Matchday Memories: On This Day 1976 – Milne’s CCFC Catch Clough’s Forest Cold In League Cup

On this Tuesday night (21st September) in 1976 the Sky Blues, managed by (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne, were doing well in that season’s League Cup. Having disposed of  Bristol City at Ashton Gate in the first round by the only goal of the game scored by Mick Ferguson in the 41st minute they had been drawn away again.

They had travelled to the City Ground Nottingham in mid week to face a Nottingham Forest side managed by their legendary ‘gaffer’ Brian Clough. The East Midlands’ side were then a Second Division outfit (but would get promoted at the end of this season). In the League the Sky Blues were in a good little run in Division One having beaten Norwich City 2-0 at Highfield Road and drawn at West Bromwich Albion 1-1.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today’s game, in front of 41 short of 16,000 fans, and a fair representation from the Sky Blue Army, produced a fairly comfortable 3-0 victory over Cloughie’s Boys, and the Sky Blues’ unbeaten run carried forward another four matches!  City were 3-0 up at half-time and protected that scoreline to the end. Mick Ferguson got the first after 23 minutes (scoring for his sixth game in a row).

Then, City’s diminutive forward Alan Green was brought down in the box by Forest’s John McGovern on the half-hour mark and ‘Mr Reliable’ Mick Coop had no trouble putting away the spot kick. The Sky Blues third six minutes from the break came from our Welsh winger Les Cartwright who finished off a cross from ‘Greeny’ after his fantastic sixty yard run.

Forest could have no complaints about the result.

Milne’s Men lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-

Jim Blyth, Mick Coop, Bobby McDonald, the late John Craven, Jim Holmes, Alan Dugdale, Les Cartwright (sub. David Cross), Terry Yorath, Mick Ferguson, John Beck and Alan Green

 

The Forest XI took the field as follows:-

John Middleton, Colin Barrett, Frank Clark, John McGovern, Sammy Chapman, Ian Bowyer, Terry Curran, Martin O’Neill, John O’Hare, Barry Butlin and John Robertson.  Referee:- T.Bosi

 

Soon to join Forest in October Sky Blue Larry Lloyd was with City at this time but not played today.

 

The Sky Blues were drawn against Everton in the Third Round, once more away, but were on the end of a 3-0 defeat this time! In Division One, three draws in the last four games (including a controversial, delayed kick off, last day 2-2 home draw with fellow strugglers Bristol City) was just enough to give them survival in nineteenth place with Sunderland, Stoke City and bottom team Tottenham Hotspur taking the drop.

At the top it was Liverpool‘s title secured by a single point from Manchester City.