THEY CAN BECAUSE THEY THINK THEY CAN

 9th March 1974

Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest met in the 6th Round of the FA Cup, a tie that kept hitting the headlines. In the first match at St James' Park held on 9th March 1974, Forest were awarded a controversial second half penalty and the Magpie's Pat Howard was sent off for protesting the decision. 

George Lyall completed the penalty from the spot, giving Forest a 3-1 lead at which point the crowd invaded the pitch. This forced referee, Gordon Kew, to take the players off ther pitch for an 8 minute break. Play resumed with 10-man Newcastle scoring three times to win the tie 4-3 and reach the semi-finals. 

Forest appealed against the result and as a result the FA commission ordered that the match be replayed at a neutral venue. Newcastle weren't too happy, as you might expect, and not just because of the need for a replay.  Joe Harvey, their manager said: 'Diabolical - if the result doesn't stand how can the sending off and booking still stand?'  Good point Joe.

Forest weren't totally overjoyed either, as they wanted the re-arranged match to be played at their City Ground, but a neutral venue was chosen by the FA and Goodison Park hosted the re-arranged match - and a further replay - before Newcastle got their place in the semi-final draw. The Magpies then beat Burnley 2-0, losing the final to Liverpool 3-0.

Prior to the 6th Round complication, Newcastle had beaten WBA away 0-3 and Liverpool beat Ipswich 2-0, in Rd 5.

In Rd 4, Newcastle had drawn 1-1 at home to Scunthorpe Utd and then won 0-3 away. Liverpool had drawn 0-0 at Carlisle and then won 0-2 away.

In Rd 3 Liverpool beat Doncaster Rovers away 0-2 after a 2-2 at Anfield. Newcastle drew with non-League Hendon 1-1** but won 0-4 in the replay at Vicarage Road. See this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBuqEbRuM-o  Motto:They can because they think they can. Virgil