Manchester U 1 Blackpool 1
Manchester United 1 Blackpool 1, Old Trafford, English Football League First Division, September 26, 1970. Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw against Blackpool in what was Willie Watson´s debut match for The Reds. George Best gave United the lead in the 29th minute, only for Micky Burns to equalise for The Seasiders 20 minutes after the break.
Manchester United had beaten Coventry City and Everton, drawn with Liverpool and West Ham United, and lost against Ipswich Town in their last five Division One fixtures, whereas Blackpool had overcome Newcastle United, and suffered defeats to Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, and Crystal Palace. The Mancunians had demolished The Tangerines 4-0 at Old Trafford in the previous First Division encounter between the two clubs on the 25th of February 1967 but had to settle for a 1-1 draw this time around. The hosts dominated the first half and went ahead when George Best converted a dangerous cross from Scottish winger Willie Morgan a minute before the half-hour mark. The Bloomfield Road outfit came more into the game after the restart and had their equaliser through former Preston North End and Skelmersdale United forward Micky Burns who placed the ball past Manchester United goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer and into the net in the 65th minute of the clash. Regarding Willie Watson, the 20-year-old defender made a good impression against Blackpool and went on to notch up a total of ten first team appearances for United during the 1970-71 season. The Scot would later appear for Miami Toros and Motherwell before he finished his career with Tommy Gemmell´s Dundee in 1980. Manchester United Team: Jimmy Rimmer, Willie Watson, Steve James, David Sadler, Francis Burns, Willie Morgan, John Fitzpatrick, George Best, Bobby Charlton, Alan Gowling, Brian Kidd. Substitutes: None. Blackpool Team: Harry Thomson, Jimmy Armfield, Henry Mowbray, Bill Bentley, Glyn James, Terry Alcock, Alan Suddick, Dave Hatton, Micky Burns, John Craven, Tommy Hutchison. Substitutes: None.
UNITED FEATURES UNITED REPORTS UNITED REVIEWS UNITED STORIES