1976-77 Season - April

Stewart Barrowclough netted a last gasp winner to give United their first win on their travels since the beginning of November

They should have won more comfortably. Tommy Craig blasted home from the penalty spot [11th] and for the rest of the first half United dominated without managing to convert any more of the numerous chances they conjured up.

The Blues battled back in the Second Half and the visitors seemed to have been punished for their profligacy when Fox equalised with 15 minutes left. United responded well to the set back and Barrowclough secured the vital victory from the tightest of angles.

The Good Friday clash at Roker Park was vital for both sides as Sunderland were trying desperately to pull away from the relegation zone.

The first half was a dismal affair with United content to sit back and break up the Wearsiders play; it wasn't long before the crowd were bemoaning the "waste of money". But just before the break youngster Kevin Arnott fired the homesters ahead.

Roared on by the home crowd Sunderland scored a second through Holden and almost grabbed a third. But confidence was fragile and when Cannell smacked in a loose ball [80th] it was game on. again. Six minutes later the crowd was incensed as Tommy Craig drove in from a free kick whilst the Sunderland players were still organising their wall .

The equaliser would prove costly as Sunderland were relegated after finishing a single point from safety.

The following day Leicester visited SJP and the exertions of derby day seemed to have taken the toll as it was a listless performance from The Magpies in a dour goalless draw.

The MoD cameras were there to see United dominate the game, but there was precious little entertainment on view for the BBC viewers with The Foxes lacking bite and The Magpies all flown out.

Newcastle were now six points behind leaders Ipswich.

A desperately poor first half show had the crowd jeering and giving the old slow handclap. Prompted by Trevor Brooking it was the struggling Hammers who enjoyed the majority of posession and chances in the first forty five minutes; but crucially they couldn't convert their superiority into goals.

It took an injury to Cassiddy [41st] to change the game as he was replaced by Blackhall who played right-back allowing Nattrass to move into midfield. Nattrass made an instant impact with his driving run creating an opportunity for Gowling to fire United ahead on the stroke of half-time.

Headers from Cannell [66th] and Nulty [77th] finished the East Enders off.

The victory saw United move to five points behind new leaders Liverpool and open up a four point gap over 5th placed Man United; although The Red Devils had a couple of games in hand.

Before the match at Loftus Road Richard Dinnis made it very clear that in away games he intended to put up the shutters. He soon had to revise his plans.

QPR were unbeaten for six months at Loftus Road and when Dave Sexton's men went ahead through Don Givens after only four minutes it looked as though United's unbeaten run (stretching to ten games) might be over.

But after nearly conceding again soon after United slowly began to take control and they were rewarded with second half goals from Barrowclough and Nattrass. Despite the fact that United were reduced to ten men with 15 minutes still to go when Nulty followed Gowling off the pitch the Novocastrians stayed in control.

We were now three points behind Liverpool and six points ahead of Aston Villa in 5th.

The scene was set for a classic encounter with Supermac making his first return to his old stomping ground; but United were abysmal and only survived a pasting through Mahoney's heroics

Arsenal were in control from the start and it was no surpise when Mac opened the scoring four minutes before the break.

Ten minutes into the second period a disastrous error by "Bomber" Blackhall (who had replaced the injured Cassiddy) set up Matthews for the second.

From then on it was Mahoney verses the rest as he produced seven first class saves to prevent the cricket season being opened in score like fashion. When a struggling Gowling limped off in the 82nd minute the match became an embarrasing procession towards the United goal.