ON THIS DAY 1976: Newcastle United 4 – 3 Derby County – SuperMac scores late winner in thriller at St James’

ON THIS DAY 1976:

Newcastle hosted Derby at St James’ in front of over forty five thousand.

The scoring was opened as a Tommy Craig free-kick was headed by Derby’s Todd into his own net, not even a glove from the keeper could keep it out.

A second was added just after half-time after Nulty put his head on the end of a lovely inswinging cross from the wing.

Some fine footwork in the box, and a great cross was met by a splendid header from Powell to half Newcastle’s lead.

Tommy Craig added a third after being upended in the box, and converting the subsequent penalty.

Three minutes later however, a bit of head tennis in the box saw Derby again pull one back.

Then in the eighty third minute, Derby equalised through Rioch has he kneed a cross in from close range.

However, one minute later, who else but SuperMac towered in a header from a Craig cross to score the winner.

The drama wasn’t over yet as SuperMac charged into the box and played a low cross that somehow Gowling managed to put into the keepers hands.

Seconds later, Derby almost got another equaliser if not for a super save from a close range strike from and a header off the line from the rebound.

What. A. Game.

“It could have been 10-9” said a relieved Gordon Lee afterwards, fresh from winning the January Manager of the Month award.

PS: A group of Newcastle fans made their way to Derby for this game in error, realising their mistake only when they reached the Baseball Ground and found the Rams reserves taking on Coventry City.