Inside:

1976-77 Season - March

Summary

A hectic month in which United played eight league games. Although their form was not brilliant they were still collecting points and only one defeat allowed them to climb from 8th to 4th.

Behind the scenes arguments still rumbled on. Lord Westwood hit back at Blackburn over their demands for an investigation to be held into United's transfer dealings over the past 18 months .

And Paul Cannell complained to the press that he was the lowest paid player in the top division. Despite his numerous games he was still paid as a reserve receiving £40 a week after tax and missing out on first team bonuses.

1976/77 2nd Mar Div 1 Leeds [H] Won 3-0 [0-0] 33,714
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy
  • Cassiddy
  • McCaffery [1]
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Oates [1]
  • Burns [1]
  • Gowling
  • Craig T
  • Mitchell

Leeds were one place behind United on goal difference but United opened up a two point gap with a three goal victory which included a first goal for Graham Oates who returned to the side following injury.

Aiden McCaffery and Micky Burns grabbed the other goals.

1976/77 5th Mar Div 1 Liverpool [A] Lost 0-1 [0-1] 45,553
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy
  • Cassiddy [s]
  • McCaffery
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Oates
  • Burns
  • Gowling
  • Craig T
  • Blackhall [s4]

United then travelled to Anfield to take on League leaders Liverpool.

Steve Heighway gave the scousers an early lead but the reds were off colour and United battled well to stay in contention. Unfortunately they lacked the firepower to breach the Pool's rearguard.

Tommy Cassiddy was injured and replaced by Blackhall.

1976/77 9th Mar Div 1 Ipswich [H] Drew 1-1 [1-0] 33,820
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass [1]
  • Kenneddy
  • Blackhall
  • McCaffery
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Oates
  • Burns
  • Gowling
  • Craig T
  • MacLean

The next game was just as difficult as Bobby Robson's 2nd placed Ipswich team arrived on Tyneside.

Ipswich played some excellent football but with Mahoney performing heroics in goal and McCaffery having his best game so far United were all set to win the game until a gaffe by Oates allowed Wark to equalise in the 88th minute.

Nattrass had put United ahead in the First Half with a free-kick, but the Suffolkites were well worth a share of the points.

The game was interrupted for a while by floodlight failure (a first for United).

1976/77 12th Mar Div 1 Norwich [H] Won 5-1 [2-1] 27,808
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy
  • Blackhall
  • McCaffery [2]
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Oates [1]
  • Burns
  • Gowling [1]
  • Craig T [1]
  • MacLean

Ipswich's Easy Anglian neighbours were on Tyneside three days later and they proved to be much easier opposition as United coasted to their biggest win of the season.

Graham Oates - who was heckled as he took to the pitch - scored the opener [8th] and although Reeves equalised 5 minutes later [13th] McCaffery scored again on the half hour to restore the lead.

The second period saw The Canaries crumble and three more goals was scant reward for United's total dominance. McCaffery's second provoked ironic chants of "Supermac" .

United climbed to 5th.

1976/77 15th Mar Div 1 Stoke [A] Drew 0-0 [0-0] 12,708
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy
  • Cassiddy
  • McCaffery
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Oates
  • Burns
  • Gowling
  • Craig T
  • Blackhall

Having lost five and drawn one of their last 6 away games Dinnis decided to go on the defensive for the trip to Stoke. As a result it was pretty pitiful at The Potteries as United played for and secured the draw that they were looking for.

1976/77 19th Mar Div 1 WBA [A] Drew 1-1 [0-0] 23,780
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy
  • Cassiddy
  • McCaffery
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough [1]
  • Guy
  • Burns
  • Gowling [s]
  • Craig T
  • Blackhall

West Brom were in excellent form having won five games in a row and it needed a resolute backs to the wall performance to earn another point.

The Throstles dominated from start to finish but Mahoney produced a clutch of outstanding saves to prevent them from scoring more than one.

When he was finally beaten by Laurie Cunningham at the start of the second there looked to be no way back for United. When Gowling limped off to be replaced by youngster Guy the situation looked even bleaker.

Then with 18 minutes left Barrowclough set off on a surging run which took him deep into Albion territory before rocketing a shot past Godden.

1976/77 23rd Mar Div 1 Coventry [H] Won 1-0 [0-0] 25,332
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy
  • Cassiddy
  • McCaffery
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Cannell
  • Burns [1]
  • Gowling [s]
  • Craig T
  • Blackhall [s10]

United made heavy weather of disposing of struggling Coventry; Micky Burns got the only goal .

United climbed to 4th; six points behind leaders Ipswich and with an excellent chance of qualifying for the UEFA Cup

1976/77 26th Mar Div 1 M'Boro [H] Won 1-0 [1-0] 33,643
  • Mahoney
  • Nattrass
  • Kenneddy [1]
  • Cassiddy
  • McCaffery
  • Nulty
  • Barrowclough
  • Cannell
  • Burns
  • Gowling [s]
  • Craig T
  • Guy [s10]

Dinnis called for Derby day entertainment but after the game got off to a cracking start it fizzled out into a drab colourless affair.

Kenneddy rifled in a free-kick after only 3 minutes and United largely bossed the first period.

Boro pressed forward at the start of the second half but their fightback subsided when Terry Cooper's two footed lunge led to a second booking and an early bath.

Charlton was not impressed. "Newcastle look as if they're heading for Europe. I don't know how and I don't know why but they are".