Champions! - Season 1926/27 matches - part 3 [December - February]
04/12/26 - West Ham [H] Won 2-0 [Gallagher Seymour] - 36,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle recorded their seventh successive home victory and took over from Sunderland at the top of the table. Two goals were scant reward for another masterful display of excellent teamwork.
Gallagher opened the scoring [21] when he "accurately timed a perfect centre from Seymour to interpose his head and turn the ball into the net at a point where the custodian could not intercept it".
Newcastle's second came from Seymour [55] following a mazy Gallagher dribble.
11/12/26 - Sheff Wed [A] Lost 2-3 [McDonald, McKay] - 35,000 - 4th
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
United's League leadership was short lived as they fell to a disappointing defeat at Hillsborough where the "robust dashing football" of the homesters conquered the "skill and craft" of the vanquished visitors. United played in their change strip of white jerseys with black V collars.
United opened brightly, but Wednesday took the lead [12] when Wilson came for - but missed - a corner and left Trotter with an open goal. After The Owls had hit the bar United achieved parity [26] when McKay "weaved a sinuous passage goalwards" before setting up McDonald for an easy tap in. The Yorkshiremen regained the lead seven minutes later.
United adopted a more open style after the break but it was Sheffield who continued to carve out the better chances and they went further ahead on the hour. United stormed back and McKay scored a brilliant goal on the half-turn. They had chances to equalise but McDonald missed a sitter and a Gallagher shot rattled the crossbar.
18/12/26 - Leicester [H] Drew 1-1 [Seymour] - 25,000 - 3rd
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Boyd, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
United threw away a home point by missing two penalties in a game they dominated and should have won easily. The high wind made conditions difficult, but Newcastle were guilty of slack passing and wasteful shooting. This, combined with an excellent performance from Foxes custodian Campbell meant United's winning run at St James' came to an end.
With the wind behind them The Magpies were on top from the start and Seymour scored after only six minutes with a deft flicked header from a pinpoint cross from Boyd. But Leicester equalised through Adcock [20]
Ten minutes before half-time referee controversially awarded the first penalty. Controversial because when right-back Black handled the ball it appeared that it had already crossed the line. "Surefoot" Hudspeth's penalty was saved.
Within ten minutes of the restart Black fouled Gallagher and the referee pointed to the spot again. Gallagher decided to try his luck but his chest-high shot was also easily gathered by Campbell.
25/12/26 - Cardiff [H] Won 5-0 [McDonald 3, Gallagher 2] - 35,000 - 2nd
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Struggling Cardiff were no match for a rampant United who recorded their best ever win over the Bluebirds (since equalled but never beaten). Tom McDonald was the hero; scoring a first half hat-trick and filling in at centre-back when Spencer was injured after only a few minutes.
Despite playing into a strong wind United took the game to Cardiff and McDonald headed them in to the lead from a corner "placed with meticulous precision by Urwin". McDonald dropped back to play as the "pivot" but drove in his second [23] from a free-kick just outside the area. His third was the best of the lot as he made an "irresistible run" from the halfway line and beat Farquharson with a left-foot shot just inside the timber.
Gallagher superbly volleyed in the fourth [47] from another Urwin corner and also got the fifth [74] when he reacted first to a blocked effort from Seymour.
27/12/26 - Leeds [A] Won 2-1 [Seymour Urwin] - 48,620 - 2nd
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Park, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Leeds were struggling against relegation, but the Elland Road attendance record was beaten by almost 7,000 for United's visit. Before the match "interest was aroused in the shape of a Highlander who walked across the pitch and shook hands with Mitchell" (a former Toon player).
There was a sensational opening when Urwin scored after only three minutes when the Leeds custodian failed to gather a Gallagher shot. The Yorkshiremen "replied with vigour" but were let down by poor finishing. Defences dominated as play fluctuated rapidly; then seven minutes before the interval Jennings equalised.
The "great pace" continued in the second period with Leeds attacking more often, but United looking the more likely scorers with their "well-balanced raids". Seymour grabbed the winner five minutes from time.
01/01/27 - Leeds [H] Won 1-0 [Gallagher] - 51,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Park, 6- Curry, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
A second successive win over Leeds combined with Burnley's defeat at Everton allowed United to take pole position; one point ahead of The Turfites and two ahead of Sunderland. The first game had it's moments but at SJP the action was "more vigorous than cultured, and there was just a fear that the encounter was going to get beyond the control of the referee".
The referee showed too much leniency at the beginning of the game and the players began to take liberties. Eventually the ref "took Gallagher and Armand apart to administer what looked a very serious lecture".
A little later Gallagher received a caution before the official administered an "all round caution" to both teams (although he missed a couple of united players standing twenty yards away!).
There was no doubt United deserved the win. Playing against the wind in the first-half they missed a number of chances including a third successive penalty; Hudspeth having his spot-kick saved.
Gallagher made the breakthrough when he drove the ball in off the underside of the bar.
15/01/27 - A Villa [A] Won 2-1 [Gallagher, McDonald] - 50,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
United consolidated top position with a hard fought victory against The Valiants. Once again there was a contrast of styles between United's elaborate approach play and The Brummies direct approach.
Both sides were excellent in the first period as "the football soared to the almost classical" although United were often guilty of over gilding the lilly. York put Villa ahead [15], but Gallagher responded within a minute "through the medium of a scrambling sort of goal" when he scored when almost on all fours.
United started the second period badly and were under the cosh, the upright twice saving them. But it was the Novocastrians who went ahead when McDonald finally ended the penalty problem ten minutes from time.
Villa stormed back and were themselves awarded a penalty five minutes later but Wilson saved brilliantly before kicking the ball into touch.
22/01/27 - Bolton [H] Won 1-0 [McKay] - 57,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
The "North Mail" successfully introduced "community singing" to SJP and The Toon supporters turned out in force to see United record their 5th successive victory in the League against 5th place Bolton.
Play was difficult on a frost bound pitch and as a result the game "was very disappointing"; but the result was enough to retain the two point lead over Burnley.
McKay put United ahead after only three minutes but they failed to build on that excellent start as a result of sound Trotters defence and a lack of sparkle and poor finishing in attack. Gallagher, in particular, was well shackled.
22/01/27 - Derby [H] Won 3-0 [Gallagher, McDonald p, Urwin] - 30,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
County arrived in 18th place and didn't bother to match United in the footballing stakes preferring to adopt "less creditable methods" which had the SJP crowd barracking them vociferously.
Their vigorous tactics failed to work however and Newcastle took the lead in the first minute through Gallagher who followed in after McDonald "foozled" a Seymour cross.
The other goals came in the second half; McDonald scoring from the spot after Gallagher had been fouled before Urwin added a third eight minutes from time.
Only a terrific display of custodianship from Olney prevented a more comprehensive victory while Gallagher was almost back to his best despite the fact that "he had to take a lot of buffets and was twice undergoing repairs".
Burnley and Sunderland both maintained the pressure with wins - they were both two points behind - but United had games in hand.
09/02/27 - Man U [A] Lost 1-3 [McDonald] - 25,402 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle's game in hand came to nought and their winning run came to an end at Old Trafford against the 13th placed Mancunians. They only had themselves to blame as they dominated the game against their injury-hit opponents, but "frittered away their chances".
"Gallagher did little except shoot badly" and was guilty of missing two open goals. Seymour missed another sitter and Urwin crashed a shot against the bar.
In the first half the homesters had the help of a stiff easterly wind and opened the scoring after only five minutes. Wilson rushed out to try and intercept a pass but slipped and left Spencer with an open goal.
McDonald converted a McKay centre ten minutes later to equalise. From then on United dominated but the forward line "left something to be desired. The ease with which Gallagher was flouted was amazing".
Two goals in five second half minutes from Harris [70] and Hanson [75] gave the home side an unexpected victory.
09/02/27 - Sheff U [A] Lost 1-2 [Seymour] - 25,402 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - Loughlin, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle lost two games on the trot for the first time since the opening weeks but luckily Burnley and Sunderland also lost so they retained top spot; Huddersfield moved into second.
United got off to a bad start - going behind after only three minutes - and they were "ragged both in temper and play for a time", but they equalised through Seymour converting a Gallagher cross eight minutes later.
Whereas the first half had been even the second half belonged to United; at least in terms of possession. Unfortunately despite trying a number of formations upfront they could not break through; although a post denied Gallagher and they had two decent penalty "shouts". The Blades punished them by scoring the winner thirteen minutes from time.
Once again United had lost to an inferior team and doubts were being cast over United's ability to play against teams with less skill but extra "dash"
26/02/27 - Liverpool [A] Won 2-1 [Seymour 2] - 34,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth, 4 - Harris, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Clark, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
A third successive defeat in the Cup, Gallagher on international duty, knocked off top spot and a difficult trip to 6th place Liverpool. The pressure was mounting. But The Magpies responded with a gutsy performance and an overdue return to form
Despite playing into a stiff breeze they made a great start, Seymour heading in an Urwin cross after only three minutes. The Scousers equalised [28] when "Reid dashed in to literally head it in from the custodian's hands into the net". Half time equality was a fair reflection of the match with Liverpool matching United's "football craft" with "dash in abundance".
Both sides enjoyed spells of pressure in the second half, but United got the only goal with the same Urwin-Seymour combination. Liverpool came close on a number of occasions and during one attack "there was a Rugby scrum on United's goal line, with half a dozen players concerned." Luckily the referee blew for a free kick "to the oppressed side".
Huddersfield were surprisingly held to a goalless draw at home by (21st place) Everton and allowed United to regain top spot on goal difference; Sunderland were two points behind.