1974/75 Season - October
Summary
A disappointing month in the League with United failing to build on September's success; three draws were followed by two defeats and we slipped back to 10th.
The headlines on the 5th talked about "Soccer's Blackest Day". There was trouble at many games including United's trip to early pace setters Everton where there were 14 arrests and eight players got their marching orders.
One of the players getting an early bath that day was Terry Mancini who (in)famously bared his backside in the direction of the director's box.
Newcastle fought out a 1-1 draw in a bad tempered match at Goodison Park with United complaining that The Toffees scored when they thought the game should have been halted to allow the injured McDermott to receive treatment.
The Third Round of the League Cup saw United return to Loftus Road and a Supermac goal after only 19 seconds set up a four goal thrashing.
The home draw with 6th placed Stoke set a new club record of twelve games without defeat (if Texaco Cup games are taken into account); we could have been four up in the first twelve minutes but ended up hanging on for a point. A dour goalless draw with Wolves followed.
A Trevor Francis inspired Birmingham registered an all too easy victory at St Andrews before United put in a shocking performance in a dreadful 0-1 home defeat by Leicester.
The crowd were vocal in ther criticism but Terry Hibbitt wasn't complaining. "If I had paid to watch that rubbish I'd want my money back as well. We've stopped playing for each other. No one is prepared to work or accept responsibility
So in the space of a few weeks Newcastle had gone from a team looking capable of challenging for the Championship to a "jaded side devoid of ideas". The restless fans started to call for Harvey's head.
Meanwhile United continued their defence of the Texaco Cup; winning 3-2 against Aberdeen at home before drawing with Birmingham in the first leg of the Semi-Final.