1926/27 Season - March
05/03/27 - Everton [H] Won 7-3 [Gallagher 3, McDonald p, McKay, McKenzie, Seymour] - 45,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
When Everton arrived on Tyneside they were struggling in 20th place and things were about to get even more sticky for the Toffeemen in a remarkable "crowd rocking" game.
The first forty-five minutes saw both sides playing excellent football and only a penalty separated the sides. Dixie Dean had already rattled the crossbar before Gallagher opened the scoring [27] "with a remarkable goal, hooked in after Seymour had placed a corner". Three minutes later McDonald doubled the advantage from the spot before Everton pulled one back through Forshaw [32].
In the second period "the Newcastle forward line came with a superlative exhibition of football which would have shaken any team". They totally dominated with Gallagher back to top form and only a brilliant display by Everton custodian Taylor prevented United reaching double figures.
Two goals in a minute [54, 55] from Gallagher and McKay put United back in control before gifting Everton another. But The Magpies responded with three in only nine minutes.
A full-blooded 30 yard shot by McKenzie wriggled out of Taylor's hands, Gallagher got his hat-trick with a fine drive and Seymour got the seventh from "the goal-line when Taylor fisted into him a corner by Urwin". Three minutes from time an unmarked Dominy got a third consolation.
Newcastle moved two points clear at the top.
12/03/27 - Blackburn [A] Won 2-1 [Gallagher 2] - 45,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
United were full of confidence as they travelled to Ewood Park to take on 8th placed Blackburn whom they had already thrashed 6-1 at SJP in October. It was a game that "in the territorial sense could be regarded as quite even" but there "was not a weakness" in the Novacastrians side and their extra skill gave them the edge.
It was an exciting first half with both sides making numerous chances, there was one goal: "a pearl" from Gallagher [35]. Put through on goal he was forced to the touch line by two defenders. A third came to meet him but "clever ball control" took him out as well. "He seemed to be in an impossible position, but he flashed the ball between Crawford and the near upright".
In the second half the game remained even although United were making the better chances. With fifteen minutes left Gallagher headed his second from Urwin's cross. Puddefoot pulled one back and in a storming finish the homesters claimed unsuccessfully for a penalty. As a result the referee "had a round of hooting as he left the field".
19/03/27 - Sunderland [H] Won 1-0 [Gallagher] - 67,211 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Low, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
The SJP attendance record was smashed by 5,000 as Newcastle took on 3rd placed (and five points behind) Sunderland in the "jubilee" Tyne-Wear derby. It was one of the most vital matches between the old rivals ever. It was a "hard, fast match, yet free of the unsavoury incidents often associated with a local 'Derby'". United were good value for their narrow victory; "they played the better football, methodical, clever and all-together" while Sunderland depended on "dash and energy".
Newcastle were on top in the first half but a shaky performance by Wilson between the sticks gave Sunderland hope. He also had the misfortune to be bundled into the net by Marshall, the referee disallowing the effort. In contrast McInroy was having an excellent game for Sunderland, but even he could not prevent Gallagher scoring in off the post [32] after a typical flowing United move.
The terrific pace continued after the break as the game swayed from end to end. There were "several stoppages for injuries, all the result of legitimate vigour, rather than anything dirty." Both sides had decent penalty appeals turned down as there was "more fervour than football". There was no more scoring but the massive crowd went home "satiated with thrills".
Second place Huddersfield only drew so United extended their lead to three points (45 to 42), with Burnley (39) and West Ham, Sunderland and Leicester following (38).
26/03/27 - West Brom [A] Lost 2-4 [Gallagher, McDonald] - 22,000 - 2nd
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Park, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle's next game was against bottom of the table West Brom; and this match goes to prove that even in the most successful of seasons United maintain their propensity for the unpredictable. A 4-2 defeat coupled with a win for Huddersfield re-opened the title race.
Blackburn referee Haworth - blamed for the home draw with Leicester - appears to have been the Trelford Mills of his day. Not only did he disallow two United goals but he also awarded The Throstles a highly debatable penalty. 'Keeper Wilson collided with Carter and they both went down; the referee waived play on and the ball was cleared. Throstles players and fans protested and the referee was persuaded to change his mind by a linesman who had a much worse view of the incident.
It was "a remarkably good game" considering that the pitch was muddy and the wind was of the high variety. The Brummies opened the scoring after only four minutes, but United kept playing their methodical football and after Gallagher had a goal chalked off and missed an easy chance, McDonald headed in off the underside of the bar from an Urwin cross [19].
Five minutes later Gallagher broke through to put United in front before having a second goal disallowed. However hesitancy in the United defence allowed Albion to equalise just before the interval.
On the hour Wilson vacated his goal to try and stop an attack but he missed with his challenge allowing Carter to shoot into the net despite Hudspeth's attempts to cover for his errant custodian. Then with fifteen minutes to go United's fate was sealed by the aforementioned spot-kick.