Manchester United two points behind Liverpool

Press, 7 May 1984, Page 34

Manchester United two points behind Liverpool

NZPA-Reuter London Manchester United, who have nagged Liverpool like a dull toothache in the English soccer first division all season, simply refuse to go away. With just three games remaining in the tightest battle for years, United and Liverpool both drew on Saturday to leave the champions with a tenuous two-point advantage.

Liverpool, chasing their seventh title in nine seasons and their third in a row, were held to a goal less draw away from home against dreary Birmingham, while United came from behind to earn a precious point at Everton. United appeared to be in dire trouble when Everton, who meet Watford in the English Football Association (F.A.) Cup final at Wembley on May 19, went ahead through Robbie Wackenshaw in the fifth-eighth minute.

The 18-year-old striker, who was making his first-team debut, latched on to a loose ball when the United goal-keeper, Gary Bailey, failed to hold a fierce shot from Andy King and rammed home the rebound as the visiting defence failed to react.

However, dogged United, who came so close to pipping Juventus for a place in the European Cupwinners’ Cup final, refused to concede defeat and scored a deserved equaliser through Frank Stapleton 18 minutes from time.

Birmingham, involved in the bitter dogfight to avoid relegation at the bottom of the table, are not the most attackminded of teams and typically put the emphasis firmly on defence against Liverpool. The goal-keeper, Tony Coton, kept them on level terms with a string of acrobatic saves, highlighted by a breathtaking leap to turn away a Kenny Dalglish header in the first half. However, Birmingham almost snatched all three points, which would have been a travesty of justice in the closing seconds when the Liverpool goal-keeper, Bruce Grobbelaar, inexplicably dropped the ball at tne feet of Mick Harford. Fortunately for Liverpool, the surprised striker blasted the ball high over the bar. Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle will join the already promoted Chelsea and Sheffield Wednesday in the first division. They clinched a place in the top flight with a comfortable 4-0 win over Grimsby. Results: ENGLISH LEAGUE Division one: Birmingham 0, Liverpool 0; Coventry 2, Luton 2; Everton 1, Manchester United 1; Ipswich 1, Sunderland 0; Leicester 2, Nottingham Forest 1; Notts County 0, Queens Park Rangers 3; Stoke 1, Southampton 1; Tottenham 2, Norwich 0; Watford 0, Wolverhampton 0; West Bromwich 1, Arsenal 3; West Ham 0, Ashton Villa 1. F

Division two: Barnsley 0, Oldham 1; Cardiff 2, Brighton 2; Crystal Palace 2, Swansea 0; Fulham 1, Cambridge 0; Grimsby 3, Blackburn 2; Leeds 3, Carlisle 0; Middlesbrough 1, Charlton 0; Newcastle 4, Derby 0; Portsmouth 1, Huddersfield 1; Shrewsbury 2, Sheffield Wednesday 1; Manchester City 0, Chelsea 2. Division three: Bournemouth 1, Port Vale 1; Brentford 3, Scunthorpe 0; Burnley 2, Orient 3; Gillingham 4, Newport 1; Hull 2, Southend 1; Lincoln 0, Rotherham 1; Millwall 3, Bolton 0; Oxford 1, Exeter 1; Plymouth 3, Walsall 1; Preston 1, Bradford 2; Sheffield United 1, Wimbledon 2; Wigan 0, Bristol Rovers 0. Division four: Aidershot 3, Blackpool 2; Bristol City 1, Swindon 0; Bury 1, Northampton 2; Doncaster 3, Rochdale 0; Hartlepool 1, Stockport 2; Hereford 1, Reading 1; Mansfield 0, York 1; Peterborough 2, Darlington 2; Tranmere 2, Chester 2; Wrexham 0, Colchester 2; Halifax 2, Chesterfield 1. SCOTTISH LEAGUE Premier division: Aberdeen 2, Hibernian 2; Dundee United 2, St Mirren 2; Hearts 1, Celtic 1; Rangers 2, Dundee 2; St Johnstone 3, Motherwell 1. Division one: Airdrieonians 1, Dumbarton 4; Clyde 1, Falkirk 0; Hamilton 1, Meadowbank 2; Kilmarnock 3, Ayr 0; Morton 3, Alloa 0; Partick 1, Clydebank 1; Raith 6, Brechin 0. f i