The countdown continues as we rewind 40 years to the final that saw Dennis Tueart score THAT goal...
City 2 Newcastle United 1, 28 February 1976
City secured their second League Cup trophy with a 2-1 win over Newcastle United at Wembley.
Goals from Peter Barnes and Dennis Tueart ensured the cup would be heading back to Maine Road after Alan Gowling had levelled the scores.
The Blues started on top and took the lead in the 11th minute through 19-year old Barnes. The young winger timed his run magnificently to meet Mike Doyle’s knock down before slamming the ball past the dive of Mike Mahoney.
Their lead lasted 24 minutes, with Newcastle levelling through Alan Gowling. Malcolm MacDonald received the ball on the right side of the area and squared it to Gowling, who applied the finish with his first touch to make it 1-1.
City had a chance to re-take the lead shortly before half time but Mahoney somehow managed to deny Tueart from close range to clear the danger.
However, that miss was not to be rued when Tueart grabbed the winner in the 46th minute. Willie Donachie floated the ball to the back post, where it was met by the head of Tommy Booth, who nodded back across the goal.
Tueart, with his back to goal, instinctively met it with a bicycle kick that nestled in the bottom corner, past the dive of Mahoney to score one of the most famous goals in the Club’s history.
Further chances were created but City held out to claim the League Cup for the second time, with Tony Book becoming the first person to win the competition as a player and a manager.
Match highlights
Starting XIs
City: Corrigan, Keegan, Donachie, Doyle (c), Watson, Oakes, Barnes, Booth, Royle, Hartford, Tueart
Sub: Clements
Newcastle: Mahoney, Nattrass, Kennedy, Keeley, Howard, Barrowclough, Cassidy, Craig (c), Burns, MacDonald, Gowling
Sub: Cannell
Key Moments
11’ – GOAL! – Peter Barnes slams home from close range after Mike Doyle headed Asa Hartford’s free kick back across the face of goal.
35’ – Goal – Newcastle pull a goal back after Alan Gowling pokes home from six yards out from Malcolm MacDonald’s cut back.
46’ – GOAL! – City’s lead is restored when Dennis Tueart scores against his boyhood club with an overhead kick from Tommy Booth’s knockdown.
90’ – The final whistle is blown and City are confirmed as the 1976 League Cup winners, with Tony Book becoming the first person to win the competition as a player and a manager.
Man of the Match
Dennis Tueart
