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12 November, 1977

Victory over Man Utd boosts title chase

On this day in 1977 Forest beat Manchester United 2–1 during their First Division title-winning season.

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Start of a golden era
Goal scorer Kenny Burns, pictured 1980.
Goal scorer Kenny Burns, pictured 1980. Image: Koen Suyk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest strengthened their title credentials by beating Manchester United 2–1 at the City Ground during the 1977–78 First Division season.

United went ahead through Stuart Pearson, but Forest responded with the kind of calm that was becoming a feature of Brian Clough’s newly promoted side. Kenny Burns brought Forest level with a left-footed finish, before Archie Gemmill headed in from Peter Withe’s cross to turn the match around.

Goal scorer Kenny Burns, pictured 1980.
Goal scorer Kenny Burns, pictured 1980. Image: Koen Suyk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The win carried obvious weight because of the opponent. Manchester United brought name, pressure and attention, but Forest were building something much more than a promotion afterglow. Results like this made the league table feel increasingly serious.

Forest would go on to win the First Division title, one of the most extraordinary achievements in English football history. The 2–1 win over United sits naturally inside that story: a home victory over a major club, decided by Burns and Gemmill, on the way to becoming champions of England.

ITV Match Highlights

Sources

MUFCInfo; 11v11; Transfermarkt

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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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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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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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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Sunderland
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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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On this day in …
1977
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