One moment in time: Deyna downs the kings of Europe

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Manchester City F.C.

·2 March 2026

One moment in time: Deyna downs the kings of Europe

Ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Nottingham Forest, we go back into the archives and revisit a memorable 1-0 victory from 1979.

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Brian Clough’s side arrived at Maine Road in October still basking in the glory of being crowned European champions.

A remarkable team had won the English title in 1977/78 season – the only time in the Club’s history – and followed it up with success on the continent, beating Malmo in the final.

City, meanwhile, had finished fourth in the season Forest were Division One champions but struggled to 15th the following year and were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup by Borussia Monchengladbach who went on to win the trophy.

Clough, one of the greatest managers in English football history, had assembled a team that matched flair with discipline and taken them from the second division to European Cup success.

They included the verve and pace of winger John Robertson, agile attackers in Garry Birtles and Tony Woodcock, the midfield craft of Martin O’Neill and John McGovern and defensive hardness of Larry Lloyd, Viv Anderson and goalkeeper Peter Shilton.

Added to the mix was former City player Ian Bowyer and striker Trevor Francis, who would later move to Maine Road.

But for all their success at home and abroad, Forest had not won on their previous two visits to Moss Side since returning from Division Two – indeed they had failed to score on in either.

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And City had their own European magician in our ranks, Polish superstar Kazimierz Deyna – a player who had come third behind Johan Cruyff and Franz Beckenbauer for the 1974 Ballon d’Or.

Deyna arrived at the Club in 1978 following that year’s World Cup finals in Argentina with a reputation as one of the European football’s most accomplished dynamic midfielders.

Though he had just turned 31, Malcolm Allison and Tony Book identified him as a player who could add a touch of finesse to an already-strong squad.

Fitness issues at the beginning of his City career, following a delay due to red tape, made it a difficult start, but he quickly became a fans’ favourite in a time when not everything was going well on the pitch.

Forest were a dangerous side but City were also capable of creating problems with a core of young homegrown players including Dave Bennett, Nicky Reid and Tommy Caton.

And we finally found a breakthrough early in the second half through the brilliant Deyna. Striker Michael Robinson sent over a cross that the Pole controlled before turning and unleashing a shot beyond Shilton.

The England keeper’s international understudy Joe Corrigan was then called upon to make a couple of fine saves to keep the visitors out and make it three games on the bounce that Forest had failed to score at Maine Road.

A big two points – as it was then – and the notable scalp of beating the best team in Europe who would go on to defend their trophy seven months later.