United loses again

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32810, 10 January 1972, Page 13

United loses again

(N.Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright? LONDON. Top of the table Manchester United, already reeling from the loss of Its Irish star, George Best, crashed to a 1-3 home defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, and now lead the first division of the Football League by only one point. Best was left out of United’s team after failing to make an appearance at the Old Trafford ground since last Saturday’s game against West Ham United. But his incomparable wizard? was badly missed on Saturday as United was ripped apart by Wolves, now unbeaten in their last 11 games. Leeds United and Manchester City both drew, to move up to one point behind United. Leeds s unbeaten home record looked in danger for a long time against Ipswich Town, but it snatched a point in a 2-2 draw. Manchester City drew 1-1 away to Tottenham Hotspur, and Derby County strengthened its hold on fourth . place by winning 2-1 away to Southampton. Norwich City moved five points clear in the second division promotion race when it beat Fulham. 2-1, and the big London derbv between Millwall and Queens Park Bangers—second and third in the table—ended in a goal-less draw. Notts County 2-1 away winners against Bolton Wanderers, stayed top in the third division, and Brentford slammed five goals in a devastating 18-mlnute secondhalf spell to win 6-2 against Darlington and keep top spot in division four. ± ± Celtic’s lead at the top of the Scottish first division was cut to a single point when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Morton. Second-placed Aberdeen won, 2-1, away to Airdrieonians. Results:— ENGLISH LEAGUE Division I.—Chelsea 2, Huddersfield Town 2; Everton 2, West Ham United 1; Leeds United 2, Ipswich Town 2: Leicester City 1. Liverpool 0: Manchester United I, Wolverhampton Wanderers 3; Newcastle United 4, Coventry City 2; Nottingham

Forest 0. Crystal Palace 1; Southampton 1, Derby County 2; Stoke City 0, Arsenal 0; Tottenham Hotspur 1, Manchester City 1; West Bromwich Albion 2, Sheffield United 2.

Division 2.—Birmingham City 6, Portsmouth 3; Burnley 1, Oxford United 1; Hull City 0, Cardiff City 0; Middlesbrough 1, Bristol City 0; Millwall 0, Queens Park Rangers 0; Norwich City 2, Fulham 1; Orient 5, Sunderland 0; Preston North End 0, Luton Town 1; Sheffield Wednesday 1, Blackpool 2; Swindon Town 0, Carlisle United 0; Watford 0, Division 3.—Bolton Wanderers 1, Notts County 2: Brighton and Hove Albion 1, Mansfield Town 0; Bristol Rovers 2, Torquay United 0; Chesterfield 2. Port Vale 1; Halifax Town 2, Bradford City 1; Plymouth Argyle 4, York City 0; Rochdale 1, Aston Villa 0; Rotherham United 0, Bournemouth 0; Swansea City 1, Tranmere Rovers I; Walsall 2. Oldham Athletic 3; Wrexham 1. Blackburn Rovers 1.

Division 4.—Barrow 1. Doncaster Rovers 2; Brentford 6, Darlington 2; Cambridge United 0. Southport 0; Colchester United 0, Bury 0; Exeter City 1, Northampton Town 3; Gillingham 1. Chester 0; Reading 2, Aidershot 0; Scunthorpe United 2, Crewe Alexandra 0: Workington 0, Grimsby Town 0. , SCOTTISH LEAGUE Division I.—Airdrieonians 1, Aberdeen 2; Clyde 0, Partick Thistle 2; Dundee 0, East Fife 0: Dunfermline Athletic 1, Ayr United 1; Hiberian 3. Dundee United 0; Kilmarnock 1, Mother, well 0; Morton 1, Celtic 1; Rangers 3, Falkirk 1; St Johnstone 1, Hearts 1. Division 2.—Brechin City 1. Alloa I; Clydebank 0. Berwick Rangers 0: East Stirling 3, St Mirren 1: Forfar Athletic 1, Dumbarton 1; Hamilton Academical 0. Queen of the South 3; Ralth Rovers 1, Queen’s Park 1; Stenhousmuir 0, Cowdenbeath 0; Stirling Albion 1, Arbroath 2; Stranraer 2, Albion Rovers 2. IRISH LEAGUE Bangor 0, Linfield 7; CllftonviUe; 0, Portadown 2: Coleraine 5, Crusaders 5; Distillery 1, Aards 4;! Glenavon 1, Ballymena United 4; Glentoran 1, Derry City 0. 1