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Birmingham City 5 Manchester United 1

Sometimes you need a reminder that Birmingham City until recently breathed the same air as some of the Premier League’s global brands.

And in November 1978 Jim Smith’s men didn’t just breathe the same air, they took the wind out of the Red Devils’ sails completely as they gave the visitors a 1-0 lead and still smashed them to pieces thanks to a thrilling performance from Don Givens.

Blues went into the game - 41 years ago today, having not won since April 1978 - 17 matches spread over nearly seven months.

Trevor Francis had played just four games all season following an ankle operation.

While Blues prepared to take on United, Francis took a tentative step along the road to recovery by featuring in a gentle ten-a-side affair at Elmdon.

He was way off a first-team return. So Blues fans did not turn up on that chilly November afternoon expecting a feast.

But they got one.

But when Joe Jordan, set up by future Blues manager Lou Macari, put United in front after 13 minutes Blues' run seemed as though it would continue.

However, Smith and Blues had other ideas and by half-time they were 3-1 up as Kevin Dillon equalised and Alan Buckley struck twice in two minutes just after the half hour, his first set up by Givens and Alberto Tarantini.

Six minutes after the restart Irish international Givens made it four before in the final minute he knocked another Tarantini free kick into the path of Jimmy Calderwood.

The Argentine was also involved in a second-half incident which left Brian Greenhoff stretchered off and unconscious for 25 minutes. And one with Jordan. And one with United coach Tommy Cavanagh...

“Alberto has quite wrongly been labelled as some sort of hatchet man,” said the Bald Eagle afterwards.

Unfortunately it was to be a rare highlight as Blues never recovered from their poor start to the season.

In February 1979 Trevor Francis was sold to Nottingham Forest, and at the end of the campaign Smith and Blues were relegated.

They have yet to beat United in their 25 subsequent attempts.