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29 October, 1977

Victory over Boro keeps title lead

On this day in 1977 Forest beat Middlesbrough 4–0 to stay top during the title season.

Records and statistics

Seasonal or era-defining statistical achievement
Double-goal scorer Viv Anderson, pictured 1980.
Double-goal scorer Viv Anderson, pictured 1980. Image: Koen Suyk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest’s title challenge gathered more weight with a commanding 4–0 win over Middlesbrough at the City Ground.

Forest were already leading the First Division, and this was the kind of home performance that made their position feel increasingly serious. Viv Anderson opened the scoring after a pass from Ian Bowyer, before Bowyer headed in from a John Robertson cross to make it 2–0.

Double-goal scorer Viv Anderson, pictured 1980.
Double-goal scorer Viv Anderson, pictured 1980. Image: Koen Suyk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Anderson struck again with a left-footed finish after Kenny Burns had supplied the pass, giving Forest a 3–0 lead by half-time. John McGovern later added the fourth from distance, rounding off a result that matched control with attacking variety.

The win mattered because Forest were not supposed to be setting the pace so quickly after promotion. Brian Clough’s side were still being measured against the established First Division order, but afternoons like this made the table look less like a surprise and more like a real title race.

Forest went on to stay the course and win the league, turning results such as this Middlesbrough victory into part of one of the club’s defining seasons.

Sources

The City Ground; 11v11

Forest timeline

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Notts County 0–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 3–0 Blackburn
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Vitória SC 1–1 Nottingham Forest
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Portimonense 1–2 Nottingham Forest Sporting CP 4–1 Nottingham Forest
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Udinese 1–0 Nottingham Forest Barcelona 1–0 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 2–1 Bayer Leverkusen
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Nottingham Forest 2–0 Stade Brestois 29
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Leeds
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Nottingham Forest 0–2 Leeds
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Liverpool 2–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–0 Tottenham
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Aston Villa 1–2 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 0–1 Coventry
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Crystal Palace 14:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 16:30 Arsenal
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Ipswich 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Brentford 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 17:30 Manchester City
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Bournemouth 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Chelsea
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Hull City 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brighton
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Sunderland 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Everton
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Manchester United 16:30 Nottingham Forest
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Newcastle 19:30 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Fulham
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Nottingham Forest 19:30 Hull City
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Manchester City 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Bournemouth
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Chelsea 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Brentford
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Fulham 20:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Manchester United
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Everton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 20:00 Newcastle
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Leeds 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Liverpool
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Brighton 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Ipswich
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Coventry 16:00 Nottingham Forest
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Records and statistics