1980–81 Manchester United F.C. season

The 1980–81 season was Manchester United's 79th season in the Football League, and their 6th consecutive season in the top division of English football.[1] It was the last of their four seasons under the management of Dave Sexton, who was sacked after the end of the season after failing to win the club a major trophy. The likes of Lawrie McMenemy, Brian Clough, Bobby Robson and Ron Saunders were all linked with the job, before Sexton was succeeded by West Bromwich Albion manager Ron Atkinson.

Manchester United
1980–81 season
ChairmanMartin Edwards
ManagerDave Sexton
First Division8th
FA CupFourth Round
League CupSecond Round
UEFA CupFirst Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Joe Jordan (15)

All:
Joe Jordan (15)
Highest home attendance57,049 vs Liverpool (26 December 1980)
Lowest home attendance31,656 vs Coventry City (27 August 1980)
Average home league attendance44,099

The club also paid a club record of more than £1 million for Nottingham Forest striker Garry Birtles, but the player was a huge disappointment and ended the season with just one goal from 28 appearances. The club's top scorer was Joe Jordan, who found the back of the net 15 times.

United were indeed one of the hardest teams to beat in the First Division this season, losing just nine out of 42 games and winning their final seven, but they were also held to a draw on 18 occasions. This restricted them to eighth-place finish - not even enough for a UEFA Cup place.

First Division

Date Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
16 August 1980 Middlesbrough H 3–0 Macari, Grimes, Thomas 54,394
19 August 1980 Wolverhampton Wanderers A 0–1 31,955
23 August 1980 Birmingham City A 0–0 28,661
30 August 1980 Sunderland H 1–1 Jovanović 51,498
6 September 1980 Tottenham Hotspur A 0–0 40,995
13 September 1980 Leicester City H 5–0 Coppell, Grimes, Jovanović (2), Macari 43,229
20 September 1980 Leeds United A 0–0 32,539
27 September 1980 Manchester City H 2–2 Coppell, Albiston 55,918
4 October 1980 Nottingham Forest A 2–1 Macari, Coppell 29,801
8 October 1980 Aston Villa H 3–3 McIlroy (2; 1 pen.), Coppell 38,831
11 October 1980 Arsenal H 0–0 49,036
18 October 1980 Ipswich Town A 1–1 McIlroy (pen.) 28,572
22 October 1980 Stoke City A 2–1 Jordan, Macari 24,534
25 October 1980 Everton H 2–0 Jordan, Coppell 54,260
1 November 1980 Crystal Palace A 0–1 31,449
8 November 1980 Coventry City H 0–0 42,794
12 November 1980 Wolverhampton Wanderers H 0–0 37,959
15 November 1980 Middlesbrough A 1–1 Jordan 20,606
22 November 1980 Brighton & Hove Albion A 4–1 Jordan (2), McIlroy, Duxbury 23,923
29 November 1980 Southampton H 1–1 Jordan 47,783
6 December 1980 Norwich City A 2–2 Bond (o.g.), Coppell 18,780
13 December 1980 Stoke City H 2–2 Macari, Jordan 39,568
20 December 1980 Arsenal A 1–2 Macari 33,730
26 December 1980 Liverpool H 0–0 57,049
27 December 1980 West Bromwich Albion A 1–3 Jovanović 38,615
10 January 1981 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–1 McQueen, Macari 42,208
28 January 1981 Sunderland A 0–2 31,910
31 January 1981 Birmingham City H 2–0 Jordan, Macari 39,081
7 February 1981 Leicester City A 0–1 26,085
17 February 1981 Tottenham Hotspur H 0–0 40,642
21 February 1981 Manchester City A 0–1 50,114
28 February 1981 Leeds United H 0–1 45,733
7 March 1981 Southampton A 0–1 22,698
14 March 1981 Aston Villa A 3–3 Jordan (2), McIlroy (pen.) 42,182
18 March 1981 Nottingham Forest H 1–1 Burns (o.g.) 38,205
21 March 1981 Ipswich Town H 2–1 Thomas, Nicholl 46,685
28 March 1981 Everton A 1–0 Jordan 25,856
4 April 1981 Crystal Palace H 1–0 Duxbury 37,954
11 April 1981 Coventry City A 2–0 Jordan (2) 20,201
14 April 1981 Liverpool A 1–0 McQueen 31,276
18 April 1981 West Bromwich Albion H 2–1 Jordan, Macari 44,442
25 April 1981 Norwich City H 1–0 Jordan 40,165
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
6 Southampton 42 20 10 12 76 56 +20 50 Qualified for UEFA Cup
7 Nottingham Forest 42 19 12 11 62 44 +18 50
8 Manchester United 42 15 18 9 51 36 +15 48
9 Leeds United 42 17 10 15 39 47 8 44
10 Tottenham Hotspur 42 14 15 13 70 68 +2 43 Qualified for Cup Winners' Cup
Source:

FA Cup

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
3 January 1981 Round 3 Brighton & Hove Albion H 2–2 Duxbury, Thomas 42,199
7 January 1981 Round 3
Replay
Brighton & Hove Albion A 2–0 Nicholl, Birtles 26,915
24 January 1981 Round 4 Nottingham Forest A 0–1 34,110

League Cup

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
27 August 1980 Round 2
First leg
Coventry City H 0–1 31,656
2 September 1980 Round 2
Second leg
Coventry City A 0–1 18,946

UEFA Cup

Date Round Opponents H / A Result
F–A
Scorers Attendance
17 September 1980 Round 1
First leg
Widzew Łódź H 1–1 McIlroy 38,037
1 October 1980 Round 1
Second leg
Widzew Łódź A 0–0 40,000

Squad statistics

Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup UEFA Cup Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
GK Gary Bailey 400302020470
GK Paddy Roche 2000000020
DF Arthur Albiston 421302020491
DF Martin Buchan 260202020320
DF Mike Duxbury 27(6)20(2)1001(1)028(9)3
DF Nikola Jovanović 194102020244
DF Gordon McQueen 112200000132
DF Kevin Moran 32010000(1)033(1)0
DF Jimmy Nicholl 361312020432
DF Anthony Whelan 0(1)00000000(1)0
MF Steve Coppell 426302020496
MF Ashley Grimes 6(2)20000208(2)2
MF Lou Macari 37(1)930201043(1)9
MF Chris McGrath 1000000010
MF Sammy McIlroy 31(1)510202136(1)6
MF Tom Sloan 0(2)0000(1)0000(3)0
MF Mickey Thomas 302312020373
MF Ray Wilkins 11(2)020000013(2)0
FW Garry Birtles 250310000281
FW Jimmy Greenhoff 8(1)000201011(1)0
FW Joe Jordan 33153000103715
FW Scott McGarvey 0(2)00000000(2)0
FW Andy Ritchie 3(1)00020005(1)0

References

  1. "Manchester United Season 1980/81". StretfordEnd.co.uk. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
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