Newcastle 1970/71 Diary

Mid-table mediocrity

Newcastle finished the season in 12th place after a disappointing and inconsistent League season. They were well clear of relegation trouble but also well out of the Fairs Cup places. They remained defensively sound, but only managed to score an average of 1.05 goals a game.

It had been a season of tight games, there was only one victory and two defeats with a margin of 3 goals. At SJP especially there was not much entertainment on offer; nine of the twenty one games ended in draws (4x0-0, 4x1-1 and 1x2-2)

There was no progress made in the domestic cups and after humbling the Italian giants Inter Milan in the Fairs Cup they were dumped themselves by Hungarian minnows Pesci Dozsa.

August

After a first day victory over Wolves in front of 38,346 fans the team struggled badly.

They were well beaten at Stoke [0-3] and Crystal Palace [0-1] before drawing against Forest and slumping to a disastrous home defeat against Blackpool [1-2].

After the latter game Harvey was fuming "It's the worst Newcastle display I've seen in years. I can forgive individual players having an indifferent match, but this was a terrible team effort. Heads will roll after this!"

September

Frank Clark and Ollie Burton returned from injury to strengthen the defence and notable victories were recorded at West Brom and Derby [both 2-1]

A fortnight before Newcastle travelled to the San Siro to meet Inter Milan, they visited the more humble surroundings of Eastville, the home of Third Division Bristol Rovers. They travelled with confidence; too much confidence. A totally inept performance resulted in a 1-2 defeat to ensure United fell at the first hurdle for the 9th time in 11 attempts

A drab goalless draw with a transitional Liverpool at home was followed by an excellent 2-0 win at Upton Park in front of the MoD cameras in which Pop Robson notched his first goals of the season.

In the first round of the Fairs Cup United were rewarded with a glamour tie against Inter Milan. The Italians had no less than four members of the Italian side that had performed so well in the World Cup, but they had not come up against a player like the Mighty Wyn.

In the first tie at the San Siro Newcastle came very close to pulling off a fantastic victory. Milan only equalised six minutes from time after a brave diving header by wor Taffy Talisman had put Newcastle into a shock lead.

Another awful scoreless match at SJP against Coventry left United in 10th and had the supporters clapping very slowly.

In his program notes for the return leg against Milan Harvey praised the Italians for "the sporting way in which they conducted themselves...they never resorted to dirty tactics and we appreciated that". Within months the nation would witness what happened when Harry Palmer came to The Toon looking for revenge, but even he would have been hard pushed to match the brutality of the Italians that evening.

Once again United's direct football was causing the Milan defence all sorts of problems on front of a near 60,000 all-ticket crowd at SJP. A header by Moncur from a corner put the Black and Whites ahead on the half hour and then a couple of minutes later Davies challenged the Italian keeper Vieri as he prepared to clear. Davies dropped his shoulder as if he was going to challenge the keeper and that was enough for him to wedge an elbow into Davies' chest.

Joseph Minnoy the Belgian referee thought such behavior illogical and awarded Newcastle an indirect free-kick on the edge of the six-yard box. The Irate Italians swarmed around the referee and then from out of nowhere the crazy custodian decked him with a sweet left-hook. Once the referee had got off his knees Vieri was sent-off which was the cue for more mayhem. After a number of minutes, with the help of the local constabulary, the referee regained control

The rest of the match saw the Italians resort to all sorts of disgraceful behavior with Davies singled out for the heaviest punishment, Moncur had two touchline conferences with Harvey, once to suggest that Davies should be taken off before he was either carried off or sent off for retaliation. And once to request police protection for the players at the end of the game. To their credit the Newcastle players kept their heads and Davies had the last laugh when he headed a second goal

October

A decent draw at Maine Road with David Ford giving possibly his best performance was followed by a 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal. United were 1-0 up at half time at Molineux but three goals in seven minutes turned the game around and Wolves won 3-2. Despite their stumbling form this was their first League defeat in eight games.

In the Fairs Cup United were drawn against the "unknown" Hungarians Pecsi Dozsa. In the first leg Pecsi were all over the place as they failed miserably to cope with the high crosses and thunderous aerial play of the Mighty Mags. The slim two-nil scoreline reflected a host of missed opportunities and borderline decisions

With Burton injured against Wolves and McNamee not ready to return from injury another defeat at Everton [1-3] led to increasing concern over the number of goals that United were starting to let in.

The month finished with United getting the confidence booster of recording their first home win since the opening day. A Wyn Davies special was enough to give United victory after McFaul had brilliant kept Man Utd out in an early bombardment.

United maintained a mid table 11th

November

The away leg against Pesci took the players to a "different world"; well 100 miles south of the capital Belgrade anyway. The trip was a nightmare. Many players were travel sick on the bumpy air crossing, some players had to change in their hotel rooms before the match and the pitch had hardly any grass and was covered in pot holes and ruts

The team performed atrociously and Pecsi won levelled the aggregate scores. Thirty minutes of extra time produced no more goals, so in the first year of operation in Europe penalties would decide the tie. United (through Robson, and ) missed their first three penalties while Pecsi scored all theirs. The disbelieving Hungarian supporters poured onto the pitch and chaired the victorious team to the dressing room.

To further rub salt into the wounds, the rules stated that both teams had to complete five penalties each. Therefore fifteen minutes later the penalty competition resumed with Iam McFaul and Frank Clark scoring the nugatory spot kicks while Pecsi completed their "nap". Back home the Toon supporters couldn't believe that highly paid professionals could fail so miserably from only twelve yards.

A dejected United side slumped to a two goal defeat against Southampton but it was on the following Monday that the fireworks really began as Pop Robson gave his sensational press conference that shook the club to its core

A dismal home draw with Ipswich followed in which the crowd made their feelings heard in no uncertain manner and critics were predicting a downward spiral.

But in typical United style they bounced back with a fantastic 2-1 victory at White Hart Lane against second place Spurs.

A 3-1 home victory over bottom placed Burnley followed and 11th place was retained.

December

After a single goal defeat at Chelsea United recorded two functional rather than flamboyant home victories over Huddersfield and Crystal Palace. Robson seemed to be channelling his frustration positively having scored four times in the last five games.

The year ended with a comprehensive three goal defeat against leaders Leeds; Frank Clark conceding two penalties to help them on their way on a snow covered pitch. We finished the year in 10th but the Elland Road game was to be the start of a bad run.

January

Stoke were the first visitors to SJP in the New Year and they left with a well deserved 2-0 victory. Tommy Gibb was the main target of the fans' abuse and he "gestured" towards the crowd.

In the FA Cup, the Toon were drawn at home to Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town a team who would finish the season just above the relegation zone. United dominated the game, but a single goal from Ian Mitchell (his only goal for the club) was all they had to show and 15 minutes from time Mick Mills netted an equaliser, Willie Mcfaul inexplicably letting in his long shot.

In the replay at Portman road Newcastle again took the lead and seemed to be in control until more unforced errors brought their downfall. Ipswich equalised when Viljoen's flick goalwards bounced embarrassingly between Mcfaul and Craig as both waited for the other to clear. Ipswich's winner came as a result of an unmarked header following a free kick (some things never change)

A defeat at struggling Nottingham Forest and a 1-1 draw at Burnley (where new arrival John Tudor and Stewart Barrowclough debuted and Jimmy Smith reappeared) made it six games without a win and left us in 12th.

With both United and Sunderland out the cup they met in a friendly which was marred by serious trouble amongst the fans

February

A slightly better month. It started badly with a single goal defeat at home to Chelsea and a 1-1 draw at muddy Huddersfield.

Robson headed the winner against Tottenham but his relationship with the management had deteriorated so much that United were now prepared to let him go and he was on his way to West Ham that week.

The Tudor Davies partnership was feeble at Old Trafford and a single goal was enough to beat United for the fourth time that season. The transfer deadline was growing ever nearer and Harvey desperately need to buy a striker.

The defeat left United in 14th and the chances of playing in Europe for the fourth year running looked bleak.

March

We played Ipswich for the fourth time, failed to score and failed to beat them again in another drab game.

Everton were the next visitors to SJP and a 2-1 victory was only our second win in twelve games with John Tudor at last grabbing his first goal. Having failed to buy anyone before the deadline Harvey was now looking to the summer to splash his cash; the name of a young striker at Luton was starting to get a mention.

The following Saturday only 15,683 (the lowest of the season) bothered to turn up to see us play much better in an exciting 2-2 draw with Southampton. Keith Dyson who had replaced the injured Davies headed both United's goals

With Foggon also recalled the side now had more pace and mobility and the goals were at last starting to flow. When we beat Derby 3-1 at home it was the first time we had notched three goals since the opening day.

Despite the upturn in form we were still marooned in 13th

April

There was a tough schedule in April with seven games to play; although they only lost once they also only won twice.

They deservedly beat Bob Stokoe's relegation bound Blackpool on a day when United were shamed by their travelling support before getting creditable draws against Liverpool , Leeds and Manchester City. We had now crept back up to 9th

A trip to Highbury followed where the defence superbly marshalled by Moncur shut up shop before being beaten by a Charlie George special.

Pop Robson received lots of "banter" when he returned to Tyneside with his Hammers but it was another folically challenged individual who was to get the most stick due to his decidedly unadhesive "syrup"

West Brom were the last visitors of the season and three second half goals brought a comfortable victory and 11th place.

May

The season ended with a typical non-event at Coventy where both teams knew it was the Texaco Cup and not the Continent which lay in store for the following season.