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12 April, 1992

Rumbelows Cup final heartbreak

On this day in 1992 Forest lose the Rumbelows Cup final to Manchester United.

Cup runs and campaigns

Reached final / semi-final / quarter-final

Nottingham Forest suffered Wembley disappointment when Manchester United won the 1992 Rumbelows Cup final 1-0.

Brian McClair’s goal decided the final after 14 minutes, a low finish to Andy Marriott’s left after Ryan Giggs had worked the opening. Forest had already threatened through Roy Keane, whose early shot was saved, but once United went ahead, the match became narrow and difficult.

Forest stayed in it. Brian Laws cleared off the line in the second half to prevent United from stretching the lead, and Nigel Clough later went close with a free-kick into the side netting as Forest searched for an equaliser. The chance never quite came cleanly enough.

For Brian Clough’s side, it was a narrow defeat rather than a collapse, but cup finals are often remembered by the single moment that separates celebration from regret. Forest had reached another major Wembley occasion, reflecting the club’s continued domestic cup strength in the early 1990s.

Yet the afternoon ended with Manchester United lifting the trophy and Forest left to absorb the frustration of losing by the smallest margin. It remained part of Forest’s busy Wembley era, but this time the day ended in frustration rather than silverware.

Match Coverage

Sources

MUFCInfo; Football League Cup final records; Transfermarkt

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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On this day in …
1964
Happy birthday Chris Fairclough! (born 1964)

Chris Fairclough was born in Nottingham before beginning a professional career that started with his local club. Fairclough came through at Forest and went…

Player legacies
1992
Rumbelows Cup final heartbreak

Nottingham Forest suffered Wembley disappointment when Manchester United won the 1992 Rumbelows Cup final 1-0. Brian McClair’s goal decided the final after 14 minutes,…

Cup runs and campaigns