The 1978–79 season was Manchester United's 77th season in the Football League, and their fourth consecutive season in the top division of English football. They finished the season ninth in the league, but were more successful in the FA Cup, reaching the final where they lost 3–2 to Arsenal at Wembley, conceding a late goal from Alan Sunderland in the final minute of the game after coming from 2–0 down make it 2–2 in the closing minutes of the game.
First Division DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance19 August 1978Birmingham CityH1–0Jordan56,13923 August 1978Leeds UnitedA3–2Macari, McIlroy, McQueen36,84526 August 1978Ipswich TownA0–321,8022 September 1978EvertonH1–1Buchan53,9829 September 1978Queens Park RangersA1–1J. Greenhoff23,47716 September 1978Nottingham ForestH1–1J. Greenhoff53,03923 September 1978ArsenalA1–1Coppell45,39330 September 1978Manchester CityH1–0Jordan55,3017 October 1978MiddlesbroughH3–2Macari (2), Jordan45,40214 October 1978Aston VillaA2–2Macari, McIlroy36,20421 October 1978Bristol CityH1–3J. Greenhoff47,21128 October 1978Wolverhampton WanderersA4–2J. Greenhoff (2), B. Greenhoff, Jordan23,1414 November 1978SouthamptonH1–1J. Greenhoff46,25911 November 1978Birmingham CityA1–5Jordan23,55018 November 1978Ipswich TownH2–0Coppell, J. Greenhoff42,10921 November 1978EvertonA0–342,12625 November 1978ChelseaA1–0J. Greenhoff28,1629 December 1978Derby CountyA3–1Ritchie (2), J. Greenhoff23,18016 December 1978Tottenham HotspurH2–0McIlroy, Ritchie52,02622 December 1978Bolton WanderersA0–332,39026 December 1978LiverpoolH0–354,91030 December 1978West Bromwich AlbionH3–5B. Greenhoff, McIlroy, McQueen45,0913 February 1979ArsenalH0–245,46010 February 1979Manchester CityA3–0Coppell (2), Ritchie46,15124 February 1979Aston VillaH1–1J. Greenhoff44,43728 February 1979Queens Park RangersH2–0Coppell, J. Greenhoff36,0853 March 1979Bristol CityA2–1McQueen, Ritchie24,58320 March 1979Coventry CityA3–4Coppell (2), McIlroy25,38224 March 1979Leeds UnitedH4–1Ritchie (3), Thomas51,19127 March 1979MiddlesbroughA2–2Coppell, McQueen20,1387 April 1979Norwich CityA2–2Macari, McQueen19,38211 April 1979Bolton WanderersH1–2Buchan49,61714 April 1979LiverpoolA0–246,60816 April 1979Coventry CityH0–043,03518 April 1979Nottingham ForestA1–1Jordan33,07421 April 1979Tottenham HotspurA1–1McQueen36,66525 April 1979Norwich CityH1–0Macari33,67828 April 1979Derby CountyH0–042,54630 April 1979SouthamptonA1–1Ritchie21,6165 May 1979West Bromwich AlbionA0–127,9607 May 1979Wolverhampton WanderersH3–2Coppell (2), Ritchie39,40216 May 1979ChelseaH1–1Coppell38,109
FA Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance15 January 1979Round 3ChelseaH3–0Coppell, J. Greenhoff, Grimes38,74331 January 1979Round 4FulhamA1–1J. Greenhoff25,22912 February 1979Round 4ReplayFulhamH1–0J. Greenhoff41,20020 February 1979Round 5Colchester UnitedA1–0J. Greenhoff13,17110 March 1979Round 6Tottenham HotspurA1–1Thomas51,80014 March 1979Round 6ReplayTottenham HotspurH2–0McIlroy, Jordan55,58431 March 1979Semi-FinalLiverpoolN2–2Jordan, B. Greenhoff52,5244 April 1979Semi-FinalReplayLiverpoolN1–0J. Greenhoff53,06912 May 1979FinalArsenalN2–3McQueen, McIlroy100,000
League Cup DateRoundOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance30 August 1978Round 2Stockport CountyH3–2McIlroy, J. Greenhoff, Jordan41,7614 October 1978Round 3WatfordH1–2Jordan40,534
Squad statistics Pos.NameLeagueFA CupLeague CupTotalAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsGK Gary Bailey2809000370GK Paddy Roche1400020160DF Arthur Albiston32(1)0702041(1)0DF Martin Buchan3729020482DF Tom Connell20000020DF Stewart Houston21(1)0201024(1)0DF Gordon McQueen3669120477DF Kevin Moran10000010DF Jimmy Nicholl19(2)06(2)00025(4)0DF Steve Paterson1(2)000001(2)0MF Steve Coppell421191205312MF Brian Greenhoff32(1)2512039(1)3MF Ashley Grimes5(11)0312010(11)1MF Lou Macari31(1)6501037(1)6MF David McCreery14(1)0000(1)014(2)0MF Chris McGrath0(2)000000(2)0MF Sammy McIlroy4059221518MF Tom Sloan3(1)000003(1)0MF Mickey Thomas2518100332FW Jimmy Greenhoff331195214417FW Joe Jordan3064(1)22236(1)10FW Stuart Pearson00200020FW Andy Ritchie16(1)103(1)00019(2)10
References