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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
22 March, 1978

League Cup win against Liverpool

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1978 Forest beat Liverpool to win their first League Cup.

Trophies and titles

Domestic cup win
Goal winner, John Robertson.
Goal winner, John Robertson. Image: Hans van Dijk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest won the League Cup for the first time by beating Liverpool 1-0 in the replay at Old Trafford.

The Wembley final had finished 0-0 after extra time, leaving the two sides to meet again four days later. Liverpool were reigning European champions and one of the strongest teams in the country, but Forest had already shown they could live with that pressure.

Goal winner, John Robertson.
Goal winner, John Robertson. Image: Hans van Dijk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

John Robertson scored the only goal from the penalty spot after Phil Thompson was judged to have fouled John O’Hare. It was a controversial decision, with later replays suggesting the foul had taken place outside the area, but Robertson converted and Forest had the breakthrough they needed.

This was the first trophy of the Clough era’s astonishing run. Forest beat Liverpool, lifted silverware, and turned a remarkable league campaign into something even bigger.

Final Replay Footage

Sources

Liverpool FC; LFCHistory; Nottingham Forest official honours

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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Tottenham 15:00 Nottingham Forest
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Nottingham Forest 15:00 Aston Villa
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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 Crystal Palace
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Arsenal 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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General trivia
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Nottingham Forest won the League Cup for the first time by beating Liverpool 1-0 in the replay at Old Trafford. The Wembley final had…

Trophies and titles