BY STEVE MITCHELL
DALGLISH DOUBLE HELPS SINK IPSWICH
Liverpool manager Bob Paisley explained at the start of the new campaign that his first priority was to win back the league title from Nottingham Forest, and judging by his sides’ first two outings of the new campaign, his words have rubbed off on his players.
Embed from Getty ImagesTwo goals from Scotland international Kenny Dalglish, which takes his season tally to three, helped swat aside last season’s FA Cup winners in front of nearly 30,000 spectators at Portman Road and give the Merseyside giants a 100 per-cent start to their 1978-79 campaign. Another Scotland international, midfield hard man Graeme Souness, opened the scoring in Suffolk and the home side simply had no reply to Liverpool’s pace and power; an ominous sign for the rest of the division.
CHAMPIONS STILL LOOKING FOR THEIR FIRST WIN
Two games into the new campaign and defending champions Nottingham Forest are still looking for their first win after a goalless draw at Highfield Road against Coventry City. On a ground were they effectively sealed the title last term, the Sky Blues successfully nullified Forest’s advances to leave manager Brian Clough frustrated at his sides underwhelming start to the new campaign.
Many observers will point to the fact that the East Midlands club have their minds on next month’s eagerly awaited European Cup clash against Liverpool but having already fell two points behind the Anfield club, Clough will want his charges to return to form sooner rather than later.
KING ON TARGET AGAIN AS EVERTON COME FROM BEHIND TO SEE OFF DERBY
Embed from Getty ImagesA goal at the weekend against Chelsea was followed by another for Andy King in his first home outing of the season for Everton who maintained their 100 per-cent start to 78-79. On a nervous evening at Goodison Park which saw the visitors take the lead thanks to a goal from David Nish, second-half goals from King and new Toffees summer signing Geoff Nulty 15 minutes from time sent the Gwladys Street faithful home happy and kept Everton on the coat tails of their city rivals.
OTHER FIXTURES:
Manchester City and Arsenal drew 1-1 at Maine Road, with Brian Kidd scoring for the hosts and Malcolm MacDonald on target for The Gunners. Tony Book’s City side are one of the favourites to lift the title this term but he knows that his expensively assembled side will need to improve vastly on this showing.
Birmingham City’s woes continue after they were easily beaten by Middlesbrough at St. Andrews. A Keith Bertschin strike for the Blues was not enough as goals from Armstrong, Ashcroft and Mills gave the Teesiders both points, leaving Birmingham still looking for their first win of the season.
Embed from Getty ImagesNew boys Southampton and Bolton Wanderers got their first points of the new campaign after a 2-2 draw at The Dell. MacDougall and Baker were on target for the hosts with former England international Frank Worthington grabbing both goals for The Trotters.
Chelsea are also off and running thanks to a Tommy Langley goal which gave the West London side the points at Molineux against Wolverhampton Wanderers. West Bromwich Albion’s vibrant young team have made it two from two after a 1-0 win at Loftus Road against QPR. A Howe own goal gave manager Ron Atkinson reason to smile all the way back to the Black Country. Finally, Bristol City and Norwich City continued their unbeaten starts to the season after sharing a 1-1 draw at Ashton Gate in which both sides converted from the penalty spot.
FIRST DIVISION RESULTS TUESDAY 22nd AUGUST 1978:
Birmingham City 1-3 Middlesbrough (Bertschin; Armstrong, Ashcroft, Mills)
Bristol City 1-1 Norwich City (Cormack Pen; Ryan Pen)
Coventry City 0-0 Nottingham Forest
Everton 2-1 Derby County (King, Nulty; Nish)
Ipswich Town 0-3 Liverpool (Souness, Dalglish 2)
Manchester City 1-1 Arsenal (Kidd; Macdonald)
Q.P.R 0-1 West Bromwich Albion (Howe og) (DOWNLOAD THE FULL MATCH PROGRAMME BELOW)
Southampton 2-2 Bolton Wanderers (MacDougall, Baker; Worthington 2)
Wolverhampton Wanderers 0-1 Chelsea (Langley)
FOLLOW THE WHOLE 1978-79 SEASON IN THE ENGLISH FIRST DIVISION WITH STEVE MITCHELL HERE ON THE FOOTBALL PINK. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER @barafundler
PROGRAMMES COURTESY OF MILES MCCLAGAN https://www.flickr.com/photos/114058793@N05/sets
