever away win with goals from Crate, an own-goal and Wallace.
It was an excellent performance and United moved up to 9th
| 1893/94 | 28th Oct | Div 2 | Small Heath [H] | Lost | 0-2 [0-0] | 3,000 |
- Lowery
- Jeffrey
- Miller
- Crielly
- Graham
- McKane
- Simm
- Crate
- Thompson
- Wallace
- Inglis
United were back on home soil at last and the only change was the introduction of Simm, the sixth player to be tried at outside-right.
Hopes were high after the victory over Ardwick but United slumped to a two goal defeat. The defeat was hard to take because Small Heath on winning the toss had played downhill and with the wind in the first-half and failed to score
Although United were unlucky to hit the post and have an effort chalked off for offside they were deservedly beaten as they "were beaten all round in cleverness" It was not the performance the directors needed to attract the crowds they needed to balance the books. United dropped a place to 10th.