Newcastle 1966/67 Diary
January
New Year and new hope as United remained unbeaten!
The unsettled John McGrath returned to form a new tough looking centre-back partnership for the trip to Burnley. Defending in numbers and playing on the break United won on their travels [2-0] for the first time since the opening day of the season. It was also their first clean sheet for almost 5 months.
A second clean sheet was secured when Forest visited but this time United couldn't muster a goal either and the game ended goalless.
The FA Cup Third Round provided a break from the struggle for survival but United were handed a tough draw away at Division 2 leaders Coventry. It turned out to be a classic with United abandoning their defensive approach and coming away with a 4-3 victory.
February
A disastrous start as United were crushed 5-1 at Craven Cottage and earned the wrath of the Fulham directorate for forgetting to pack an "away" strip forcing the homesters to change colours
League Champions Everton were on Tyneside next and with only 18 minutes gone The Toffees were three goals to the good. The third goal sparked fighting at the Leazes End and bottles and coins were thrown on the pitch.
The FA Cup Fourth Round took United to the City Ground to take on Forest. Almost 10,000 geordies made the trip to Forest, but a Davies less United slumped to another 3-0 defeat. .
At least the month finished on a high as United hung on to beat Arsenal 2-1 at SJP.
March
There was a hectic schedule of six games this month and it was vital that United added to their half dozen League victories. Thankfully they did and they gave themselves a chance of survival.
Things couldn't have got off to a worse start as United were beaten 3-0 again in the Tyne Wear derby at Roker Park. It was a poor game in which United tried to play for the draw. For an hour their tactics worked until a risky overhead back-pass was intercepted and the dam was broken. We were now 21st, two points behind West Brom and safety.
Three home games followed and after a creditable home draw with Man United [0-0] United recorded two wins on the bounce for the first time that season by defeating Blackpool [2-1] and Stoke [3-1] in two nervy encounters
United returned pointless from Stamford Bridge where they were desperately unlucky not to draw before securing a vital 1-0 win away at Stoke. The result left United one place above the relegation zone with West Brom one point behind.
April Fools Day saw United beat Leicester 1-0 before they unluckily lost at Anfield [3-1] with Liverpool scoring twice in the last 13 minutes after Wyn Davies had a goal disallowed. Harvey described the decision as "diabolical".
McNamee was the star as United held out for a draw at Hillsbrough [0-0]. The result left United in 21st equal on points and with a game in hand over Aston Villa (20th).
United had The Hammers Jack Burkett to thank for scoring the only goal at St James' in their spare game.
42,426 turned up for the crunch match against Southampton. With three games left seven teams were still in danger of joining already relegated Blackpool.
United were 19th and Southampton were on place below them. A fourth win in six games [3-1] coupled with a defeat for Villa was enough to secure First Division safety with two games left to play.
The season was rounded off with two resounding defeats at Leicester [4-2] and West Brom [6-1]