1973–74 Manchester City F.C. season

The 1973–74 season was Manchester City's 72nd season of competitive football and 54th season in the top division of English football. In addition to the First Division, the club competed in the FA Cup, Football League Cup and the FA Charity Shield. The season on a whole was relatively disappointing; the club finished in a poor position in the league, as well as suffering defeat to Wolves in the League Cup Final. However, the final match of the season was one to remember, as City went to Old Trafford and sent Manchester United down with a goal late on, scored by former United legend Denis Law. Although United would have been relegated anyway, the fans on the terraces believed otherwise, as a pitch invasion ensued in an attempt to get the match abandoned. The match was in fact abandoned, but it was decided that the 1-0 City win should stand.

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 25 August 1973 | Birmingham City | H | Maine Road | 3 - 1 | Law (2), Bell | 34,178 | | 29 August 1973 | Derby County | A | Baseball Ground | 0 - 1 | | 31,295 | | 1 September 1973 | Stoke City | A | Victoria Ground | 1 – 1 | Law | 22,434 | | 5 September 1973 | Coventry City | H | Maine Road | 1 – 0 | Marsh | 30,931 | | 8 September 1973 | Norwich City | H | Maine Road | 2 - 1 | Lee, Bell | 31,209 | | 11 September 1973 | Coventry City | A | Highfield Road | 1 - 2 | Marsh | 27,394 | | 15 September 1973 | Leicester City | A | Filbert Street | 1 – 1 | Bell | 28,466 | | 22 September 1973 | Chelsea | H | Maine Road | 3 - 2 | Towers, Lee (2) | 32,118 | | 29 September 1973 | Burnley | A | Turf Moor | 0 – 3 | | 24,492 | | 6 October 1973 | Southampton | H | Maine Road | 1 – 1 | Marsh | 27,727 | | 13 October 1973 | Newcastle United | A | St James Park | 0 – 1 | | 35,225 | | 20 October 1973 | Sheffield United | A | Bramhall Lane | 2 – 1 | Law, Dearden (og) | 25,234 | | 27 October 1973 | Leeds United | H | Maine Road | 0 – 1 | | 45,346 | | 3 November 1973 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | Molineux Stadium | 0 – 0 | | 21,499 | | 10 November 1973 | Arsenal | H | Maine Road | 1 – 2 | Lee | 31,041 | | 17 November 1973 | Queens Park Rangers | H | Maine Road | 1 - 0 | Lee | 30,486 | | 24 November 1973 | Ipswich Town | A | Portman Road | 1 – 2 | Leman | 19,143 | | 8 December 1973 | West Ham United | A | Boleyn Ground | 1 - 2 | Lee | 20,790 | | 15 December 1973 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | White Hart Lane | 2 – 0 | Booth, Bell | 17,066 | | 22 December 1973 | Burnley | H | Maine Road | 2 - 0 | Bell, Doyle | 28,114 | | 26 December 1973 | Everton | A | Goodison Park | 0 – 2 | | 36,007 | | 29 December 1973 | Norwich City | A | Carrow Road | 1 – 1 | Law | 24,303 | | 1 January 1974 | Stoke City | H | Maine Road | 0 – 0 | | 35,009 | | 12 January 1974 | Leicester City | H | Maine Road | 2 – 0 | Law, Marsh | 27,488 | | 19 January 1974 | Birmingham City | A | St Andrews | 1 – 1 | Law | 31,401 | | 2 February 1974 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | Maine Road | 0 – 0 | | 24,652 | | 6 February 1974 | Derby County | H | Maine Road | 1 – 0 | Bell | 22,846 | | 9 February 1974 | Chelsea | A | Stamford Bridge | 0 – 1 | | 20,206 | | 23 February 1974 | Southampton | A | The Dell | 2 - 0 | Marsh, Law | 19,234 | | 9 March 1974 | Leeds United | A | Elland Road | 0 – 1 | | 36,578 | | 13 March 1974 | Manchester United | H | Maine Road | 0 – 0 | | 51,331 | | 16 March 1974 | Sheffield United | H | Maine Road | 0 – 1 | | 26,220 | | 23 March 1974 | Arsenal | A | Highbury | 0 – 2 | | 25,319 | | 27 March 1974 | Newcastle United | H | Maine Road | 2 – 1 | Lee (2) | 21,590 | | 30 March 1974 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | Maine Road | 1 – 1 | Lee | 25,234 | | 2 April 1974 | Everton | H | Maine Road | 1 – 1 | Tueart | 22,918 | | 6 April 1974 | Ipswich Town | H | Maine Road | 1 – 3 | Summerbee | 22,269 | | 9 April 1974 | Queens Park Rangers | A | Loftus Road | 0 – 3 | | 20,461 | | 12 April 1974 | Liverpool | H | Maine Road | 1 – 1 | Lee | 43,248 | | 16 April 1974 | Liverpool | A | Anfield | 0 – 4 | | 50,781 | | 20 April 1974 | West Ham United | H | Maine Road | 2 – 1 | Booth, Bell | 29,700 | | 27 April 1974 | Manchester United | A | Old Trafford | 1 – 0 | Law | 56,966 |

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 5 January 1974 | 3rd Round | Oxford United | A | Manor Ground | 5 – 2 | Law (2), Summerbee (2), Marsh | 13,435 | | 26 January 1974 | 4th Round | Nottingham Forest | A | City Ground | 1 – 4 | Carrodus | 41,472 |

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2 October 1973 | 2nd Round | Walsall | A | Fellows Park | 0 – 0 | | 12,943 | | 22 October 1973 | 2nd Round Replay | Walsall | H | Maine Road | 0 – 0 | | 19,428 | | 30 October 1973 | 2nd Round 2nd Replay | Walsall | N | Old Trafford | 4 – 0 | Lee (3), Bell | 13,646 | | 6 November 1973 | 3rd Round | Carlisle United | A | Brunton Park | 1 – 0 | Lee | 14,472 | | 21 November 1973 | 4th Round | York City | A | Bootham Crescent | 0 – 0 | | 15,360 | | 5 December 1973 | 4th Round Replay | York City | H | Maine Road | 4 – 1 | Marsh (3), Lee | 17,927 | | 18 December 1973 | 5th Round | Coventry City | A | Highfield Road | 2 – 2 | Booth, Leman | 12,661 | | 16 January 1974 | 5th Round Replay | Coventry City | H | Maine Road | 4 – 2 | Summerbee, Lee (2), Law | 25,409 | | 23 January 1974 | Semi final 1st leg | Plymouth Argyle | A | Home Park | 1 – 1 | Booth | 30,390 | | 30 January 1974 | Semi final 2nd leg | Plymouth Argyle | H | Maine Road | 2 – 0 | Lee, Bell | 40,117 |

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