Soccer: When Forest chopped down England’s mighty oaks

Shortly before he died, Brian Clough wrote of Chelsea's manager: "I like the look of Mourinho, there's a bit of the young Clough about him."

As Jose Mourinho prepares for only the third all-English European Cup fixture, one wonders if he will adopt Clough's approach to the first such encounter, also against Liverpool, nearly 27 years ago.

Unlike Chelsea, Clough's Nottingham Forest were underdogs for the first-round tie in September 1978.

They were English champions, but Liverpool were in prime form and seeking a third successive European Cup triumph.

The tie saw Clough's intuitive man-management at its best. Ahead of the first leg at the City Ground, he was, according to star striker Tony Woodcock, more tactically minded than usual.

Before the return, at Anfield, he concentrated on relaxing his players.

Under Clough's management Woodcock went from being an out-of-favour reserve midfielder to an England striker. He usually had a free role, but when Liverpool went to Nottingham on September 13, Clough pulled him aside before the game.

"This was the one occasion I can remember when he told me to operate more down the right-hand side," Woodcock said.

"He said: 'Liverpool will expect you to be all over the place, so I want you to hold the right-hand side'."

A simple instruction but, as Woodcock added: "Both goals came from that.

"The first I went down the right and knocked it off to Garry Birtles. The second was one of the best goals in the competition. Colin Barrett won the ball in our half, we moved it over the halfway line through Birtles, who crossed deep to the far post.

"I could have gone for goal, but I played it down to Colin, who had maintained his run to hit a great volley."

On the touchline, Peter Taylor, Clough's assistant, leapt to his feet shouting: "That'll do us".

It was classic counter-attacking Forest, and Liverpool could not believe they had fallen for it.

Liverpool star Kenny Dalglish later reflected: "For a team who were supposed to understand the nature of European competition [we] made a very basic error ... We foolishly went chasing the game. This naive reaction probably stemmed from the fact we were playing familiar English opponents."

There may have been some over-confidence, too. Liverpool were already top of the league, starting the season with five straight wins, including a 7-0 drubbing of Tottenham, and a goal difference of 19-2.

Forest, though unbeaten, had been held to four draws and had scored only three goals.

Peter Withe, the previous season's top scorer, was being missed, having been unexpectedly sold to Newcastle.

To replace him Clough tried a youngster, Stephen Elliott, then Birtles, newly signed from non-league Long Eaton for 2000. He had been fitting carpets for a living.

"I went from being a young player to the experienced one, having to learn new aspects," Woodcock said. "Fortunately, Garry and I forged a partnership pretty quickly."

The goal against Liverpool was Birtles' first in senior football; it was only his second game.

Liverpool remained confident. "Their lads were saying: 'Wait till we get you back to Anfield,' but we were pretty confident we'd keep a clean sheet," Woodcock said.

Nevertheless, Clough detected some nerves as Forest made their way to Merseyside with their 2-0 lead. Goalkeeper Peter Shilton recalled: "As our coach approached Liverpool, Clough stood up and asked, 'Does anyone fancy a beer?' "

Clough later commented: "We'd had a few bottles of wine in the hotel at lunchtime - just to make sure the lads slept well in the afternoon."

When they awoke there was no rush. "We wanted to get on the road," Woodcock said. "We had itchy feet to get to Anfield, but [Clough and Taylor] kept us in the hotel, saying: 'Let's not be caught in any traffic jams. We'll leave it to the last minute. They won't start without us.' We arrived just inside the deadline."

Forest held firm at Anfield to gain a goalless draw. It was a brave, disciplined performance.

Frank Clark, who had come in for the injured Barrett, gashed a shin early on, but battled through.

Shilton, who twice denied Dalglish, recalled when the Liverpool striker caught Kenny Burns, a noted hard man, with a late tackle: "He simply eye-balled Dalglish and raised a finger as if to indicate 'no more'. There was no more."

Forest did not dwell on their triumph. Said Woodcock: "Afterwards Clough commented: 'Well done, good job done, now on the bus quick. No one's to go into the dressing-room or players' bar. We don't want anyone gloating."'

Forest went on to defeat AEK Athens, Grasshoppers Zurich, Cologne and, in the final, Malmo, to win the trophy.

The following year Forest successfully defended the trophy. Two years previously, they had been in the old second division.

It is like Sunderland winning next season's Premiership, then successive Champions Leagues. Inconceivable surely?

"Why not? Always expect the unexpected in football," said Woodcock, who now runs a business development company, My Sports, with his former team-mate, Viv Anderson.

"People talk about money these days, but I'm sure the players are out there, if you coach them properly and have the right set-up.

"I'm sure if Mourinho was on a lower budget he would be successful, the way he has organised his team.

"It's difficult to compare eras. We had one or two players coming up through the ranks, like Viv and myself, John Robertson and Martin O'Neill, who had not really been given the chance or backing before.

"Cloughie got one or two players in who had experience but had not really done it at other clubs, such as Kenny Burns and Larry Lloyd, and when we started to roll he brought in players like Peter Shilton.

"It wasn't rocket science. It was about getting players in with character, though they obviously had to be able to play as well.

"If players have the right attitude, and want to learn, why can't they develop into something?

"People say it will never happen again, but they thought our unbeaten record would never be broken. Arsenal did it."

Forest, of course, have declined significantly and are in danger of being relegated to League One.

Woodcock has looked on sadly: "It's not happened overnight, it's been over the last few years," he said. "It's down to bad management, and I mean the whole structure. They still get good crowds, but they are a bit shell-shocked. The supporters were brought up on teams playing stylish football and it is a shame to lose that."

Champions League semifinals

First leg

* AC Milan v PSV Eindhoven
Live SS1 today 6.30am

* Chelsea v Liverpool
Live SS1 tomorrow 6.30am

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