Champions! - Season 1926/27 matches - part 4 [March - May]
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.
02/04/27 - Bury [H] Won 3-1 [Clark, McDonald p, McKay] - 20,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Clark, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
The Magpies bounced back against eighteenth placed Bury, but they almost slipped-up after a "palpable slackening" of their play at the start of the second half. United now had 47 points but all their nearest rivals (Huddersfield, West Ham and Sunderland) won away to maintain the pressure. Clark deputised for Hughie who was off playing for The Hoots.
The Novocastrians dominated the first half and were full value for their two goal lead; indeed if it hadn't been for a superb performance by 'keeper Richardson ("back on his native heath") the margin would have been even more comprehensive.
United's goals came from McKay [14] who drove in after McDonald had "pranced to the bye-line" before setting him up and a penalty by McDonald "from the 12-yard splash" eight minutes later.
United restarted far too casually and allowed Bury to pull one back [53]; it should have been worse but Amos blasted high with the goal at his mercy. Suitably chastised Newcastle scored their third when Bury right-back Wynne was "guilty of an unpardonable error of judgement"; misplacing a back pass to Clark who finished with aplomb.
06/04/27 - Arsenal [H] Won 6-1 [Gallagher 3, McDonald, McKay 2] - 33,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Hampson, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Gibson, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
At today's currency this looks like a tremendous victory, but in reality Arsenal were in 17th and put out a weakened side as they had a date at Wembley coming up.
United "brilliantly outmanoeuvred the southerners" in the first quarter of an hour and were two goals to the good through a couple of typical Gallagher strikes. Poor defending allowed Buchan to pull one back just before the break.
Soon after the restart Gallagher needed treatment after a bad foul although there was "no justification for his retaliatory action". As a result McKay and Hughie had to swop positions. McDonald then scored "a capital goal" following "a thrilling dribble" before Gallagher converted a Seymour cross.
McKay finished off the gormless Gunners with two goals which exhibited "meritous footwork and marksmanship worthy of his illustrious captain"
09/04/27 - Birmingham [A] Lost 0-2 [] - 30,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Hampson, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Curry, 7 - Urwin, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
United lost for the second successive time in Birmingham and failed to score in a game for only the second time that season as they were "bustled out of all semblance of their normal game" by Birmingham's "spoiling tactics" and "get there" game.
The Magpies were lucky to go in at the break on even terms, but within ten minutes of the restart they had shipped two goals.
United responded to the set-back but could not get the better of Birmingham's rugged half-back line. A frustrated Gallagher "openly showed his resentment at the vigorous tactics employed against him, and got the crowd on his track."
Thankfully Huddersfield also slipped up and the table now read: 1-Newcastle [49] 2-Sunderland [46] 3-Huddersfield [46]. The makems had played two more games; United and Huddersfield still had to play each other home and away.
15/04/27 - Huddersfield [H] Won 1-0 [Gallagher] - 62,500 - 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.
The ground was "full" an hour before the kick-off for the first of the vital double header with The Terriers. "Ambulance cases" were frequent in occurrence "but only in a few cases was a stretcher requisitioned".
The ground was hard and the ball was lively something which suited the Yorkshiremen who "kept the ball in the air with a regularity that strongly indicated the existence of an agreement among the team on this line of policy". But it was still a good game and United won as a result of their "superiority in the front-line and greater mobility at half-back".
It was goalless at half-time with defences on top although "spectators gasped" when Gallagher "muffed the ball" and "yelled in frenzy" when no less than three penalty appeals fell on Mr Watson's deaf ears. Half way through the half United were reduced to ten men when Gibson had to retire following a "severe wrench of the knee".
The game was decided early in the second period when "Gallagher headed in from a neck-twisting effort which had its genesis in a deft header from Seymour". With Sunderland not playing United opened up a five point gap.
16/04/27 - Tottenham [H] Won 3-2 [Seymour 2, Urwin] - 33,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Harris, 7 - Urwin, 8 - Clark, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
The following day United recorded their 10th home victory in a row and their 17th in only 19 home games. This coupled with Sunderland losing and Huddersfield drawing gave United a six point lead with only four games remaining.
It was a "strenuous game" which United dominated but almost found their match in the Spurs defence "who fought an unwavering battle against heavy odds." Indeed with the inside forwards well shackled it was left to the wide-men to score the goals.
At half-time the score was 2-2. Spurs opened the scoring through Dimmock [7], but Seymour replied almost immediately with a "sizzling cross drive". Urwin gave The Toon a deserved lead when he reacted first when a Clark shot rebounded off the post however Spurs "long ball" methods paid off when they drew level.
The Magpies dominated the second half as Spurs "concentrated on defence" and "employed all sorts of leisurely measures to help the flight of precious minutes". The plan backfired when Seymour at last managed to "find a passage through the phalanx of the 'Spurs' rearguard, and ran the ball in to shoot a fine goal".
19/04/27 - Huddersfield [A] Lost 0-1 [] - 45,059 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Harris, 7 - Urwin, 8 - Clark, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Leeds Road housed it's biggest attendance for six years as Huddersfield recorded a controversial last gasp victory which maintained their slim hopes of overtaking The Novocastrians.
Brown's goal came from the very last kick of the game. The United players thought their had been a handball in the build-up and "crowded around Mr Watson, the ref, excitedly protesting, but the official calmly walked to the pavilion with the United players arguing most of the way".
The ground was hard, the ball was lively and the "match did not provide the finer points of the game in profusion, possibly because of the excitement in the air". The Yorkies were "more forceful and aggressive" in the first half and dominated possession, but after the break it was United who had the homesters on the defensive for most of the game.
Four points now separated the two sides with three games left to pay. United's vastly superior goal average meant one more victory would virtually assure glory; but they had a tricky trip to 5th place West Ham coming up.
23/04/27 - West Ham [A] Drew 1-1 [Seymour] - 30,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Harris, 7 - Urwin, 8 - Clark, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
United returned from London with only a point, however Huddersfield's failure to beat Man Utd at home meant United were all but Champions.
It wasn't a good game as a result of another baked hard pitch, a strong wind blowing swirls of dust around and the fact that it "was palpable that they were a little overwrought" with the significance of the game.
Seymour opened the scoring with a shot across goal [20] when Clark's deep cross bypassed "friend and foe" before arriving at his feet . Fourteen minutes later Newcastle gave away the "softest goal that has been scored against them this season". A an aimless long ball should have caused no trouble but Maitland and Wilson left it to each other allowing Ruffell to walk it into an empty net.
In the second forty-five Newcastle were happy to settle for what they had, although they were most aggrieved when the referee failed to act when Gallagher was sent crashing to the ground in the area.
30/04/27 - Sheff Wed [H] Won 2-1 [Gallagher 2] - 30,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Spencer, 6- Curry, 7 - Urwin, 8 - Clark, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
Newcastle made mathematically sure of the Championship in their tenth and final game of the month. It was no surprise that the beat "The Wednesday" as they had failed to win any away games all season.
Despite the fact The Owls had nothing to play for it was a hard struggle as they were desperate to record that first victory and "were none to particular in the methods they adopted".
Gallagher banged the ball into the back of the net just before the half hour,then Sheffield to hit straight back after another defensive lapse. Wilkinson crossed from the left, Wilson went for but missed it and Strange headed home. Incessant United pressure followed but custodian Brown "so handy with his fists and in the almost forgotten art of punching the ball" kept them out.
The game continued in a similar vein in the second period and it wasn't until fifteen minuted before the end that Gallagher "succeeded in putting the issue beyond doubt with another goal of the unstoppable brand"; running in to head home an Urwin cross.
"The champions trooped off the field to the strains of 'The Conquering Heroes' with the Lord Major to meet them and congratulate each player in person"
07/05/27 - Leicester [A] Lost 1-2 [Low] - 25,000 - 1st
Line Up: 1 - Wilson, 2 - Maitland, 3 - Hudspeth 4 - McKenzie, 5 - Park, 6- Curry, 7 - Low, 8 - McKay, 9 - Gallagher, 10 - McDonald, 11 - Seymour.
The Champions finished their campaign with a disappointing defeat at Filbert Street. "It was broiling weather and the ground was hard as a board". Despite the conditions both teams played enthusiastically.
Low got the visitors off to a great start , scoring from a corner after only a couple of minutes. However they were rarely in the game after that and only Wilson and wasteful Foxes finishing prevented a heavier defeat.
Lochhead equalised [9] when his shot went in off the post and the winner came from the penalty spot in the second half.