“Ron proved that he couldn’t manage that team to the title,” explained Gordon Strachan, “and something had to change.” They finished a massive 12 points behind champions and bitter rivals Liverpool, who also beat runners-up Everton in the FA Cup final to do English football’s first Double in 15 years.Īlthough the European ban meant there was little incentive once the title hopes were gone, United also finished eight points behind third-placed West Ham. Having won 13 of their first 15 league games, United won just nine (and lost 10) of their final 27: as Scouse comedian Stan Boardman gleefully joked: “Manchester United somehow finished fourth in a two-horse race.” Atkinson was accused of failing to control the amount of alcohol the team was consuming in their public drinking binges in local hostelries. When the Merseyside clubs finally overhauled United early in the New Year, questions were asked about whether United players’ notorious refuelling habits were taking the edge off their displays. “It’s magnificent, but the league is a marathon, not a sprint,” admitted Atkinson in classic manager-cliché mode, before adding: “We know we can’t continue winning forever, and the key will be to picking ourselves up after we stumble.” United had won their 10 opening matches on the bounce. United then went to The Hawthorns, from whence they had lifted gaffer Atkinson and skipper Robson, to rout West Brom (opens in new tab) 5-1 before rounding off September by edging out Southampton (opens in new tab) 1-0 at Old Trafford in front of a fourth successive 50,000+ home crowd. The abiding memory of the Manchester derby remains Arthur Albiston’s exquisitely drilled 25-yard shot, which fizzed into the City net. United continued to motor throughout September they picked up three successive 3-0 wins without leaving Manchester, dispatching Newcastle (opens in new tab) and Oxford at home before administering the same dose to Manchester City (opens in new tab) at Maine Road. Brazil (2), Strachan, Blackmore, Stapleton
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