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Manchester United 1972-1973

37
Points · Division One 1972-1973
18th in the Division One after 42 matches

Manchester United finished 18th in the Division One with 37 points from 42 games in 1972-1973, scoring 51 goals in all competitions. They won 13, drew 15 and lost 19 of their 47 games in all competitions under Frank O'Farrell and Tommy Docherty.

Stats
13
Won
15
Drawn
19
Lost
Form
L
L
D
W
D

Managers

2 spells
Manager From PWDLPPG
Frank O'Farrell 12 Aug 1972 266812 1.00
Tommy Docherty 23 Dec 1972 21777 1.33

Season at a Glance

51
Goals Scored
67
Conceded
47
Played

How this season compares

of 123 seasons
1.15
Points per game
113th-best of 123 full seasons
1.09
Goals per game
121st-best of 123 full seasons
1.43
Conceded per game
86th-best of 123 full seasons
28%
Win rate
115th-best of 123 full seasons

In the Division One, United ranked 16th of 22 for goals scored (-0.21 per game vs the league average) and 19th for fewest conceded. That was 10 places lower than 1971-1972 (-11 points).

Cup Runs

Top Scorers

1
Bobby Charlton
41 apps
7
— ast
2
Ian Storey-Moore
30 apps
6
— ast
3
Lou Macari
16 apps
5
— ast
4
Ted MacDougall
18 apps
5
— ast
5
Ronald "Wyn" Davies
17 apps
4
— ast
6
George Best
23 apps
4
— ast
7
Brian Kidd
25 apps
4
— ast
8
Willie Morgan
44 apps
4
— ast
9
Jim Holton
15 apps
3
— ast
10
Denis Law
14 apps
2
— ast

All Results

47 matches
August 1972 0W · 3D · 3L
L
Ipswich Town H
D1 Law
1–2
12 Aug 51,459 0-0-1 L1
L
Liverpool A
D1
0–2
15 Aug 54,799 0-0-2 L2
L
Everton A
D1
0–2
19 Aug 52,348 0-0-3 L3
D
Leicester City H
D1
1–1
23 Aug 40,067 0-1-3 D1
D
Arsenal H
D1
0–0
26 Aug 48,108 0-2-3 D2
D
Chelsea H
D1
0–0
30 Aug 44,482 0-3-3 D3
September 1972 2W · 2D · 3L
D
West Ham United A
D1 Best, Storey-Moore
2–2
2 Sep 31,939 0-4-3 D4
D
Oxford United A
LC Law, Charlton
2–2
6 Sep 16,560 0-5-3 D5
L
Coventry City H
D1
0–1
9 Sep 37,073 0-5-4 L1
W
Oxford United H
LC Replay Storey-Moore, Best 2 (pen)
3–1
12 Sep 21,486 1-5-4 W1
L
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
D1
0–2
16 Sep 34,049 1-5-5 L1
W
Derby County H
D1 Storey-Moore, Davies, Morgan
3–0
23 Sep 48,255 2-5-5 W1
L
Sheffield United A
D1
0–1
30 Sep 37,347 2-5-6 L1
October 1972 1W · 2D · 3L
D
Bristol Rovers A
LC Morgan
1–1
3 Oct 33,957 2-6-6 D1
D
West Bromwich Albion A
D1 Best (pen), Storey-Moore
2–2
7 Oct 39,209 2-7-6 D2
L
Bristol Rovers H
LC Replay McIlroy
1–2
11 Oct 29,349 2-7-7 L1
W
Birmingham City H
D1 MacDougall
1–0
14 Oct 52,104 3-7-7 W1
L
Newcastle United A
D1 Charlton
1–2
21 Oct 38,170 3-7-8 L1
L
Tottenham Hotspur H
D1 Charlton
1–4
28 Oct 52,497 3-7-9 L2
November 1972 2W · 1D · 1L
D
Leicester City A
D1 Best, Davies
2–2
4 Nov 32,575 3-8-9 D1
W
Liverpool H
D1 Davies, MacDougall
2–0
11 Nov 53,944 4-8-9 W1
L
Manchester City A
D1
0–3
18 Nov 52,050 4-8-10 L1
W
Southampton H
D1 Davies, MacDougall
2–1
25 Nov 36,073 5-8-10 W1
December 1972 1W · 1D · 3L
W
Norwich City A
D1 Storey-Moore, MacDougall
2–0
2 Dec 35,910 6-8-10 W2
L
Stoke City H
D1
0–2
9 Dec 41,347 6-8-11 L1
L
Crystal Palace A
D1
0–5
16 Dec 39,484 6-8-12 L2
D
Leeds United H
D1 MacDougall
1–1
23 Dec 46,382 6-9-12 D1
L
Derby County A
D1 Storey-Moore
1–3
26 Dec 35,098 6-9-13 L1
January 1973 0W · 3D · 2L
L
Arsenal A
D1 Kidd
1–3
6 Jan 51,194 6-9-14 L2
L
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
FAC
0–1
13 Jan 40,005 6-9-15 L3
D
West Ham United H
D1 Charlton (pen), Macari
2–2
20 Jan 50,878 6-10-15 D1
D
Everton H
D1
0–0
24 Jan 58,970 6-11-15 D2
D
Coventry City A
D1 Holton
1–1
27 Jan 42,767 6-12-15 D3
February 1973 1W · 0D · 1L
W
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
D1 Charlton 2 (pen)
2–1
10 Feb 52,089 7-12-15 W1
L
Ipswich Town A
D1 Macari
1–4
17 Feb 31,918 7-12-16 L1
March 1973 3W · 1D · 1L
W
West Bromwich Albion H
D1 Kidd, Macari
2–1
3 Mar 46,735 8-12-16 W1
L
Birmingham City A
D1 Macari
1–3
10 Mar 51,278 8-12-17 L1
W
Newcastle United H
D1 Holton, Martin
2–1
17 Mar 48,426 9-12-17 W1
D
Tottenham Hotspur A
D1 Graham
1–1
24 Mar 49,751 9-13-17 D1
W
Southampton A
D1 Charlton, Holton
2–0
31 Mar 23,161 10-13-17 W1
April 1973 3W · 2D · 2L
W
Norwich City H
D1 Martin
1–0
7 Apr 48,593 11-13-17 W2
W
Crystal Palace H
D1 Kidd, Morgan
2–0
11 Apr 46,891 12-13-17 W3
D
Stoke City A
D1 Macari, Morgan
2–2
14 Apr 37,051 12-14-17 D1
W
Leeds United A
D1 Anderson
1–0
18 Apr 45,450 13-14-17 W1
D
Manchester City H
D1
0–0
21 Apr 61,676 13-15-17 D1
L
Sheffield United H
D1 Kidd
1–2
23 Apr 57,280 13-15-18 L1
L
Chelsea A
D1
0–1
28 Apr 44,184 13-15-19 L2

Home & Away

Venue PWDL GFGAGDWin%CSAvg Att
Home 231076 2822+6 43%9 46,703
Away 243813 2345-22 13%3 39,594

Home crowds averaged 46,703, away 39,594. Their biggest crowd was 61,676 v Manchester City, the smallest 16,560 v Oxford United.

Season Records

3–0
Biggest win
v Derby County · 23 Sep 1972
0–5
Heaviest defeat
v Crystal Palace · 16 Dec 1972
3
Longest win streak
8
Longest unbeaten run
9
Longest winless run
12
Clean sheets
14
Failed to score
2–2
Most common score
6 times

United completed the league double over Norwich City and Southampton. They lost both league meetings with Ipswich Town and Sheffield United.

When Goals Were Scored

Scored Conceded
7
11
1-15
4
14
16-30
9
10
31-45
11
9
46-60
6
9
61-75
13
14
76+

United's average goal came in the 52', the average one conceded in the 45'. They scored 9 from the 81st minute on and conceded 10. Penalties: 4 scored, 4 conceded. Own goals: 0 for, 1 against.

Min Scorer Opponent Comp Before Date
88' Denis Law vs Ipswich Town D1 0–2 12 Aug 1972
10' George Best @ West Ham United D1 0–0 2 Sep 1972
80' Ian Storey-Moore @ West Ham United D1 1–2 2 Sep 1972
3' Denis Law @ Oxford United LC 0–0 6 Sep 1972
87' Bobby Charlton @ Oxford United LC 1–2 6 Sep 1972
35' Ian Storey-Moore vs Oxford United LC 0–0 12 Sep 1972
56' George Best pen vs Oxford United LC 1–1 12 Sep 1972
80' George Best vs Oxford United LC 2–1 12 Sep 1972
33' Ian Storey-Moore vs Derby County D1 0–0 23 Sep 1972
66' Wyn Davies vs Derby County D1 1–0 23 Sep 1972
75' Willie Morgan vs Derby County D1 2–0 23 Sep 1972
87' Willie Morgan @ Bristol Rovers LC 0–1 3 Oct 1972
35' George Best pen @ West Bromwich Albion D1 0–2 7 Oct 1972
60' Ian Storey-Moore @ West Bromwich Albion D1 1–2 7 Oct 1972
82' Sammy McIlroy vs Bristol Rovers LC 0–1 11 Oct 1972
18' Ted MacDougall vs Birmingham City D1 0–0 14 Oct 1972
84' Bobby Charlton @ Newcastle United D1 0–2 21 Oct 1972
57' Bobby Charlton vs Tottenham Hotspur D1 0–3 28 Oct 1972
14' George Best @ Leicester City D1 0–0 4 Nov 1972
60' Wyn Davies @ Leicester City D1 1–1 4 Nov 1972
44' Wyn Davies vs Liverpool D1 0–0 11 Nov 1972
53' Ted MacDougall vs Liverpool D1 1–0 11 Nov 1972
5' Wyn Davies vs Southampton D1 0–0 25 Nov 1972
51' Ted MacDougall vs Southampton D1 1–1 25 Nov 1972
15' Ian Storey-Moore @ Norwich City D1 0–0 2 Dec 1972
88' Ted MacDougall @ Norwich City D1 1–0 2 Dec 1972
25' Ted MacDougall vs Leeds United D1 0–0 23 Dec 1972
61' Ian Storey-Moore @ Derby County D1 0–3 26 Dec 1972
85' Brian Kidd @ Arsenal D1 0–3 6 Jan 1973
31' Bobby Charlton pen vs West Ham United D1 0–2 20 Jan 1973
80' Lou Macari vs West Ham United D1 1–2 20 Jan 1973
34' Jim Holton @ Coventry City D1 0–0 27 Jan 1973
57' Bobby Charlton pen vs Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 0–0 10 Feb 1973
62' Bobby Charlton vs Wolverhampton Wanderers D1 1–0 10 Feb 1973
60' Lou Macari @ Ipswich Town D1 0–3 17 Feb 1973
41' Brian Kidd vs West Bromwich Albion D1 0–1 3 Mar 1973
47' Lou Macari vs West Bromwich Albion D1 1–1 3 Mar 1973
85' Lou Macari @ Birmingham City D1 0–2 10 Mar 1973
44' Jim Holton vs Newcastle United D1 0–0 17 Mar 1973
54' Mick Martin vs Newcastle United D1 1–0 17 Mar 1973
6' George Graham @ Tottenham Hotspur D1 0–0 24 Mar 1973
16' Bobby Charlton @ Southampton D1 0–0 31 Mar 1973
50' Jim Holton @ Southampton D1 1–0 31 Mar 1973
78' Mick Martin vs Norwich City D1 0–0 7 Apr 1973
27' Brian Kidd vs Crystal Palace D1 0–0 11 Apr 1973
34' Willie Morgan vs Crystal Palace D1 1–0 11 Apr 1973
65' Lou Macari @ Stoke City D1 0–2 14 Apr 1973
87' Willie Morgan @ Stoke City D1 1–2 14 Apr 1973
75' Trevor Anderson @ Leeds United D1 0–0 18 Apr 1973
12' Brian Kidd vs Sheffield United D1 0–0 23 Apr 1973

Squad

29 players
Player LeagueFA CupLeague Cup Total Red
Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls Apps Gls
Martin Buchan 42 – 1 – 4 – 47 – –
Willie Morgan 39 3 1 – 4 1 44 4 –
Alex Stepney 38 – 1 – 4 – 43 – –
Bobby Charlton 36 (2) 6 1 – 4 1 41 (2) 7 –
Tony Young 30 (2) – 1 – 3 – 34 (2) – –
Ian Storey-Moore 26 5 – – 4 1 30 6 –
Tony Dunne 24 – 1 (1) – 3 – 28 (1) – 1
Steve James 22 – – – 4 – 26 – –
Brian Kidd 22 (5) 4 1 – 2 – 25 (5) 4 –
George Best 19 4 – – 4 – 23 4 –
David Sadler 19 – 1 – 2 – 22 – –
George Graham 18 1 1 – – – 19 1 –
Ted MacDougall 18 5 – – – – 18 5 –
Ronald "Wyn" Davies 16 (1) 4 1 – – – 17 (1) 4 –
Thomas O'Neil 16 – – – 1 – 17 – –
Lou Macari 16 5 – – – – 16 5 –
Mick Martin 16 (2) 2 – – – – 16 (2) 2 –
Jim Holton 15 3 – – – – 15 3 1
Denis Law 11 (2) 1 1 – 2 1 14 (2) 2 –
Sammy McIlroy 10 (6) – – – 3 (3) 1 13 (9) 1 –
Alex Forsyth 8 – 1 – – – 9 – –
Trevor Anderson 7 (5) 1 – – – – 7 (5) 1 –
John Fitzpatrick 5 – – – 1 – 6 – –
Ian Donald 4 – – – 1 – 5 – –
Jimmy Rimmer 4 – – – – – 4 – –
Willie Watson 3 – – – 1 – 4 – –
Peter Fletcher 2 (2) – – – – – 2 (2) – –
Arnie Sidebottom 2 – – – – – 2 – –
Paul Edwards 1 – – – – – 1 – –

Division One Table

# Team P W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Liverpool 42 25 10 7 72 42 +30 60
2 Arsenal 42 23 11 8 57 43 +14 57
3 Leeds United 42 21 11 10 71 45 +26 53
4 Ipswich Town 42 17 14 11 55 45 +10 48
5 Wolverhampton Wanderers 42 18 11 13 66 54 +12 47
6 West Ham United 42 17 12 13 67 53 +14 46
7 Derby County 42 19 8 15 56 54 +2 46
8 Tottenham Hotspur 42 16 13 13 58 48 +10 45
9 Newcastle United 42 16 13 13 60 51 +9 45
10 Birmingham City 42 15 12 15 53 54 -1 42
11 Manchester City 42 15 11 16 57 60 -3 41
12 Chelsea 42 13 14 15 49 51 -2 40
13 Southampton 42 11 18 13 47 52 -5 40
14 Sheffield United 42 15 10 17 51 59 -8 40
15 Stoke City 42 14 10 18 61 56 +5 38
16 Leicester City 42 10 17 15 40 46 -6 37
17 Everton 42 13 11 18 41 49 -8 37
18 Manchester United 42 12 13 17 44 60 -16 37
19 Coventry City 42 13 9 20 40 55 -15 35
20 Norwich City 42 11 10 21 36 63 -27 32
21 Crystal Palace 42 9 12 21 41 58 -17 30
22 West Bromwich Albion 42 9 10 23 38 62 -24 28

Points Progression

Division One

Transfers

16 moves
In
  • Ian Storey-Moore Left Winger
    from Nott'm Forest€223k
  • Ted MacDougall Centre-Forward
    from Bournemouth€217k
  • Alex Forsyth Right-Back
    from Partick Thistle€150k
  • George Graham Attacking Midfield
    from Arsenal€150k
  • Jim Holton Centre-Back
    from Shrewsbury€93k
  • Wyn Davies Centre-Forward
    from Man City€68k
  • Trevor Anderson Left Winger
    from Portadown€25k
  • Arnold Sidebottom Centre-Back
    from UnknownUndisclosed
Out
  • Alan Gowling Striker
    to Huddersfield€75k
  • Francis Burns Left-Back
    to Southampton€75k
  • John Aston Left Winger
    to Luton€33k
  • John Connaughton Goalkeeper
    to Sheff Utd€17k
  • Ian Donald Right-Back
    to Partick ThistleUndisclosed
  • Ted MacDougall Centre-Forward
    to West HamUndisclosed
  • Victor Hooks Striker
    to Grimsby TownUndisclosed
Loans
  • OUT Tommy O'Neil Right-Back
    to Blackpool

Debuts & Farewells

Debuts this season
Final appearances

Quick Quiz

Who was Manchester United's top scorer in 1972-1973?

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