1978 Football League Cup Final
Encyclopedia
The 1978 Football League Cup Final was the eighteenth League Cup final, and was contested between Liverpool
and Nottingham Forest
. The initial match resulted in a 0–0 draw at Wembley Stadium on 18 March 1978. The replay was four days later at Old Trafford
, and saw John Robertson score from the penalty spot after a 'professional' foul
by Phil Thompson
on John O'Hare
, which TV replays later seemed to show was outside the penalty area. This was enough to win the cup for Forest, who thus became the first club to achieve a League and League Cup double.
teams West Ham United, Aston Villa and Leeds United (beating the latter 7-3 on aggregate in the semi-final). They also beat city rivals Notts County
.
. They then beat Third Division
Wrexham in the quarter-final, before edging out Arsenal
2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final.
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
. The initial match resulted in a 0–0 draw at Wembley Stadium on 18 March 1978. The replay was four days later at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (football)
Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe...
, and saw John Robertson score from the penalty spot after a 'professional' foul
Professional foul
In sports, a professional foul is a deliberate act of foul play, usually to prevent an opponent's scoring.-Association football:The concept gained notoriety in association football after an infamous incident in the 1980 FA Cup Final when Willie Young of Arsenal committed a deliberate foul on Paul...
by Phil Thompson
Phil Thompson
Philip Bernard Thompson is a retired English footballer, who played as a defender for Liverpool team of the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, he also represented the England national football team on 42 occasions...
on John O'Hare
John O'Hare
John O'Hare is a Scottish former footballer. His clubs included Sunderland, Derby County and also Nottingham Forest and was part of their European Cup victory in 1980, coming on as a substitute in the final. He also won thirteen caps for the Scotland national team, scoring five goals.- Career...
, which TV replays later seemed to show was outside the penalty area. This was enough to win the cup for Forest, who thus became the first club to achieve a League and League Cup double.
Match details
| Nottingham Forest Red shirts/White shorts/Red socks |
0 — 0 (final score after extra time) |
Liverpool White shirts/Black shorts/White socks |
Manager:  Brian CloughBrian Clough Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be... ---- Team: 1 Chris WoodsChris Woods Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major... (GK) 2 Viv AndersonViv Anderson Vivian Alexander "Viv" Anderson MBE is an English football player and coach, who played for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday in the 1970s and 1980s... 3 Frank Clark4  John McGovernJohn McGovern (footballer) John McGovern is a Scottish former association football player and manager. McGovern is most famous for captaining the Nottingham Forest side that won the European Cup twice, under the management of Brian Clough.... (c) 5 Larry LloydLarry Lloyd Laurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s.... 6 Kenny BurnsKenny Burns Kenneth "Kenny" Burns is a former Scotland international footballer, most famous for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he played a vital role in their European Cup successes.... 7  Martin O'NeillMartin O'Neill Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham... 8 Ian BowyerIan Bowyer Ian Bowyer is a former English footballer who spent much of his career at Nottingham Forest, and was part of their European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. He has also had spells as a coach and manager... 9 Peter WithePeter Withe Peter Withe is a much-travelled English footballer who played as a striker, between 1971 and 1990... 10 Tony WoodcockTony Woodcock Anthony Stewart "Tony" Woodcock is a retired English international footballer who played professionally in both England and Germany as a striker. He won the European Cup in 1979 with Nottingham Forest.-Early career:... 11 John RobertsonSubstitute: 12 John O'HareJohn O'Hare John O'Hare is a Scottish former footballer. His clubs included Sunderland, Derby County and also Nottingham Forest and was part of their European Cup victory in 1980, coming on as a substitute in the final. He also won thirteen caps for the Scotland national team, scoring five goals.- Career... ---- Scorers: None |
Half-time: 0-0 Competition: Football League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... (Final) Date: 15.00 GMT Saturday 18 March 1978 Venue: Wembley Stadium, London London London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its... Attendance: 100,000 Referee: Pat Partridge Pat Partridge Patrick "Pat" Partridge is a retired English football referee, and former President of the Association of Football League Referees and Linesmen. His occupation outside football was as a farmer. He originates from Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, and took the name of his father, Patrick Partridge,... Match rules: 90 minutes. 30 minutes extra-time if necessary. Match replayed if scores still level. One named subsititute. |
Manager: Bob Paisley Bob Paisley Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974... ---- Team: 1 Ray ClemenceRay Clemence Raymond Neal "Ray" Clemence, MBE is one of English and European football's most decorated goalkeepers ever and was part of the Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Scunthorpe United:... (GK) 2 Phil NealPhil Neal Philip George "Phil" Neal is a former footballer who was, at one time, the most successful player in English football history. He played for Liverpool 650 times over an eleven year period and is the only player to have appeared in the first five of their European Cup finals, winning four of them... 3 Tommy SmithTommy Smith (footballer born 1945) Thomas "Tommy" Smith MBE was a long-serving footballer with Liverpool, known for his uncompromising defensive style. Manager Bill Shankly once said of him: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried."-Life and playing career:... 4 Phil ThompsonPhil Thompson Philip Bernard Thompson is a retired English footballer, who played as a defender for Liverpool team of the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, he also represented the England national football team on 42 occasions... 5 Ray KennedyRay Kennedy Raymond Kennedy is an English former football player who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s... 6 Emlyn HughesEmlyn Hughes Emlyn Walter Hughes, OBE was an English footballer who captained both the England national team and the much-decorated Liverpool F.C. team of the 1970s.- From Blackpool to Liverpool :... (c) 7 Kenny DalglishKenny Dalglish Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and... 8 Jimmy CaseJimmy Case James Robert Case is a retired English football player who shot to fame with the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1970s and became known as a player with one of the hardest shots in the game.-Early life:... 9  Steve HeighwaySteve Heighway Stephen Derek "Steve" Heighway is a former footballer who was part of the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:... 10 Terry McDermottTerry McDermott Terence "Terry" McDermott is a former football midfielder and current coach. He is currently the assistant manager at League One side Huddersfield Town.He is the father of Newcastle United player Greg McDermott and Marsaxlokk player Neale McDermott-Early career:McDermott joined Bury as a youngster... 11 Ian Callaghan Ian Callaghan Ian Robert Callaghan MBE is a former Liverpool footballer who holds the record for most appearances for the club.-Life and playing career:... Substitute: 12 David FaircloughDavid Fairclough David Fairclough is a retired English footballer, most famous for playing for Liverpool as a striker during the 1970s and 80s.-Life and playing career:... ---- Scorers: None |
Replay
| Nottingham Forest Yellow/Yellow shorts/Yellow socks |
1 — 0 (final score after 90 minutes) |
Liverpool Red shirts/Red shorts/Red socks |
| Manager: Brian Clough Brian Clough Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be... ---- Team: 1 Chris WoodsChris Woods Christopher 'Chris' Charles Eric Woods is a former England international football goalkeeper, who played in the Football League and Premier League for Queens Park Rangers, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, Southampton and Burnley, in the Scottish Football League for Rangers, and in Major... (GK) 2 Viv AndersonViv Anderson Vivian Alexander "Viv" Anderson MBE is an English football player and coach, who played for clubs including Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United and Sheffield Wednesday in the 1970s and 1980s... 3 Frank Clark4 John O'HareJohn O'Hare John O'Hare is a Scottish former footballer. His clubs included Sunderland, Derby County and also Nottingham Forest and was part of their European Cup victory in 1980, coming on as a substitute in the final. He also won thirteen caps for the Scotland national team, scoring five goals.- Career... 5 Larry LloydLarry Lloyd Laurence Valentine Lloyd was a footballer, a burly and tough central defender who won honours for both Bill Shankly's Liverpool and Brian Clough's all-conquering Nottingham Forest side of the late 1970s.... 6 Kenny BurnsKenny Burns Kenneth "Kenny" Burns is a former Scotland international footballer, most famous for his time with Nottingham Forest, where he played a vital role in their European Cup successes.... (c) 7 Martin O'NeillMartin O'Neill Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham... 8 Ian BowyerIan Bowyer Ian Bowyer is a former English footballer who spent much of his career at Nottingham Forest, and was part of their European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. He has also had spells as a coach and manager... 9 Peter WithePeter Withe Peter Withe is a much-travelled English footballer who played as a striker, between 1971 and 1990... 10 Tony WoodcockTony Woodcock Anthony Stewart "Tony" Woodcock is a retired English international footballer who played professionally in both England and Germany as a striker. He won the European Cup in 1979 with Nottingham Forest.-Early career:... 11 John RobertsonSubstitute 12 ---- Scorers:
|
Half-time: 0-0 Competition: Football League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... (Final) Date: 19.45 BST Wednesday 22 March 1978 Venue: Old Trafford Old Trafford (football) Old Trafford is a football stadium in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, England, and the home of Manchester United. With a capacity of 75,811, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadium in England after Wembley, the third-largest in the United Kingdom and the eleventh-largest in Europe... , Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... Attendance: 54,375 Referee: Pat Partridge Pat Partridge Patrick "Pat" Partridge is a retired English football referee, and former President of the Association of Football League Referees and Linesmen. His occupation outside football was as a farmer. He originates from Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees, and took the name of his father, Patrick Partridge,... Match rules: 90 minutes. 30 minutes extra-time if necessary. Match replayed if scores still level. One named subsititute. |
Manager: Bob Paisley Bob Paisley Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974... ---- Team: 1 Ray ClemenceRay Clemence Raymond Neal "Ray" Clemence, MBE is one of English and European football's most decorated goalkeepers ever and was part of the Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Scunthorpe United:... (GK) 2 Phil NealPhil Neal Philip George "Phil" Neal is a former footballer who was, at one time, the most successful player in English football history. He played for Liverpool 650 times over an eleven year period and is the only player to have appeared in the first five of their European Cup finals, winning four of them... 3 Ray KennedyRay Kennedy Raymond Kennedy is an English former football player who won every domestic honour in the game with Arsenal and Liverpool in the 1970s... 4 Tommy SmithTommy Smith (footballer born 1945) Thomas "Tommy" Smith MBE was a long-serving footballer with Liverpool, known for his uncompromising defensive style. Manager Bill Shankly once said of him: "Tommy Smith wasn't born, he was quarried."-Life and playing career:... 5 Phil ThompsonPhil Thompson Philip Bernard Thompson is a retired English footballer, who played as a defender for Liverpool team of the 1970s and 1980s. During this time, he also represented the England national football team on 42 occasions... 6 Emlyn HughesEmlyn Hughes Emlyn Walter Hughes, OBE was an English footballer who captained both the England national team and the much-decorated Liverpool F.C. team of the 1970s.- From Blackpool to Liverpool :... (c) 7 Kenny DalglishKenny Dalglish Kenneth Mathieson "Kenny" Dalglish MBE is a Scottish former footballer and the current manager of Liverpool F.C.. In a 22-year playing career, he played for two club teams, Celtic and Liverpool, winning numerous honours with both. He is the most capped Scottish player, with 102 appearances, and... 8 Jimmy CaseJimmy Case James Robert Case is a retired English football player who shot to fame with the all-conquering Liverpool side of the 1970s and became known as a player with one of the hardest shots in the game.-Early life:... 9 Steve HeighwaySteve Heighway Stephen Derek "Steve" Heighway is a former footballer who was part of the hugely successful Liverpool team of the 1970s.-Life and playing career:... 10 Terry McDermottTerry McDermott Terence "Terry" McDermott is a former football midfielder and current coach. He is currently the assistant manager at League One side Huddersfield Town.He is the father of Newcastle United player Greg McDermott and Marsaxlokk player Neale McDermott-Early career:McDermott joined Bury as a youngster... 11 Ian Callaghan Ian Callaghan Ian Robert Callaghan MBE is a former Liverpool footballer who holds the record for most appearances for the club.-Life and playing career:... Substitute 12 David FaircloughDavid Fairclough David Fairclough is a retired English footballer, most famous for playing for Liverpool as a striker during the 1970s and 80s.-Life and playing career:... ---- Scorers: None |
Nottingham Forest
Forest averaged almost 6 goals per game in their route to the final, which included victories over First DivisionFootball League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
teams West Ham United, Aston Villa and Leeds United (beating the latter 7-3 on aggregate in the semi-final). They also beat city rivals Notts County
Notts County F.C.
Notts County Football Club are an English professional football club based in Nottingham. They are the oldest of all the clubs in the world that are now professional, having been formed in 1862. They currently play in League One of The Football League, the third tier of the English football system...
.
Liverpool
Liverpool were drawn at home to First Division teams in their first 3 rounds, although they needed a replay to beat Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. They then beat Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
Wrexham in the quarter-final, before edging out Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
2-1 on aggregate in the semi-final.