| 1973–74 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Sam Longson | ||
| Manager | Brian Clough (until 15 October 1973) Jimmy Gordon (until 20 October 1973) Dave Mackay | ||
| Stadium | Baseball Ground | ||
| First Division | 3rd | ||
| FA Cup | Fourth round | ||
| League Cup | Second round | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Kevin Hector (19) All: Hector (19) | ||
During the 1973–74 English football season,Derby County F.C. competed in theDivision One, theFA Cup and theLeague Cup.
During summer the club transferred in defenderRod Thomas and midfielderHenry Newton. In his seventh season as manager,Brian Clough took the Rams to the 3rd spot through Autumn, however, he left the club after a turmoil against Chairman Sam Longson.[1] Therefore, the Club Executive Board appointed former player (1968–71)Dave Mackay as its new manager.[2][3] The Scottish ex-defender changed Derby's style of play from a solid defence with Clough to a more offensive deployment including the arrival of MidfielderBruce Rioch[4] replacing McGovern and O'Hare as starters since February.
After being ninth during winter, the squad recovered form and finished the league season in third place qualifying for the nextUEFA Cup. Meanwhile, the club was eliminated early bySunderland in the League Cup second round phase. Also, in theFA Cup Fourth round stage the team lost againstCoventry City after one replay.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| DF | Rod Thomas | Swindon Town | £100,000 |
| MF | Henry Newton | Everton F.C. | |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Terry Hennessey | Tamworth F.C. | |
| MF | Alan Durban | Shrewsbury Town F.C. | |
| DF | Tony Parry | Mansfield Town | loan |
| FW | John Sims | ||
| FW | Barry Butlin | Luton Town F.C. | |
| In | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | from | Type |
| MF | Bruce Rioch | Aston Villa | |
| Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Name | To | Type |
| DF | Alan Lewis | Peterborough United F.C. | loan |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leeds United(C) | 42 | 24 | 14 | 4 | 66 | 31 | 2.129 | 62 | Qualification for theEuropean Cup first round |
| 2 | Liverpool | 42 | 22 | 13 | 7 | 52 | 31 | 1.677 | 57 | Qualification for theCup Winners' Cup first round[a] |
| 3 | Derby County | 42 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 52 | 42 | 1.238 | 48 | Qualification for theUEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Ipswich Town | 42 | 18 | 11 | 13 | 67 | 58 | 1.155 | 47 | |
| 5 | Stoke City | 42 | 15 | 16 | 11 | 54 | 42 | 1.286 | 46 |
| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | A | H | H | A | H |
| Result | W | W | D | L | W | W | D | L | W | L | D | W | W | D | L | L | L | D | D | W | W | D | L | D | W | D | W | L | D | W | D | D | D | W | W | D | L | L | W | W | L | W |
| Position | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
| 25 August 19731 | Derby County | 1–0 | Chelsea F.C. | Derby |
| 15:00 | John McGovern | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 30,869 Referee: Robert Matthewson |
| 29 August 19732 | Derby County | 1–0 | Manchester City | Derby |
| 15:00 | Hinton | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 31,295 |
| 1 September 19733 | Birmingham City | 0–0 | Derby County | Birmingham |
| Stadium:St Andrew's Attendance: 34,596 |
| 4 September 19734 | Liverpool F.C. | 2–0 | Derby County | Liverpool |
| Thompson Keegan | Stadium:Anfield Attendance: 45,237 |
| 8 September 19735 | Derby County | 2–1 | Everton F.C. | Derby |
| Hector Davies | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 27,638 |
| 12 September 19736 | Derby County | 3–1 | Liverpool F.C. | Derby |
| Hector McFarland Davies | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 32,867 |
| 15 September 19737 | Burnley F.C. | 1–1 | Derby County | Burnley |
| Hankin | Stadium:Turf Moor Attendance: 23,334 |
| 18 September 19738 | Coventry City | 1–0 | Derby County | Coventry |
| Colin Stein | Stadium:Highfield Road Attendance: 26,511 Referee: JD Williams |
| 22 September 19739 | Derby County | 6–2 | Southampton F.C. | Derby |
| Hinton Davies Hector | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,500 |
| 29 September 197310 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–0 | Derby County | Tottenham |
| Coates | Stadium:White Hart Lane Attendance: 30,408 |
| 6 October 197311 | Derby County | 1–1 | Norwich City | Derby |
| Davies | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,984 |
| 13 October 197312 | Manchester United | 0–1 | Derby County | Greater Manchester |
| Stadium:Old Trafford Attendance: 43,624 |
| 20 October 197313 | Derby County | 2–1 | Leicester City | Derby |
| Hector McGovern | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 34,205 |
| 27 October 197314 | West Ham United | 0–0 | Derby County | Upton Park |
| Stadium:Boleyn Ground Attendance: 31,237 |
| 3 November 197315 | Derby County | 1–2 | Queens Park Rangers | Derby |
| Gemmill | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 30,647 |
| 10 November 197316 | Ipswich Town | 3–0 | Derby County | Ipswich |
| Lambert Beattie | Stadium:Portman Road Attendance: 23,562 |
| 17 November 197317 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Derby County | Sheffield |
| Flynn Woodward Colquhoun | Stadium:Bramall Lane Attendance: 25,438 |
| 24 November 197318 | Derby County | 0–0 | Leeds United | Derby |
| Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 36,003 |
| 8 December 197319 | Derby County | 1–1 | Arsenal | Derby |
| McFarland | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,161 |
| 15 December 197320 | Newcastle United | 0–2 | Derby County | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| Stadium:St James' Park Attendance: 18,535 |
| 22 December 197321 | Derby County | 2–0 | Tottenham Hotspur | Derby |
| Hinton | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,672 |
| 26 December 197322 | Stoke City | 0–0 | Derby County | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Stadium:Victoria Ground Attendance: 22,990 |
| 29 December 197323 | Everton F.C. | 2–1 | Derby County | Liverpool |
| Buckley Royle | Stadium:Goodison Park Attendance: 37,429 |
| 1 January 197424 | Derby County | 1–1 | Birmingham City | Derby |
| Bourne | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 31,189 |
| 12 January 197425 | Derby County | 5–1 | Burnley F.C. | Derby |
| Hector Bourne | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,948 |
| 19 January 197426 | Chelsea F.C. | 1–1 | Derby County | Fulham |
| Garner | Stadium:Stamford Bridge Attendance: 27,185 |
| 2 February 197427 | Derby County | 1–0 | Newcastle United | Derby |
| McFarland | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,992 |
| 6 February 197428 | Manchester City | 1–0 | Derby County | Moss Side |
| Stadium:Maine Road Attendance: 22,845 | ||||
| Note: John McGovern made his final appearance before moving to Leeds United in August | ||||
| 16 February 197429 | Derby County | 2–2 | Manchester United | Derby |
| Nish Hector | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 29,987 |
| 23 February 197430 | Norwich City | 2–4 | Derby County | Norwich |
| Howard Stringer | Stadium:Carrow Road Attendance: 25,412 |
| 2 March 197431 | Derby County | 1–1 | Stoke City | Derby |
| Bourne | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 28,176 |
| 5 March 197432 | Southampton F.C. | 1–1 | Derby County | Southampton |
| Channon | Stadium:The Dell Attendance: 17,191 |
| 9 March 197433 | Derby County | 1–1 | West Ham United | Derby |
| Rioch | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 24,684 |
| 16 March 197434 | Leicester City | 0–1 | Derby County | Leicester |
| Stadium:Filbert Street Attendance: 30,423 |
| 23 March 197435 | Derby County | 2–0 | Ipswich Town | Derby |
| Rioch Hector | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,860 |
| 30 March 197436 | Queens Park Rangers | 0–0 | Derby County | White City |
| Stadium:Loftus Road Attendance: 19,795 |
| 6 April 197437 | Leeds United | 2–0 | Derby County | Leeds |
| Lorimer Bremner | Stadium:Elland Road Attendance: 37,838 |
| 9 April 197438 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4–0 | Derby County | Wolverhampton |
| Stadium:Molineux Stadium Attendance: 23,546 |
| 13 April 197439 | Derby County | 4–1 | Sheffield United | Derby |
| Davies Hector | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 25,029 |
| 15 April 197440 | Derby County | 1–0 | Coventry City | Derby |
| Hector | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 23,348 |
| 20 April 197441 | Arsenal F.C. | 2–0 | Derby County | Highbury |
| Ball George | Stadium:Highbury Park Attendance: 26,017 |
| 27 April 197442 | Derby County | 2–0 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | Derby |
| Hector Powell | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 26,571 |
| 8 October 1973 | Derby County | 2-2 | Sunderland F.C. | Derby |
| Nish Davies | Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 29,172 |
| 29 October 1973Replay | Sunderland F.C. | 2-2 (a.e.t.) | Derby County | |
| Attendance: 38,935 |
| 31 October 1973Replay Two | Derby County | 0-3 | Sunderland F.C. | Derby |
| Stadium:Baseball Ground Attendance: 38,460 |
| 5 January 1974 | Derby County | 1–1 | Boston United |
| 9 January 1974Replay | Boston United | 1–6 | Derby County |
| 27 January 1974 | Coventry City | 0-0 | Derby County |
| 30 January 1974Replay | Derby County | 0–1 | Coventry City |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Football League Division One | FA Cup | Football League Cup | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK | Colin Boulton | 49 | -52 | 42 | -42 | 4 | -3 | 3 | -7 | ||
| DF | Ron Webster | 45 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| DF | Roy McFarland | 44 | 4 | 38 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| DF | Colin Todd | 47 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| DF | David Nish | 46 | 3 | 40 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | ||
| MF | Bruce Rioch | 18 | 2 | 13 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| MF | Steve Powell | 34 | 1 | 29+1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| MF | Archie Gemmill | 45 | 5 | 38 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | ||
| MF | Alan Hinton | 36 | 5 | 25+4 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| FW | Roger Davies | 37 | 10 | 32+1 | 9 | 0+1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | ||
| FW | Kevin Hector | 49 | 19 | 42 | 19 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| GK | Graham Moseley | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | John McGovern | 29 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| MF | Henry Newton | 28 | 1 | 21 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| FW | Jeff Bourne | 23 | 9 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 2 | ||||
| DF | Peter Daniel | 10 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | ||||
| FW | John O'Hare | 10 | 0 | 7+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | ||
| DF | Rod Thomas | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| DF | Jim Walker | 2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | ||||