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NOTTINGHAM FOREST HISTORY
17 January, 1979

Victory over Watford opens final path

On this day in Nottingham Forest history in 1979 Forest beat Watford in the League Cup semi-final first leg.

Cup runs and campaigns

Reached final / semi-final / quarter-final
Goal scorer John Robertson, pictured 1980.
Goal scorer John Robertson, pictured 1980. Image: Hans van Dijk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nottingham Forest moved closer to Wembley by beating Watford 3-1 in the first leg of the League Cup semi-final at the City Ground.

Watford, managed by Graham Taylor, arrived as a dangerous lower-division side and went ahead early through Luther Blissett. Forest answered quickly through Garry Birtles, who scored after 13 minutes and then struck again shortly after half-time to turn the tie in Brian Clough’s side’s favour.

Goal scorer John Robertson, pictured 1980.
Goal scorer John Robertson, pictured 1980. Image: Hans van Dijk / Anefo, Nationaal Archief / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

John Robertson added the third late on, giving Forest a two-goal cushion before the second leg. The first leg had shifted from an early scare into a clear Forest advantage, with Birtles and Robertson giving the holders the cushion they needed.

Forest completed the job with a 0-0 draw at Watford, winning the tie 3-1 on aggregate. They went on to beat Southampton 3-2 at Wembley and retain the League Cup.

Goal Highlights

Sources

11v11; Old Watford

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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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Cup runs and campaigns