With no end in sight to the long-running pay dispute between the National Union of Mineworkers and Conservative government of Edward Heath, the Prime Minister asked Queen Elizabeth II to dissolve parliament on February 7 1974, setting in motion a general election campaign that would culminate in polling day on Thursday 28 February.
From the outset many political commentators thought the outcome would be a close call. The Labour opposition of Harold Wilson, despite widespread dissatisfaction with the Tories who had been elected in 1970, were far from assured of returning to power – informed opinion hedging bets with forecasts of a minority government or hung parliament.
In a country still gripped by a three-day working week and impromptu power cuts as a consequence of industrial action being taken by striking coal miners, as winter turned to spring the ruling party in football terms were undoubtedly Leeds United.
By the time round five of the FA Cup rolled around in the third week of February, the runaway first division leaders remained unbeaten in the league, the second title of the Don Revie era already looking a foregone conclusion. The question now was not so much when Leeds would be crowned champions, more if they could go through the season undefeated in the league – the notion also raised that a championship and FA Cup double were within their capabilities.
The prospect of them winning both prizes increased when the fifth round draw sent them to second division Bristol City, not the sort of tie to create any loss of sleep at Elland Road, particularly as the hosts were in, at best, middling form. Rather a trip to the banks of the Avon than Mersey, Thames or the Tyne, Don’s detachment (opposed to ‘Oliver’s Army‘), looking in no apparent danger of making an exit.
Conversely Liverpool, QPR and Newcastle United would all have been relieved in avoiding Leeds (and each other), as Division One appeared ready to provide a substantial number of sixth round combatants.
Burnley and Southampton also looked set to progress to the last eight on receiving fifth round home ties against lower league opposition, while a trip for Leicester City to second tier promotion chasers Luton Town was tricky but by no means insurmountable for a side earning plaudits for their attacking capabilities.
When fifth round day dawned it was somewhat ironic given the quagmire state of many pitches Mud (‘Tiger Feet‘) should be number one in the U.K. singles charts – the irony also not lost on your genial host here at SAMTIMONIOUS.com that in the very same week BBC 2 began broadcasting the depression-era American drama ‘The Waltons‘, in different ways goodnight was said to John (boy) and Don (Revie) in the space of a few days……………
The FA Cup Fifth Round of 1973-74 (Saturday 16/Sunday 17 February 1974):
Having progressed through twenty nine league games without blemish, while also accounting for Wolves and Peterborough United so far in the FA Cup, Leeds arrived at Bristol City with no real trepidation for the afternoon ahead. Most among the all-ticket Ashton Gate crowd were not unduly surprised when Billy Bremner put the visitors ahead six minutes before half-time, his superbly struck effort often acclaimed as the finest goal the inspirational Scottish skipper ever scored.
After surviving a number of close calls as Leeds sought to ensure the outcome, the hosts’ rallied after the break, deservedly drawing level when transfer-listed striker Keith Fear lobbed home a 65th minute equaliser – Revie’s under pressure defenders indebted to goalkeeper David Harvey for securing a replay, a second bite of the cherry no less than City deserved.
In front of what proved the biggest Elland Road attendance of the season, Bristol City, for all their Ashton Gate endeavours were expected to receive comeuppance, yet gave an even better account of themselves than what was produced on home soil. Despite Leeds also having chances, it was the visitors who ultimately landed the decisive blow – Don Gilles keeping forthcoming PFA Player of the Year Norman Hunter at bay in shooting low past Harvey with seventeen minutes left.
With ‘keeper Ray Cashley in commanding form behind a resolute Robins defence, the visitors held out to record a notable, not to say headline grabbing win.
For Leeds it was a rare scuff mark in a campaign that rarely looked like coming off the rails, resumption of normal service evident in establishing a 2-0 lead at Stoke three days later – but hopes of going through the league season without defeat were surprisingly dashed when the Potters hit-back to win 3-2, Leeds experiencing a week to forget in a season to remember.
It did, however, prove a profitable seven days for Newcastle who following a 5-1 St. James’ Park trouncing of Coventry City dished out a Hawthorns hiding to second division hosts West Bromwich Albion.
On a dank Black Country afternoon, Newcastle, clad in a Brazil-styled away strip, produced passages of play that was more samba than Sandwell.
True, the opening goal, a powerful Malcolm Macdonald header, was route one rather than Rio in origin, but second half efforts from winger Stewart Barrowclough and ‘Supermac’ strike partner John Tudor were no doubt dubbed ‘champion‘ by the massed travelling support in being reminiscent of the reigning world champions.
The tie of the round in terms of league status occurred at Anfield where second in the table Liverpool entertained third placed Ipswich Town.
Having defeated the same opposition 4-2 in a mid-November meeting on Merseyside, the home side had shifted gear since the turn of the year, their unbeaten trot standing at ten games when Bobby Robson and his men rolled up for their second visit of the season.
By no means in poor shape themselves, apparent also in progress to the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, Ipswich had won at Old Trafford in the previous round. But in the early months of 1974 there was a world of difference in visiting second bottom Manchester United and a Bill Shankly outfit now moving into overdrive – goals from Brian Hall (33) and Kevin Keegan (55), making it 90 minutes of Shanks, but no thanks for the Portman Road visitors.
There was another all top flight tussle at Coventry, whose aspirations of going further than last eight involvement of the previous season were challenged by visiting Queens Park Rangers.
Acquitting themselves with credit in their first Division One season since the late ’60s, Rangers had solid defending to thank in forcing a W12 replay following the initial Highfield Road stalemate. At Loftus Road the tie went from one extreme to the other, QPR with goals from Don Givens, Dave Thomas and Stan Bowles prevailing by the odd-goal in five as future West Ham FA Cup winner David Cross replied with a brace for the Sky Blues.
Division One was ensured more quarter-final representation when Burnley and Leicester City won through their respective ties in ousting second division opposition in the form of Aston Villa and Luton Town.
At Turf Moor an early Paul Fletcher goal decided things in favour of the home side, whose sixth in the table standing reflected just how accomplished they had been on returning to the first division in August.
The 8,000 travelling supporters saw the campaign effectively come to an end with Villa too far off the pace to mount a promotion challenge. At the same time they witnessed the last appearance in the claret and blue of top notch midfield man Bruce Rioch, who in the coming days would join Derby County where a league championship medal would only be a year or so away.
In the wake of Rioch’s Baseball Ground departure Villa boss Vic Crowe would be sacked before the season end, chairman Doug Ellis wielding the axe in light of a mid-table finish.
An altogether different end to 1973-74 was brewing at Kenilworth Road where Luton Town would ultimately clinch promotion – but they were given a daunting taste of what lay ahead in being taken apart by a rampant Leicester.
By half-time, on a surface with closer resemblance to a cabbage patch than football pitch, a nicely worked Steve Earle goal had the visiting Foxes ahead. After the break, however, Leicester made light of the conditions in looking light years ahead of their opponents – close range headers from Earle and Frank Worthington putting the issue well beyond doubt before a sublime individual goal from Keith Weller bordered on the ridiculous given what was underfoot.
Three weeks before most of the fourth round headlines had been grabbed by second division Nottingham Forest due to their 4-1 City Ground demolition of star-spangled Manchester City.
Receiving sanction to play a home tie on a Sunday for the third round running, Forest made it a black sabbath for fellow Division Two side Portsmouth.
After scoring twice against City, Forest man of the moment Duncan McKenzie was again the difference – scoring with a second half penalty as the hosts’ registered the first of three victories over Pompey in the next two months.
The lowest ranked team left in the competition, third division Wrexham, had to make the longest journey – their reward for defeating division two pacesetters Middlesbrough in round four, a fifth round trek to top flight Southampton.
Down at The Dell deja vu prevailed as native North Walian David Smallman scored the only goal (55) – just as he had done in the victory over ‘Boro – as Wrexham pulled off an even greater shock. Defeat meanwhile was becoming all too familiar for Saints, who had lost seven of their last eight league outings, which included a 7-0 Portman Road pasting off Ipswich.
Earlier in the month Mel Brooks spoof-western ‘Blazing Saddles‘ had audiences rolling in the aisles when released in UK cinemas, but the form of relegation-destined Southampton was now no laughing matter………….
FA CUP ROUND FIVE 1973-74:
Bristol City 1 Leeds United 1 (37,000) R – Leeds United 0 Bristol City 1 (47,182); West Bromwich Albion 0 Newcastle United 3 (42,699); Liverpool 2 Ipswich Town 0 (45,340); Burnley 1 Aston Villa 0 (29,301);
Coventry City 0 QPR 0 (30,310) R – QPR 3 Coventry City 2 (28,010); Luton Town 0 Leicester City 4 (25,712); Southampton 0 Wrexham 1 (24,797); Nottingham Forest 1 Portsmouth 0 (38,589);
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