Season Review 1947/48 - Part 2

1st January - Div 1 - West Brom [H ] - Won 3-1 [ 61,301 ]

Teams: Fairbrother, Fraser, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Sibley, Stobbart, Milburn, Shackleton, Pearson

Scorers: Dodgin, Milburn 2

In torrential rain The Magpies hit top form and their "ball moving policy" and a "rousing team effort" saw a comfortable victory which could have been even easier

They were helped by the fact that The Throstles 'keeper was injured half way through the first half.

The win took United in to the second promotion place behind Birmingham.

3rd January -Div 1 - Luton [H] - Won 4-1 [ 64,931 ]

Fairbrother, Fraser, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Sibley, Stobbart, Milburn, Shackleton, Pearson

Scorers: Milburn 3, Stobbart

Prior to the game United signed Willie McCaul from Aberdeen (£8,000) but he would have to wait a couple of weeks for his debut.

Once again United were firing on all cylinders as Luton were played off the park. Milburn "took the defence round and around as dizzily as on a Town Moor fair ride"

10th January - FAC 3 - Charlton [a] - Lost 1-2 [ 53,428]

Teams: Fairbrother, Fraser, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Sibley, Stobbart, Milburn, Shackleton, Pearson

Scorers: Pearson

Disappointment in the FA Cup against First Division Charlton as despite dominating the game United were beaten by two soft goals in the 15th and 55th minutes. The second came from a 40 yard free-kick

Roy Bentley left for Chelsea (£12,500) in the lead up to the game.

17th January -Div 1 - Brentford [a] - Lost 0-1 [32,000]

Garbutt, Fraser, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, McCall, Stobbart, Milburn, Shackleton, Pearson

For the match at lowly Brentford Fairbrother paid the price for the FA cup defeat and McCall made his debut.

United's performance in the wind and rain was described as "less than mediocrity", "rudderless" and "plan-less"

The directors reacted by opening the cheque book again to sign Frank Houghton from Ballymena for £5,500 after their previous target - Alex Forbes of Sheffield United - was struck down with appendicitis

24th January - Div 1 - Leeds [a] - Lost 1-3 [35,000]

Teams: Garbutt, Fraser, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, McCall, Shackleton, Milburn, Stobbart, Pearson

Scorers: Milburn

Len Shackleton

Drawing by Tommy Canning

Martin kept faith with the same eleven although Shack and Stobbart switched sides; but it was to no avail and the Magpies were 3-0 down after 51 minutes.

"Individual effort which has for a long stretch camouflaged a lack of team-plan and team-play is rapidly collapsing"

When Len Shackleton was informed he would be playing for the "stiffs" at the weekend he immediately asked to be placed on the transfer list.

"I have asked for a transfer because I felt I was playing well .. and was being dropped without justification".

Martin suggested "a dissatisfied player is of little value to the club"

31st January - Div 1 - Leicester [H] - Won 2-0 [51,675]

Teams: Garbutt, Fraser, Craig, Houghton, Brennan, Woodburn, Sibley, Harvey, Donaldson, Milburn, McCall

Scorers: McCall, Sibley

Four changes were made with debutant Houghton (for Shackleton), Sibley (for Pearson), Donaldson (for Stobbart) and Woodburn (for Dodgin) all coming in and Joe Harvey being asked to play at inside right.

Flair had been sacrificed and It was an uninspiring victory but two points nonetheless: "good honest stuff without great distinction but also without over individualism or lopsidedness"

7th February - Fr - A Villa [a] - Won 2-1 [25,000]

Scorers: McCall, Taylor

Little Ernie Taylor was the star in the victory over First Division Villa

Tommy Pearson got his wish of a return to his homeland when he moved to Aberdeen for £4,500.

14th February - Fr - Liverpool [H.] Lost 0-3 [44,830]

A record friendly crowd witnessed a humbling defeat by First Division strugglers Liverpool.

21st February - Div 1 - Coventry [a] - Drew 1-1 [22,047]

Teams: Garbutt, Fraser, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Houghton, Sibley, Thompson, Milburn, Taylor, McCall

Scorers: McCall

Another revamp saw little Tommy Thompson (making his debut) and Ernie Taylor replacing Woodburn and Donaldson.

The Magpies battled well and came away with a deserved draw.

28th February - Div 1 - West Ham [a] - Won 2-0 [30,000]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Houghton, Sibley, Thompson, Milburn, Taylor, McCall

Scorers: Milburn, Thompson

Bobby Cowell returned in place of the injured Fraser as United won with second half goals from Milburn and Thompson (his first for the club).

The main talking point was caused when Hammers had a "goal" controversially chalked off when the referee blew for half-time just before the ball entered the net.

6th March - Div 1 - Bury [H ] - Won 1-0 [56,444]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Houghton, Sibley, Thompson, Milburn, Taylor, McCall

Scorers: Milburn

United scraped home in a very tight encounter when Milburn netted in the 76th minute..

13th March - Div 1 - Southampton [a] - Lost 2-4 [28,000]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Houghton, Sibley, Milburn, Lowrie, Taylor, McCall

Scorers: Milburn, Sibley

Geordie Lowrie made his debut in place of Thompson and had the ball in the net after only 20 seconds; only to have the goal chalked off for offside.

Then within 6 minutes promotion rivals Southampton had scored three with old boy Wayman grabbing a brace. They scored a 4th on the hour before United scored twice to give the scoreline some respectability.

20th March - Div 1 - Doncaster [H] - Won 2-0 [48,724]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Houghton, Milburn, Thompson, Lowrie, Taylor, McCall

Scorers: Lowrie, Thompson

In atrocious conditions United just about deserved victory over the struggling Yorkshiremen and they moved back into 2nd place on goal average.

26th March - Div 1 - Barnsley [H] - Won 1-0 [64,757]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Houghton, Sibley, Stobbart, Lowrie, Milburn, McCall

Scorers: McCall

A second half goal from McCall was just enough to earn maximum points against Barnsley.

27th March - Div 1 - Nottingham F [a] - Drew 0-0 [30,000]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Dodgin, Brennan, Houghton, Milburn, Stobbart, Lowrie, Taylor, McCall

With the attack failing to impress it was left to the defence to ensure that United returned with a hard earned point from the Midlands.

29th March - Div 1 - Barnsley [a] - Drew 1-1 [30,247]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Dodgin, Brennan, Crowe, Houghton, Milburn, Donaldson, Lowrie, McCall

Scorers: McCall

United's heroic defence held firm against a second-half onslaught with Lowrie (injured after only 15 minutes) a passenger on the right-wing and Brennan and Craig both requiring treatment

With Cardiff losing United were now two points ahead of the third placed Welshmen.

3rd April - Div 1 - Bradford PA [H] - Won 2-0 [50,367]

Team: Garbutt, Cowell, Craig, Dodgin, Brennan, Crowe, Houghton, Stobbart, Milburn, Woodburn, McCall

Scorers: Woodburn, Stobbart

The Magpies made it nine wins on the bounce at home with a relatively comfortable victory over mid-table Bradford.

Woodburn shot them ahead in the third minute and Stobbart scored from an acute angle to double the advantage just before half-time.

10th April - Div 1 - Cardiff [a ] - Drew 1-1 [50,000]

Team: Fairbrother, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Houghton, Stobbart, Milburn, Woodburn, McCall

Scorers: Stobbart

Fairbrother did very well on his return to the side and Harvey also returned from injury as United took on promotion rivals Cardiff

Stobbart's first-half goal seemed to have won the game before the referee controversially awarded a penalty with only five minutes left, the Cardiff player admitting after the game that he'd fallen over the ball.

14th April - Div 1 - Fulham [H ] - Won 1-0 [54,061]

Team: Fairbrother, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Houghton, Stobbart, Milburn, Woodburn, McCall

Scorers: Stobbart (pen)

The Magpies looked to be heading for a draw until in the 85th minute another controversial decision saw United awarded a penalty.

There was a "deathly silence" around the ground as Stobbart lined up to take the spot-kick. "Superbly casual, he stepped back, kicked, and in a flash the ball was in the back of the net. There was a "roar which rent the skies" . Old timers claimed it was as loud a noise as they ever could remember

The positions were Birmingham top (54 points from 38 games) with United in second (51 from 39) and Sheff Wed third (49 from 39)

17th April - Div 1 - Sheffield W [H.] - Won 4-2 [ 66,483 ]

Team: Fairbrother, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Houghton, Stobbart, Milburn, Woodburn, Walker

Scorers: Harvey, Houghton 2, Stobbart

A massive crowd crammed into St James' for the promotion showdown with The Owls with United knowing that a win would all but guarantee promotion due to their significantly better goal difference.

It was a rip-roaring see-saw game which saw the more skillfully constructive Wednesday side beaten by the sheer determination of The Magpies but it took two goals in the last five minutes from emergency winger Houghton to secure both points.

The hero suffered severe shock after breaking his arm and gashing his leg scoring the fourth and did not know what he had done until he was informed in the dressing room.

The Owls started at a blistering pace and United's defence had already cleared off the line three times before another save by Craig (with his hands) allowed the visitors to open the scoring after ten minutes with a penalty.

United battled back and just before half-time Stobbart equalised.

After the break United maintained their ascendancy and hours of practice on the training ground was rewarded when Harvey headed home Walkers corner {61st].

Craig made another goal-line clearance and Milburn hit the bar as both sides attacked at will then Marriot equalised nine minutes from time to set up the grandest of finales.

24th April - Div 1 - Tottenham [a] - Drew 1-1 [44,164]

Team: Fairbrother, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Sibley, Stobbart, Milburn, Woodburn, Walker

Scorers: Sibley

Spurs missed a penalty before Cowell - under pressure - headed into his own goal [30th] before Sibley grabbed the equaliser at the start of the second period.

Stobbart had to move to the right wing owing to a boot nail Piercing his foot.

1st May - Div 1 - Millwall [H. ] 1-0 [43,328 ]

Team: Fairbrother, Cowell, Craig, Harvey, Brennan, Dodgin, Sibley, Stobbart, Milburn, Woodburn, McCall

Scorers: Harvey

The Magpies rounded off the season with a twelfth successive victory at SJP.

Stobbart missed a penalty (one of numerous players to do so during the season) early on but Harvey saved his blushes