Clough’s side included ex-Derby players John McGovern, John O’Hare and Arcliie Gemmill, together with former Liverpool stopper Larry Lloyd. Clough added Kenny Burns, turning the former Birmingham City bad boy into the Footballer of the Year. There was also Viv Anderson, a
Young attacking full-back who became England’s first black player when he took the field against Czechoslovakia on 29 November 1978. But tire key acquisition was probably Peter Shilton, bought from Stoke for ?270,000, the highest amount ever paid for a goalkeeper. Forest lost just three games all season, conceding only 24 league goals, and took the title with four games to spare. Clough followed in the illustrious footsteps of Herbert Chapman in taking two clubs to the championship.
Liverpool retain European Cup
Forest also got tlie better of Liverpool in the 1978 League
Cup Final, a John Robertson penalty settling the issue at OldTrafford after a goalless draw at Wembley. Having been pipped for domestic honours twice, Liverpool made sure they didn’t finish the season empty-handed by retaining their European crown. FC Bruges were their Wembley opponents. The Belgians set their stall out defensively, inviting Liverpool to try and break them down. The Reds managed to do so just once, Dalglish chipping the keeper delightfully for his 30th goal of the season.
Osborne overcome as Ipswich lift FA Cup
Between 19 November 1977 and 9 December 1978 Forest were unbeaten in the league. Their only defeat in any competition was an FA Cup quarter-final tie with West Bromwich Albion, who won 2-0. Having beaten the country’s form team. West Brom went down to Ipswich in the semis, and it was the East Anglian club who were the surprise winners of the trophy. That game will be remembered for the Roger Osborne goal which beat favourites Arsenal in the final. Osborne was so overwrought with the occasion that he was substituted, apparently through sheer nervous exhaustion. His goal took the Cup to Portman Road for the only time in the club’s history.
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Above: Arsenal’s goalkeeper tries to thwart a Liverpool attack as Graeme Souness looks on during a league match in the 1918-79 season when honours were shared - Liverpool won the league and Arsenal the FA Cup.
Opposite: Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, Peter Shilton, and team-mate, Tony Woodcock hold the League Cup after the team’s 3-2 win against Southampton in 1979. The late 1970s were a golden time for Nottingham Forest. Under manager Brian Clough, they won the league in 1977, the European Cup in 1979 and the League Cup in 1978 and 1979.
World History
