Season

1972-73

Manchester UnitedFrank O'Farrell, Tommy Docherty

18thleague finish

of 22 in the First Division

−0.3
goal difference
1.1 scored · 1.4 conceded
47
Played
28%
Win rate

Season in brief

18th of 22 in the First Division, down from 8th the year before. Home form carried the season — 43% of home matches won against 13% away. Bobby Charlton led the scoring with 7 goals (scorer data covers 100% of the 51 United scored). Two managers shared the season: Frank O'Farrell, then Tommy Docherty.

The First Division table

Final standings · 22 clubs · United and the clubs around them

  1. 1Liverpool42P · 25W 10D 7L · GD +3060
  3. 16Leicester City42P · 10W 17D 15L · GD -637
  4. 17Everton42P · 13W 11D 18L · GD -837
  5. 18Manchester United42P · 12W 13D 17L · GD -1637
  6. 19Coventry City42P · 13W 9D 20L · GD -1535
  7. 20Norwich City42P · 11W 10D 21L · GD -2732
  8. 21Crystal Palace42P · 9W 12D 21L · GD -1730
  9. 22West Bromwich Albion42P · 9W 10D 23L · GD -2428

Slice: the final First Division table for 1972-73, every club computed from the full league results.

Coverage: complete — all results known.

Points follow the era’s rule (two then three for a win); the order uses goal average before 1976–77 and goal difference after. The faint foot marks the lower reaches — exact relegation places varied by era.

The season, match by match

47 matches
12 Aug 1972 v Ipswich Town: 1–215 Aug 1972 @ Liverpool: 0–219 Aug 1972 @ Everton: 0–223 Aug 1972 v Leicester City: 1–126 Aug 1972 v Arsenal: 0–030 Aug 1972 v Chelsea: 0–02 Sep 1972 @ West Ham United: 2–26 Sep 1972 @ Oxford United: 2–29 Sep 1972 v Coventry City: 0–112 Sep 1972 v Oxford United: 3–116 Sep 1972 @ Wolverhampton Wanderers: 0–223 Sep 1972 v Derby County: 3–030 Sep 1972 @ Sheffield United: 0–13 Oct 1972 @ Bristol Rovers: 1–17 Oct 1972 @ West Bromwich Albion: 2–211 Oct 1972 v Bristol Rovers: 1–214 Oct 1972 v Birmingham City: 1–021 Oct 1972 @ Newcastle United: 1–228 Oct 1972 v Tottenham Hotspur: 1–44 Nov 1972 @ Leicester City: 2–211 Nov 1972 v Liverpool: 2–018 Nov 1972 @ Manchester City: 0–325 Nov 1972 v Southampton: 2–12 Dec 1972 @ Norwich City: 2–09 Dec 1972 v Stoke City: 0–216 Dec 1972 @ Crystal Palace: 0–523 Dec 1972 v Leeds United: 1–126 Dec 1972 @ Derby County: 1–36 Jan 1973 @ Arsenal: 1–313 Jan 1973 @ Wolverhampton Wanderers: 0–120 Jan 1973 v West Ham United: 2–224 Jan 1973 v Everton: 0–027 Jan 1973 @ Coventry City: 1–110 Feb 1973 v Wolverhampton Wanderers: 2–117 Feb 1973 @ Ipswich Town: 1–43 Mar 1973 v West Bromwich Albion: 2–110 Mar 1973 @ Birmingham City: 1–317 Mar 1973 v Newcastle United: 2–124 Mar 1973 @ Tottenham Hotspur: 1–131 Mar 1973 @ Southampton: 2–07 Apr 1973 v Norwich City: 1–011 Apr 1973 v Crystal Palace: 2–014 Apr 1973 @ Stoke City: 2–218 Apr 1973 @ Leeds United: 1–021 Apr 1973 v Manchester City: 0–023 Apr 1973 v Sheffield United: 1–228 Apr 1973 @ Chelsea: 0–1
197219721972197319731973

Every match in order — wins above the line, losses below, bar height the goal margin.