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Manchester United 1970-1971

43
Points · Division One 1970-1971
8th in the Division One after 42 matches

Manchester United finished 8th in the Division One with 43 points from 42 games in 1970-1971, scoring 78 goals in all competitions. They won 20, drew 13 and lost 17 of their 50 games in all competitions under Wilf McGuinness and Matt Busby.

Stats
20
Won
13
Drawn
17
Lost
Form
W
D
W
L
W

Managers

2 spells
Manager From PWDLPPG
Wilf McGuinness 15 Aug 1970 2991010 1.28
Matt Busby 2 Jan 1971 211137 1.71

Season at a Glance

78
Goals Scored
75
Conceded
50
Played

How this season compares

of 123 seasons
1.46
Points per game
93rd-best of 123 full seasons
1.56
Goals per game
87th-best of 123 full seasons
1.50
Conceded per game
88th-best of 123 full seasons
40%
Win rate
91st-best of 123 full seasons

In the Division One, United ranked 3rd of 22 for goals scored (+0.37 per game vs the league average) and 20th for fewest conceded.

Cup Runs

Top Scorers

1
George Best
48 apps
21
— ast
2
Denis Law
34 apps
16
— ast
3
Brian Kidd
33 apps
13
— ast
4
Alan Gowling
22 apps
8
— ast
5
Bobby Charlton
50 apps
8
— ast
6
John Aston Jnr
24 apps
3
— ast
7
Willie Morgan
29 apps
3
— ast
8
Carlo Sartori
8 apps
2
— ast
9
John Fitzpatrick
43 apps
2
— ast
10
David Sadler
39 apps
1
— ast

All Results

50 matches
August 1970 1W · 2D · 2L
L
Leeds United H
D1
0–1
15 Aug 59,365 0-0-1 L1
D
Chelsea H
D1
0–0
19 Aug 50,979 0-1-1 D1
L
Arsenal A
D1
0–4
22 Aug 54,117 0-1-2 L1
W
Burnley A
D1 Law 2
2–0
25 Aug 29,385 1-1-2 W1
D
West Ham United H
D1 Fitzpatrick
1–1
29 Aug 50,643 1-2-2 D1
September 1970 3W · 2D · 1L
W
Everton H
D1 Charlton, Best
2–0
2 Sep 51,346 2-2-2 W1
D
Liverpool A
D1 Kidd
1–1
5 Sep 52,542 2-3-2 D1
W
Aldershot A
LC Best, Kidd, Law
3–1
9 Sep 18,509 3-3-2 W1
W
Coventry City H
D1 Charlton, Best
2–0
12 Sep 48,939 4-3-2 W2
L
Ipswich Town A
D1
0–4
19 Sep 27,776 4-3-3 L1
D
Blackpool H
D1 Best
1–1
26 Sep 46,647 4-4-3 D1
October 1970 3W · 1D · 3L
L
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
D1 Gowling, Kidd
2–3
3 Oct 38,629 4-4-4 L1
W
Portsmouth H
LC Charlton
1–0
7 Oct 32,068 5-4-4 W1
L
Crystal Palace H
D1
0–1
10 Oct 42,979 5-4-5 L1
D
Leeds United A
D1 Fitzpatrick, Charlton
2–2
17 Oct 50,190 5-5-5 D1
W
West Bromwich Albion H
D1 Law, Kidd
2–1
24 Oct 43,278 6-5-5 W1
W
Chelsea H
LC Charlton, Best
2–1
28 Oct 47,565 7-5-5 W2
L
Newcastle United A
D1
0–1
31 Oct 45,140 7-5-6 L1
November 1970 2W · 2D · 1L
D
Stoke City H
D1 Law, Sadler
2–2
7 Nov 47,451 7-6-6 D1
W
Nottingham Forest A
D1 Gowling, Sartori
2–1
14 Nov 36,364 8-6-6 W1
W
Crystal Palace H
LC Fitzpatrick, Kidd 2, Charlton
4–2
18 Nov 48,961 9-6-6 W2
L
Southampton A
D1
0–1
21 Nov 30,202 9-6-7 L1
D
Huddersfield Town H
D1 Best
1–1
28 Nov 45,306 9-7-7 D1
December 1970 0W · 3D · 3L
D
Tottenham Hotspur A
D1 Law, Best
2–2
5 Dec 55,693 9-8-7 D2
L
Manchester City H
D1 Kidd
1–4
12 Dec 52,636 9-8-8 L1
D
Aston Villa H
LC agg 1-1 Kidd
1–1
16 Dec 48,889 9-9-8 D1
L
Arsenal H
D1 Sartori
1–3
19 Dec 33,182 9-9-9 L1
L
Aston Villa A
LC agg 2-3 Kidd
1–2
23 Dec 58,667 9-9-10 L2
D
Derby County A
D1 Law 2, Best, Kidd
4–4
26 Dec 34,068 9-10-10 D1
January 1971 2W · 2D · 1L
D
Middlesbrough H
FAC
0–0
2 Jan 47,824 9-11-10 D2
L
Middlesbrough A
FAC Replay Best
1–2
5 Jan 41,000 9-11-11 L1
W
Chelsea A
D1 Morgan (pen), Gowling
2–1
9 Jan 53,482 10-11-11 W1
D
Burnley H
D1 Jnr
1–1
16 Jan 40,135 10-12-11 D1
W
Huddersfield Town A
D1 Law, Jnr
2–1
30 Jan 41,464 11-12-11 W1
February 1971 3W · 0D · 1L
W
Tottenham Hotspur H
D1 Best, Morgan (pen)
2–1
6 Feb 48,965 12-12-11 W2
W
Southampton H
D1 Morgan, Gowling 4
5–1
20 Feb 36,060 13-12-11 W3
L
Everton A
D1
0–1
23 Feb 52,544 13-12-12 L1
W
Newcastle United H
D1 Kidd
1–0
27 Feb 41,902 14-12-12 W1
March 1971 2W · 0D · 1L
L
West Bromwich Albion A
D1 Best, Jnr, Kidd
3–4
6 Mar 41,112 14-12-13 L1
W
Nottingham Forest H
D1 Law, Best
2–0
13 Mar 40,473 15-12-13 W1
W
Stoke City A
D1 Best 2
2–1
20 Mar 40,005 16-12-13 W2
April 1971 3W · 0D · 4L
L
West Ham United A
D1 Best
1–2
3 Apr 38,507 16-12-14 L1
L
Derby County H
D1 Law
1–2
10 Apr 45,691 16-12-15 L2
W
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
D1 Gowling
1–0
12 Apr 41,886 17-12-15 W1
L
Coventry City A
D1 Best
1–2
13 Apr 33,818 17-12-16 L1
W
Crystal Palace A
D1 Law 3, Best 2
5–3
17 Apr 39,145 18-12-16 W1
L
Liverpool H
D1
0–2
19 Apr 44,004 18-12-17 L1
W
Ipswich Town H
D1 Best (pen), Charlton, Kidd
3–2
24 Apr 33,566 19-12-17 W1
May 1971 1W · 1D · 0L
D
Blackpool A
D1 Law
1–1
1 May 29,857 19-13-17 D1
W
Manchester City A
D1 Charlton, Law, Best 2
4–3
5 May 43,626 20-13-17 W1

Home & Away

Venue PWDL GFGAGDWin%CSAvg Att
Home 261286 3728+9 46%8 45,028
Away 248511 4147-6 33%1 41,077

Home crowds averaged 45,028, away 41,077. Their biggest crowd was 59,365 v Leeds United, the smallest 18,509 v Aldershot.

Season Records

5–1
Biggest win
v Southampton · 20 Feb 1971
0–4
Heaviest defeat
v Arsenal · 22 Aug 1970
3
Longest win streak
6
Longest unbeaten run
10
Longest winless run
9
Clean sheets
10
Failed to score
1–1
Most common score
7 times

United completed the league double over Nottingham Forest. They lost both league meetings with Arsenal.

When Goals Were Scored

Scored Conceded
6
14
1-15
15
12
16-30
14
14
31-45
18
14
46-60
16
12
61-75
9
9
76+

United's average goal came in the 49', the average one conceded in the 42'. They scored 4 from the 81st minute on and conceded 5. Penalties: 3 scored, 2 conceded. Own goals: 0 for, 1 against.

Min Scorer Opponent Comp Before Date
68' Denis Law @ Burnley D1 0–0 25 Aug 1970
75' Denis Law @ Burnley D1 1–0 25 Aug 1970
28' John Fitzpatrick vs West Ham United D1 0–1 29 Aug 1970
62' Bobby Charlton vs Everton D1 0–0 2 Sep 1970
78' George Best vs Everton D1 1–0 2 Sep 1970
21' Brian Kidd @ Liverpool D1 0–0 5 Sep 1970
45' George Best @ Aldershot LC 0–1 9 Sep 1970
63' Brian Kidd @ Aldershot LC 1–1 9 Sep 1970
71' Denis Law @ Aldershot LC 2–1 9 Sep 1970
55' Bobby Charlton vs Coventry City D1 0–0 12 Sep 1970
60' George Best vs Coventry City D1 1–0 12 Sep 1970
29' George Best vs Blackpool D1 0–0 26 Sep 1970
11' Alan Gowling @ Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 0–1 3 Oct 1970
68' Brian Kidd @ Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 1–3 3 Oct 1970
61' Bobby Charlton vs Portsmouth LC 0–0 7 Oct 1970
59' John Fitzpatrick @ Leeds United D1 0–2 17 Oct 1970
85' Bobby Charlton @ Leeds United D1 1–2 17 Oct 1970
75' Denis Law vs West Bromwich Albion D1 0–1 24 Oct 1970
77' Brian Kidd vs West Bromwich Albion D1 1–1 24 Oct 1970
28' Bobby Charlton vs Chelsea LC 0–0 28 Oct 1970
70' George Best vs Chelsea LC 1–1 28 Oct 1970
29' Denis Law vs Stoke City D1 0–1 7 Nov 1970
71' David Sadler vs Stoke City D1 1–1 7 Nov 1970
21' Alan Gowling @ Nottingham Forest D1 0–0 14 Nov 1970
49' Carlo Sartori @ Nottingham Forest D1 1–0 14 Nov 1970
29' John Fitzpatrick vs Crystal Palace LC 0–0 18 Nov 1970
49' Brian Kidd vs Crystal Palace LC 1–0 18 Nov 1970
53' Brian Kidd vs Crystal Palace LC 2–0 18 Nov 1970
80' Bobby Charlton vs Crystal Palace LC 3–1 18 Nov 1970
28' George Best vs Huddersfield Town D1 0–0 28 Nov 1970
33' Denis Law @ Tottenham Hotspur D1 0–0 5 Dec 1970
57' George Best @ Tottenham Hotspur D1 1–0 5 Dec 1970
72' Brian Kidd vs Manchester City D1 0–4 12 Dec 1970
44' Brian Kidd vs Aston Villa LC 0–1 16 Dec 1970
41' Carlo Sartori vs Arsenal D1 0–3 19 Dec 1970
14' Brian Kidd @ Aston Villa LC 0–0 23 Dec 1970
55' Denis Law @ Derby County D1 0–2 26 Dec 1970
57' George Best @ Derby County D1 1–2 26 Dec 1970
59' Denis Law @ Derby County D1 2–2 26 Dec 1970
75' Brian Kidd @ Derby County D1 3–4 26 Dec 1970
89' George Best @ Middlesbrough FAC 0–2 5 Jan 1971
77' Willie Morgan pen @ Chelsea D1 0–1 9 Jan 1971
86' Alan Gowling @ Chelsea D1 1–1 9 Jan 1971
47' John Aston Jnr vs Burnley D1 0–0 16 Jan 1971
26' Denis Law @ Huddersfield Town D1 0–0 30 Jan 1971
46' John Aston Jnr @ Huddersfield Town D1 1–1 30 Jan 1971
15' George Best vs Tottenham Hotspur D1 0–0 6 Feb 1971
24' Willie Morgan pen vs Tottenham Hotspur D1 1–0 6 Feb 1971
26' Willie Morgan vs Southampton D1 0–0 20 Feb 1971
35' Alan Gowling vs Southampton D1 1–0 20 Feb 1971
42' Alan Gowling vs Southampton D1 2–0 20 Feb 1971
44' Alan Gowling vs Southampton D1 3–0 20 Feb 1971
88' Alan Gowling vs Southampton D1 4–1 20 Feb 1971
43' Brian Kidd vs Newcastle United D1 0–0 27 Feb 1971
18' George Best @ West Bromwich Albion D1 0–0 6 Mar 1971
50' John Aston Jnr @ West Bromwich Albion D1 1–2 6 Mar 1971
60' Brian Kidd @ West Bromwich Albion D1 2–3 6 Mar 1971
12' Denis Law vs Nottingham Forest D1 0–0 13 Mar 1971
43' George Best vs Nottingham Forest D1 1–0 13 Mar 1971
23' George Best @ Stoke City D1 0–0 20 Mar 1971
34' George Best @ Stoke City D1 1–0 20 Mar 1971
56' George Best @ West Ham United D1 0–2 3 Apr 1971
70' Denis Law vs Derby County D1 0–2 10 Apr 1971
42' Alan Gowling vs Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 0–0 12 Apr 1971
60' George Best @ Coventry City D1 0–2 13 Apr 1971
43' Denis Law @ Crystal Palace D1 0–2 17 Apr 1971
48' Denis Law @ Crystal Palace D1 1–2 17 Apr 1971
58' George Best @ Crystal Palace D1 2–2 17 Apr 1971
65' George Best @ Crystal Palace D1 3–2 17 Apr 1971
66' Denis Law @ Crystal Palace D1 4–2 17 Apr 1971
27' George Best pen vs Ipswich Town D1 0–1 24 Apr 1971
40' Bobby Charlton vs Ipswich Town D1 1–1 24 Apr 1971
76' Brian Kidd vs Ipswich Town D1 2–1 24 Apr 1971
6' Denis Law @ Blackpool D1 0–0 1 May 1971
15' Bobby Charlton @ Manchester City D1 0–0 5 May 1971
30' Denis Law @ Manchester City D1 1–0 5 May 1971
31' George Best @ Manchester City D1 2–0 5 May 1971
75' George Best @ Manchester City D1 3–1 5 May 1971

Squad

23 players
Player LeagueFA CupLeague Cup Total Red
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
Bobby Charlton 42 5 2 – 6 3 50 8 –
George Best 40 18 2 1 6 2 48 21 –
John Fitzpatrick 35 1 2 – 6 1 43 2 –
Tony Dunne 35 – 2 – 5 – 42 – –
David Sadler 32 1 2 – 5 – 39 1 –
Denis Law 28 15 2 – 4 1 34 16 –
Brian Kidd 25 (1) 8 2 – 6 5 33 (1) 13 –
Paul Edwards 30 (1) – 1 – 2 – 33 (1) – –
Willie Morgan 25 3 2 – 2 – 29 3 –
Jimmy Rimmer 20 – 2 – 6 – 28 – –
Pat Crerand 24 – 2 – 1 – 27 – 1
John Aston Jnr 20 (1) 3 – – 4 (1) – 24 (2) 3 –
Alan Gowling 20 (3) 8 1 (1) – 1 – 22 (4) 8 –
Francis Burns 20 (4) – – – 2 (1) – 22 (5) – –
Alex Stepney 22 – – – – – 22 – –
Nobby Stiles 17 – – – 2 – 19 – –
Steve James 13 – – – 4 (1) – 17 (1) – –
Ian Ure 13 – 1 – 3 – 17 – –
Willie Watson 8 – – – 2 – 10 – –
Carlo Sartori 7 (5) 2 – – 1 – 8 (5) 2 –
Ian Donald – – – – 1 – 1 – –
Thomas O'Neil 1 – – – – – 1 – –
Tony Young 1 (1) – – – – – 1 (1) – –

Division One Table

# Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Arsenal 42 29 7 6 71 29 +42 65
2 Leeds United 42 27 10 5 72 30 +42 64
3 Tottenham Hotspur 42 19 14 9 54 33 +21 52
4 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 22 8 12 64 54 +10 52
5 Liverpool 42 17 17 8 42 24 +18 51
6 Chelsea 42 18 15 9 52 42 +10 51
7 Southampton 42 17 12 13 56 44 +12 46
8 Manchester United 42 16 11 15 65 66 -1 43
9 Derby County 42 16 10 16 56 54 +2 42
10 Coventry City 42 16 10 16 37 38 -1 42
11 Manchester City 42 12 17 13 47 42 +5 41
12 Newcastle United 42 14 13 15 44 46 -2 41
13 Stoke City 42 12 13 17 44 48 -4 37
14 Everton 42 12 13 17 54 60 -6 37
15 Huddersfield Town 42 11 14 17 40 49 -9 36
16 Nottingham Forest 42 14 8 20 42 61 -19 36
17 West Bromwich Albion 42 10 15 17 58 75 -17 35
18 Crystal Palace 42 12 11 19 39 57 -18 35
19 Ipswich Town 42 12 10 20 42 48 -6 34
20 West Ham United 42 10 14 18 47 60 -13 34
21 Burnley 42 7 13 22 29 63 -34 27
22 Blackpool 42 4 15 23 34 66 -32 23

Points Progression

Division One

Transfers

5 moves
Out
  • Don Givens Centre-Forward
    to Luton€18k
  • Bill Foulkes Centre-Back
    to RetiredUndisclosed
  • Bobby Noble Left-Back
    to RetiredUndisclosed
  • Jimmy Ryan Striker
    to LutonUndisclosed
  • Shay Brennan Right-Back
    to Waterford FCFree

Debuts & Farewells

Debuts this season
Final appearances

Quick Quiz

Who was Manchester United's top scorer in 1970-1971?

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