1977–78 British Home Championship

The 1977–78 British Home Championship football competition between the British Home Nations was won by an England side smarting from their failure to qualify for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. Scotland again refused to travel to Northern Ireland and therefore gained an additional home match. The Scots, who had qualified for the World Cup and of whom much was expected following impressive form and a strong team in the months going into the finals performed particularly poorly in the Home Championship, foreshadowing their performance in Argentina a few months later. The English capitalised on a heavy victory over the Welsh in their first match and then won in their next two beating an already demoralised Scotland who had only managed to draw with the Welsh and Irish. The Welsh improved following their initial loss, beating the Irish and holding the Scots to a 1–1 draw in Glasgow to claim second place.

1977–78 British Home Championship
Tournament details
Dates13–20 May 1978
Teams4
Final positions
Champions England (51st title)
Runners-up Wales
Tournament statistics
Matches played6
Goals scored11 (1.83 per match)
Top scorer(s)Scotland Derek Johnstone (2)

Table

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Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
  England (C) 3 3 0 0 5 1 +4 6
  Wales 3 1 1 1 3 4 −1 3
  Scotland 3 0 2 1 2 3 −1 2
  Northern Ireland 3 0 1 2 1 3 −2 1
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) points. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
(C) Champions

Results

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Scotland  1–1  Northern Ireland
Johnstone   36' O'Neill   26'
Referee: John Gow (Wales)

Wales  1–3  England
Dwyer   57' Latchford   8'
Currie   82'
Barnes   89'
Referee: Malcolm Moffatt (Northern Ireland)

England  1–0  Northern Ireland
Neal   44'

Scotland  1–1  Wales
Johnstone   10' Donachie   90' (o.g.)
Referee: Malcolm Wright (Northern Ireland)

Wales  1–0  Northern Ireland
Deacy   70' (pen.)

Scotland  0–1  England
  Coppell   83'
Referee: Georges Konrath (France)

References

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  • Guy Oliver (1992). The Guinness Record of World Soccer. Guinness. ISBN 0-85112-954-4.
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