Walsall 4 Sunderland 3

Acclaimed at the time as the "game that had just about everything - only the second all-ticket game ever to be staged at Fellows Park, Brian Clough's debut for Sunderland, Walsall's first game in Division Two for just over 60 years - and seven goals. Clough had just moved from Middlesbrough for a £45,000 fee, but it was the 'Saddlers' own star striker Tony Richards who made his mark early on, banging home a 13th minute penalty after Colin Askey had been brought down. Sunderland hit back quickly and were level within minutes - and it was Clough who got the goal, being in just the right place to turn a Herd cross past the stranded John Christie. After 32 minutes Sunderland went ahead when centre-half Charlie Hurley moved up to head a Harry Hooper corner into the path of George Herd, who nodded home completely unchallenged from 10 yards. Walsall pulled back just before the interval, when Tommy Wilson forced the ball home after a Colin Taylor shot had been partially cleared. It was all Walsall at this stage, but Sunderland moved swiftly out of defence and with the home defence struggling, John Sharples handled to prevent a Clough pass reaching Hooper. The former Wolves winger took the spot kick himself and slid the ball home to put Walsall behind yet again. The 'Saddlers' were not finished though, and on 66 minutes the perseverance of Tommy Wilson skilfully put Richards through for the equaliser. Still Walsall pressed and in the 74th minute came a replica of that third goal, Wilson again drawing the defence off Tony Richards who gratefully accepted the through ball to make the score 4-3. Although Sunderland came again at the death Walsall's defence were in command and the 'Saddlers' ran out narrow winners after a pulsating contest. Such was Walsall's supreme fitness that they played the game at full pace throughout, and what magnificent support the 18,420 crowd gave to the lads on the field with an almost continuous roar throughout the 90 minutes."