# 1971–72 Manchester City F.C. season

The 1971–72 season was Manchester City's 70th season of competitive football and 52nd season in the top division of English football. In addition to the First Division, the club competed in the FA Cup, Football League Cup, FA Charity Shield and the UEFA Cup. On the 18th March, the club were 5 points clear at the top of the table with eight games to go. However, City only won 3 of their remaining 8 games, leaving them fourth by the end of the season. The signing of Rodney Marsh in March 1972 was widely blamed for the slip up, as it was suggested by former players such as Neil Young, that his style of play did not suit the team.

## First Division
### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Leeds United | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 73 | 31 | 2.355 | 57 | Qualification for the European Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 3 | Liverpool | 42 | 24 | 9 | 9 | 64 | 30 | 2.133 | 57 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Manchester City | 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 45 | 1.711 | 57 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
| 5 | Arsenal | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 58 | 40 | 1.450 | 52 | |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 63 | 42 | 1.500 | 51 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round |
* ↑ Leeds United qualified for the European Cup Winners' Cup as the 1971-72 FA Cup winners.
* ↑ Tottenham Hotspur qualified for the UEFA Cup as the 1971-72 UEFA Cup winners.

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts |
| 42 | 23 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 45 | 1.711 | 57 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 48 | 15 | 35 | 7 | 8 | 6 | 29 | 30 | 22 |
Source:

### Results

| Date | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 14 August 1971 | Leeds United | H | Maine Road | 0 – 1 | | 38,566 |
| 18 August 1971 | Crystal Palace | H | Maine Road | 4 – 0 | Lee (2), Booth, Davies | 27,103 |
| 21 August 1971 | Chelsea | A | Stamford Bridge | 2 - 2 | Lee (2) | 38,425 |
| 24 August 1971 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | Molineux Stadium | 1 – 2 | Lee | 26,663 |
| 28 August 1971 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | Maine Road | 4 – 0 | Bell, Summerbee, Davies, Lee | 36,463 |
| 1 September 1971 | Liverpool | H | Maine Road | 1 - 0 | Mellor | 45,144 |
| 4 September 1971 | Leicester City | A | Filbert Street | 0 – 0 | | 25,258 |
| 11 September 1971 | Newcastle United | H | Maine Road | 2 – 1 | Bell, Lee | 32,710 |
| 18 September 1971 | Nottingham Forest | A | City Ground | 2 – 2 | Lee, Davies | 21,468 |
| 25 September 1971 | Southampton | H | Maine Road | 3 – 0 | Lee, Bell, Davies | 27,897 |
| 2 October 1971 | West Bromwich Albion | A | The Hawthorns | 2 – 0 | Lee, Connor | 25,834 |
| 9 October 1971 | Everton | H | Maine Road | 1 - 0 | Lee | 33,538 |
| 16 October 1971 | Leeds United | A | Elland Road | 0 – 3 | | 36,004 |
| 23 October 1971 | Sheffield United | H | Maine Road | 2 – 1 | Doyle, Lee | 41,688 |
| 30 October 1971 | Huddersfield Town | A | Leeds Road | 1 – 1 | Carter | 20,153 |
| 6 November 1971 | Manchester United | H | Maine Road | 3 - 3 | Lee, Bell, Summerbee | 63,366 |
| 13 November 1971 | Arsenal | A | Highbury | 2 – 1 | Mellor, Bell | 47,443 |
| 20 November 1971 | West Ham United | A | Boleyn Ground | 0 – 0 | Lee, Davies | 33,694 |
| 27 November 1971 | Coventry City | H | Maine Road | 4 – 0 | Lee (2), Bell (2) | 31,003 |
| 4 December 1971 | Derby County | A | Baseball Ground | 1 – 3 | Lee | 35,354 |
| 11 December 1971 | Ipswich Town | H | Maine Road | 4 – 0 | Davies, Mellor, Bell, Lee | 26,900 |
| 18 December 1971 | Leicester City | H | Maine Road | 1 – 1 | Lee | 29,524 |
| 27 December 1971 | Stoke City | A | Roker Park | 3 – 1 | Towers, Book, Lee | 43,007 |
| 1 January 1972 | Nottingham Forest | H | Maine Road | 2 – 2 | Lee, Davies | 38,777 |
| 8 January 1972 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | White Hart Lane | 1 - 1 | Davies | 36,470 |
| 22 January 1972 | Crystal Palace | A | Selhurst Park | 2 – 1 | Lee, Blyth | 31,480 |
| 29 January 1972 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | Maine Road | 5 – 2 | Booth, Lee (3), Towers | 37,639 |
| 12 February 1972 | Sheffield United | A | Bramhall Lane | 3 – 3 | Lee (2), Bell | 38,184 |
| 18 February 1972 | Huddersfield Town | H | Maine Road | 1 – 0 | Booth | 36,421 |
| 26 February 1972 | Liverpool | A | Anfield | 0 - 3 | | 50,074 |
| 1 March 1972 | West Bromwich Albion | H | Maine Road | 2 – 1 | Bell (2) | 25,677 |
| 4 March 1972 | Arsenal | H | Maine Road | 2 - 0 | Lee (2) | 44,213 |
| 11 March 1972 | Everton | A | Goodison Park | 2 – 1 | Wright (og), Hill | 44,646 |
| 18 March 1972 | Chelsea | H | Maine Road | 1 – 0 | Booth | 53,322 |
| 25 March 1972 | Newcastle United | A | St James Park | 0 – 0 | | 37,460 |
| 1 April 1972 | Stoke City | H | Maine Road | 1 – 2 | Lee | 49,392 |
| 3 April 1972 | Southampton | A | The Dell | 0 – 2 | | 27,374 |
| 8 April 1972 | West Ham United | H | Maine Road | 3 – 1 | Marsh (2), Bell | 38,491 |
| 12 April 1972 | Manchester United | A | Old Trafford | 3 – 1 | Lee (2), Marsh | 56,000 |
| 15 April 1972 | Coventry City | A | Highfield Road | 1 – 1 | Towers | 34,225 |
| 18 April 1972 | Ipswich Town | A | Portman Road | 1 – 2 | Summerbee | 24,365 |
| 22 April 1972 | Derby County | H | Maine Road | 2 - 0 | Marsh, Lee | 55,026 |

## FA Cup
### Results

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 15 January 1972 | 3rd Round | Middlesbrough | H | Maine Road | 1 – 1 | Lee (pen) | 42,620 |
| 18 January 1972 | 3rd Round Replay | Middlesbrough | A | Ayresome Park | 0 – 1 | | 37,917 |

## Football League Cup
### Results

| Date | Round | Opponents | H / A | Venue | Result F – A | Scorers | Attendance |
| 8 September 1971 | 2nd Round | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | Maine Road | 4 – 3 | Davies, Bell (2), Lee (pen) | 29,156 |
| 5 October 1971 | 3rd Round | Bolton Wanderers | A | Burnden Park | 0 – 3 | | 42,039 |