FOREST HISTORY · Historic event
O’Neill hat trick in Chelsea rout
On this day in 1979 Forest hit Chelsea for six at the City Ground.
Nottingham Forest overwhelmed Chelsea 6-0 at the City Ground in one of the biggest league wins of their European Cup-winning season.
The result showed the attacking side of Brian Clough’s team at a time when Forest were also proving themselves in Europe. Chelsea were swept aside in Nottingham, and the margin made the match stand out even in a period full of major occasions.
Martin O’Neill scored a hat-trick, Tony Woodcock scored twice and Garry Birtles also found the net. O’Neill’s three goals gave the afternoon its headline figure, while Woodcock and Birtles helped turn the result into a full attacking display.
The 6-0 win was more than a heavy scoreline. It showed Forest carrying domestic authority while still chasing European glory, and it gave supporters a City Ground result that needed no extra decoration: six goals, a hat-trick, and another reminder of how strong that side had become.
Sources
The City Ground; Stamford-Bridge.com; 11v11
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