1/5 This is a long thread (apologies - at the end is a link to a video clip though!): On this day in 1974 at Old Trafford a Denis Law goal for Manchester City before 56,803 ensured a City win in the Manchester derby. Two pitch invasions followed as United fans perceived this to

2/5 be the goal that relegated the Reds. Over the years that have followed there’s been much debate about the significance of the goal but it’s worth pointing out that while the goal did not specifically relegate United it did kill off all hope of United’s salvation. Pre match

3/5 United still had a chance of survival and at the time of the goal there was still hope for United. Ultimately, results elsewhere went against United but at the time of the goal no one knew that. After the second pitch invasion the referee took the players off the pitch and

4/5 kept them in their dressing rooms while he heard the news from the other grounds. Only when he knew for certain that United had no chance of survival did he abandon the game. Had there been a chance of survival then he would have brought the teams out again to finish the

5/5 match. So mathematically Law’s goal did not relegate United but in terms of the feelings of those present there that day then emotionally it did. Anyway here are the highlights: