2nd tier* League fixture
*Then known as Division Two

Nottingham Forest 1     Notts County 2
Withe 84                                                                  Anderson (og) 53
                                                                                Carter (pen) 63
 
 

Attendance :- 31,004
Referee:- D.Civil (Birmingham)

Nottingham Forest
Colours:- Red shirts, White shorts, Red socks
League Position:- before match 7th/22, after match 7th/22
Manager:- Brian Clough

1.   John Middleton
2.   Viv Anderson
3.   Frank Clark
4.   John McGovern
5.   Sammy Chapman
6.   Ian Bowyer
7.   John O'Hare
8.   Martin O'Neill
9.   Peter Withe
10. Tony Woodcock
11. John Robertson

Sub not used: Colin Barrett

Notts County
Colours:- Black & white striped shirts, Black shorts, White socks
League Position:- before match 6th/22, after match 6th/22
Manager:- Ron Fenton

1.   Eric McManus
2.   Pedro Richards
3.   Ray O'Brien
4.   Martyn Busby
5.   David Needham
6.   Tristan Benjamin *
7.   Steve Carter
8.   Mick Vinter
9.   Les Bradd
10. Arthur Mann
11. Dave Smith

Sub: Ian Scanlon *

Evening Post Report

An Own goal and a controversial penalty gave Notts County a derby day triumph at the City Ground. The Magpies were forced to resist a lot of pressure from Forest in the opening stages. After a promising start, Tony Woodcock directed a free-kick against a post. Notts only threatened once in the first half with a wicked free-kick from Ray O'Brien that keeper John Middleton clawed round the angle. Not to be outdone, Magpies' keeper Eric McManus later threw himself full-stretch to his right to push away a superbly struck free-kick from Woodcock.

After absorbing all that Forest could throw at them, Notts clinched victory in a ten-minute period at the start of the second half with two goals of no great quality, but immense meaning. They were gifted the lead on 53 minutes when Viv Anderson turned the ball into his own net. The Forest players froze, anticipating a free-kick decision but it did not come and Mick Vinter was given the freedom of the City Ground down the right. He drove in a cross that was aimed for Les Bradd, but Anderson stuck out a foot and inadvertently diverted the ball past Middleton. Then, in the 63rd minute, came the flash-point that settled the game. Pedro Richards took a throw-in and when John McGovern tried to clear first time the ball bounced up off his leg and the referee awarded a hotly-disputed spot-kick. Steve Carter then kept his cool to send Middleton the wrong way and give Notts a decisive advantage.

The double breakthrough gave the Magpies confidence and with McManus in typically impressive form, and the likes of David Needham and Carter in an uncompromising mood there was no way back for Forest. Peter Withe gave them late hope with his first League goal since January 1 with six minutes left, lashing a shot past McManus and high into the net after receiving a pass from Martin O'Neill. But it proved little consolation as the Magpies were in no mood to capitulate.
 
 

Notts County Season 1976/77
Up the Maggies home page