OT 100 #28: Forest felled
Another season, another tight title race. With Liverpool, United and Forest going for the trophy, the Reds welcomed Forest to Old Trafford in an encounter of huge importance...
1966/67 League Statistics
Final Division One Table
1. United - P42 W24 D12 L6 GD39 60Pts
2. Forest - P42 W23 D10 L9 GD23 56Pts
3. Spurs - P42 W24 D8 L10 GD23 56Pts
4. Leeds - P42 W22 D11 L9 GD20 55Pts
Top Goalscorers
Law - 23
Herd - 16
Charlton - 12
Best - 10
Aston, Sadler - 5
Top Appearances
Best, Charlton - 42
Dunne - 40
Crerand - 39
Stiles - 37
Sadler, Law - 36
The Background: Going into the nitty-gritty of the 1966/67 season, United were a point off league leaders Liverpool, with Nottingham Forest lurking in third spot. When Forest, managed by former United stalwart Johnny Carey, arrived at Old Trafford on February 11, 1967, whoever emerged victorious was well set for the remainder of the run-in.
The Occasion: A tense encounter between two sides full of quality, but well aware of the implications of defeat, yielded few chances. The solitary goal, when it came, wasn't even a half-chance. On 84 minutes, a spell of late United pressure culminated in a right-wing cross slung in by George Best, and met in the most spectacular fashion by Denis Law, who wrapped himself around a Forest centre-back to strike an incredible scissor-kick and send the ball hurtling into the Stretford End goal. The explosiveness of the hit was matched only by that of the euphoric, writhing terrace celebrations as United took a huge step towards the title.
The Aftermath: Matt Busby's Reds remained unbeaten throughout the remainder of the league season, and the gravity of Law's goal only became fully apparent at the end of the season, with second-placed Forest finishing four points off the pace as the Reds regained the Division One title. The victory booked United another crack at the European Cup, which was duly secured for the first time the following season.