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LINEAR LEAGUE POSITION - LEAGUE CUP

This is how Forest fared in the League Cup with respect to how many positions in the league we were above or below the opposition!

The current record for the biggest distance above a League Cup opponent was when we played Bury in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in the 1980-81 season. We were 2nd in the top flight (The First Division at the time) and Bury were bottom of the old Fourth Division, meaning there were 90 places between us, which could only be beaten if we were top of the League! Luckily we just won that one, 7-0
Our worst defeat based on ranking was when we lost 1-0 to Mansfield Town who were 58 places below us in 1999.

At the other end of the scale we were 38 places below Newcastle United when they beat us in the 3rd round of the FA Cup in 2011-12.

Our best win based on ranking was when we beat West Ham 2-1 at home when we were 25 places below then in 1993.

All League Cup games ordered by the league distance between us

Place Difference	Season	Date	Opponent	Forest Division/ Position	Opponent Division/ Position	Round	Leg	Replay	H/A	Score
Places Above Opposition
90	1980-81	Sep 23, 1980	Bury	1/2	4/24	3			A	7-0
87	1994-95	Sep 21, 1994	Hereford United	1/3	4/20	2	1		H	2-1
86	1994-95	Oct 04, 1994	Hereford United	1/2	4/18	2	2		A	0-0
81	1987-88	Oct 07, 1987	Hereford United	1/7	4/20	2	2		A	1-1
80	1961-62	Sep 11, 1961	Gillingham	1/11	4/23	1			H	4-1
80	1981-82	Dec 02, 1981	Tranmere Rovers	1/7	4/19	4			H	2-0
79	1987-88	Sep 23, 1987	Hereford United	1/5	4/16	2	1		H	5-0
77	1998-99	Sep 15, 1998	Leyton Orient	1/11	4/20	2	1		A	5-1
74	2022-23	Aug 23, 2022	Grimsby Town	1/10	4/16	2			A	3-0
71	1998-99	Sep 22, 1998	Leyton Orient	1/12	4/15	2	2		H	0-0
70	1997-98	Aug 27, 1997	Doncaster Rovers	2/1	4/23	1	2		H	2-1
67	1980-81	Sep 03, 1980	Peterborough United	1/6	4/5	2	2		A	1-1
64	2013-14	Aug 06, 2013	Hartlepool United	2/8	4/24	1			H	3-1
62	1967-68	Sep 13, 1967	Scunthorpe United	1/4	3/22	2			A	1-0
61	2016-17	Aug 09, 2016	Doncaster Rovers	2/4	4/17	1			A	2-1
61	1980-81	Aug 27, 1980	Peterborough United	1/13	4/6	2	1		H	3-0
61	1990-91	Oct 10, 1990	Burnley	1/9	4/2	2	2		A	1-0
58	1971-72	Sep 07, 1971	Aldershot	1/19	4/9	2			H	5-1
58	1999-00	Aug 24, 1999	Mansfield Town	2/14	4/24	1	2		A	0-1
57	1978-79	Oct 04, 1978	Oxford United	1/6	3/19	3			A	5-0
57	1990-91	Sep 26, 1990	Burnley	1/14	4/3	2	1		H	4-1
57	2014-15	Aug 12, 2014	Tranmere Rovers	2/5	4/14	1			A	1-0
55	1997-98	Aug 11, 1997	Doncaster Rovers	2/9	4/16	1	1		A	8-0
55	2002-03	Sep 11, 2002	Kidderminster Harriers	2/7	4/14	1			H	4-0
54	2018-19	Aug 14, 2018	Bury	2/5	4/11	1			H	1-1
54	1998-99	Oct 27, 1998	Cambridge United	1/19	4/5	3			H	3-3
54	1969-70	Sep 03, 1969	Barrow	1/11	3/21	2			A	2-1
54	2009-10	Aug 12, 2009	Bradford City	2/18	4/24	1			H	3-0
53	1996-97	Sep 18, 1996	Wycombe Wanderers	1/14	3/23	2	1		H	1-0
52	2010-11	Aug 10, 2010	Bradford City	2/18	4/22	1			A	1-2
52	1992-93	Oct 28, 1992	Crewe Alexandra	1/22	4/4	3			A	1-0
52	2000-01	Aug 22, 2000	Darlington	2/9	4/13	1	1		A	2-2
51	1977-78	Jan 17, 1978	Bury	1/1	3/8	Quarter			A	3-0
51	1988-89	Feb 15, 1989	Bristol City	1/4	3/11	Semi	1		H	1-1
50	1982-83	Dec 01, 1982	Brentford	1/3	3/9	4			H	2-0
50	1996-97	Sep 24, 1996	Wycombe Wanderers	1/17	3/23	2	2		A	1-1
49	1999-00	Aug 11, 1999	Mansfield Town	2/23	4/24	1	1		H	3-0
48	1979-80	Sep 05, 1979	Blackburn Rovers	1/1	3/5	2	2		H	6-1
48	1988-89	Feb 26, 1989	Bristol City	1/7	3/11	Semi	2		A	1-0
47	1985-86	Oct 08, 1985	Bolton Wanderers	1/16	3/19	2	2		A	3-0
46	1985-86	Sep 25, 1985	Bolton Wanderers	1/15	3/17	2	1		H	4-0
46	2008-09	Aug 13, 2008	Morecambe	2/13	4/11	1			H	4-0
45	2000-01	Sep 06, 2000	Darlington	2/7	4/4	1	2		H	1-2
45	1979-80	Aug 29, 1979	Blackburn Rovers	1/2	3/3	2	1		A	1-1
44	1961-62	Oct 11, 1961	Queens Park Rangers	1/8	3/8	2			A	2-1
43	1997-98	Sep 24, 1997	Walsall	2/1	3/20	2	2		A	2-2
42	1991-92	Oct 08, 1991	Bolton Wanderers	1/10	3/6	2	2		A	5-2
42	1995-96	Sep 19, 1995	Bradford City	1/6	3/4	2	1		A	2-3
42	1985-86	Oct 30, 1985	Derby County	1/8	3/6	3			A	2-1
42	1977-78	Oct 25, 1977	Notts County	1/1	2/21	3			H	4-0
41	1997-98	Sep 17, 1997	Walsall	2/5	3/22	2	1		H	0-1
41	1975-76	Aug 19, 1975	Rotherham United	2/4	3/23	1	1		A	2-1
40	2021-22	Aug 11, 2021	Bradford City	2/20	4/12	1			H	2-1
40	1991-92	Sep 25, 1991	Bolton Wanderers	1/13	3/7	2	1		H	4-0
39	1995-96	Oct 04, 1995	Bradford City	1/8	3/3	2	2		H	2-2
39	1960-61	Nov 15, 1960	Bristol City	1/22	3/17	3			H	2-1
39	1988-89	Oct 12, 1988	Chester City	1/11	3/6	2	2		A	4-0
39	2003-04	Sep 23, 2003	Tranmere Rovers	2/5	3/20	2			A	0-0
39	1978-79	Jan 17, 1979	Watford	1/6	3/1	Semi	1		H	3-1
39	1978-79	Jan 30, 1979	Watford	1/6	3/1	Semi	2		A	0-0
39	1983-84	Oct 04, 1983	Wimbledon	1/10	3/5	2	1		A	0-2
38	2006-07	Aug 21, 2006	Accrington Stanley	3/2	4/16	1			A	0-1
38	1989-90	Oct 03, 1989	Huddersfield Town	1/12	3/6	2	2		A	3-3
37	1994-95	Nov 30, 1994	Millwall	1/5	2/20	4			H	0-2
37	1983-84	Oct 26, 1983	Wimbledon	1/11	3/4	2	2		H	1-1
36	1988-89	Sep 28, 1988	Chester City	1/14	3/6	2	1		H	6-0
35	1975-76	Aug 27, 1975	Rotherham United	2/9	3/22	1	2		H	5-1
35	2004-05	Aug 25, 2004	Scunthorpe United	2/14	4/1	1			H	2-0
33	2018-19	Oct 30, 2018	Burton Albion	2/7	3/16	4			A	2-3
33	1986-87	Nov 19, 1986	Bradford City	1/3	2/14	4			A	5-0
33	2001-02	Aug 20, 2001	Hartlepool United	2/18	4/3	1			A	2-0
32	1989-90	Sep 20, 1989	Huddersfield Town	1/15	3/3	2	1		H	1-1
31	1991-92	Oct 30, 1991	Bristol Rovers	1/14	2/23	3			H	2-0
31	1986-87	Nov 05, 1986	Crystal Palace	1/1	2/10	3			H	1-0
31	1980-81	Oct 28, 1980	Watford	1/4	2/13	4			A	1-4
30	1986-87	Oct 29, 1986	Crystal Palace	1/1	2/9	3			A	2-2
30	1986-87	Sep 24, 1986	Brighton and Hove Albion	1/1	2/9	2	1		A	0-0
29	1999-00	Sep 15, 1999	Bristol City	2/9	3/14	2	1		H	2-1
29	1993-94	Sep 21, 1993	Wrexham	2/14	3/19	2	1		A	3-3
28	1986-87	Oct 08, 1986	Brighton and Hove Albion	1/1	2/7	2	2		H	3-0
28	1987-88	Oct 27, 1987	Manchester City	1/4	2/11	3			A	0-3
28	1960-61	Oct 06, 1960	Halifax Town	1/21	3/5	2			H	2-0
27	2005-06	Aug 23, 2005	Macclesfield Town	3/20	4/23	1			H	2-3
27	2011-12	Aug 23, 2011	Wycombe Wanderers	2/12	3/15	2			A	4-1
27	2017-18	Aug 08, 2017	Shrewsbury Town	2/6	3/9	1			H	2-1
27	2003-04	Aug 12, 2003	Port Vale	2/5	3/8	1			A	0-0
27	1992-93	Oct 07, 1992	Stockport County	1/22	3/3	2	2		H	2-1
26	1992-93	Sep 23, 1992	Stockport County	1/22	3/2	2	1		A	3-2
26	1969-70	Oct 15, 1969	Oxford United	1/13	2/17	4			H	0-1
25	1981-82	Nov 11, 1981	Blackburn Rovers	1/5	2/8	3			A	1-0
25	1976-77	Aug 31, 1976	Walsall	2/17	3/20	2			A	4-2
25	1990-91	Oct 31, 1990	Plymouth Argyle	1/9	2/14	3			A	2-1
24	1979-80	Dec 04, 1979	West Ham United	1/5	2/7	Quarter			A	0-0
24	1978-79	Dec 13, 1978	Brighton and Hove Albion	1/5	2/7	Quarter			H	3-1
24	1999-00	Sep 22, 1999	Bristol City	2/11	3/11	2	2		A	0-0
23	1966-67	Sep 20, 1966	Birmingham City	1/6	2/7	2		Replay	A	1-2
23	1984-85	Sep 25, 1984	Portsmouth	1/3	2/4	2	1		A	0-1
22	1984-85	Oct 10, 1984	Portsmouth	1/2	2/2	2	2		H	3-0
22	1979-80	Dec 12, 1979	West Ham United	1/7	2/7	Quarter		Replay	H	3-0
22	2007-08	Aug 14, 2007	Chester City	3/16	4/14	1			A	0-0
22	2013-14	Aug 28, 2013	Millwall	2/1	2/23	2			H	2-1
22	1988-89	Nov 30, 1988	Leicester City	1/8	2/10	4			A	0-0
21	2016-17	Aug 23, 2016	Millwall	2/11	3/8	2			A	2-1
21	1994-95	Oct 26, 1994	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1/2	2/1	3			A	3-2
21	1993-94	Oct 06, 1993	Wrexham	2/19	3/16	2	2		H	3-1
20	1977-78	Aug 30, 1977	West Ham United	1/1	1/21	2			H	5-0
20	1988-89	Dec 14, 1988	Leicester City	1/9	2/9	4		Replay	H	2-1
20	1970-71	Oct 06, 1970	Birmingham City	1/17	2/15	3			A	1-2
19	1966-67	Sep 13, 1966	Birmingham City	1/8	2/5	2			H	1-1
19	2014-15	Aug 26, 2014	Huddersfield Town	2/1	2/20	2			A	2-0
19	1978-79	Aug 29, 1978	Oldham Athletic	1/10	2/7	2			A	0-0
19	1978-79	Sep 06, 1978	Oldham Athletic	1/10	2/7	2		Replay	H	4-2
19	2015-16	Aug 11, 2015	Walsall	2/20	3/15	1			H	3-4
18	1989-90	Apr 29, 1990	Oldham Athletic	1/12	2/10	Final			N	1-0
17	2004-05	Oct 26, 2004	Doncaster Rovers	2/22	3/15	3			A	2-0
16	1973-74	Oct 10, 1973	Millwall	2/3	2/19	2			A	0-0
14	1988-89	Apr 09, 1989	Luton Town	1/4	1/18	Final			N	3-1
14	1979-80	Oct 30, 1979	Bristol City	1/2	1/16	4			A	1-1
13	1979-80	Nov 14, 1979	Bristol City	1/3	1/16	4		Replay	H	3-0
12	1973-74	Oct 16, 1973	Millwall	2/8	2/20	2		Replay	H	1-3
12	2025-26	Sep 17, 2025	Swansea City	1/15	2/7	3			A	2-3
11	2002-03	Oct 02, 2002	Walsall	2/4	2/15	2			H	1-2
10	1991-92	Dec 17, 1991	Southampton	1/11	1/21	4		Replay	A	1-0
10	2011-12	Aug 09, 2011	Notts County	2/16	3/2	1			H	3-3
10	1961-62	Nov 14, 1961	Blackburn Rovers	1/9	1/19	3			H	1-2
9	1981-82	Oct 06, 1981	Birmingham City	1/6	1/15	2	1		A	3-2
9	1981-82	Oct 28, 1981	Birmingham City	1/5	1/14	2	2		H	2-1
9	1977-78	Nov 29, 1977	Aston Villa	1/1	1/10	4			H	4-2
9	1991-92	Dec 04, 1991	Southampton	1/12	1/21	4			H	0-0
9	2001-02	Sep 12, 2001	Stockport County	2/15	2/24	2			H	1-1
9	2018-19	Sep 26, 2018	Stoke City	2/9	2/18	3			H	3-2
9	1988-89	Jan 18, 1989	Queens Park Rangers	1/6	1/15	Quarter			H	5-2
8	1979-80	Sep 25, 1979	Middlesbrough	1/1	1/9	3			A	3-1
7	2019-20	Aug 27, 2019	Derby County	2/9	2/16	2			H	3-0
7	2019-20	Aug 13, 2019	Fleetwood Town	2/20	3/3	1			H	1-0
7	1989-90	Feb 11, 1990	Coventry City	1/4	1/11	Semi	1		H	2-1
7	1978-79	Mar 17, 1979	Southampton	1/6	1/13	Final			N	3-2
6	1990-91	Nov 28, 1990	Coventry City	1/10	1/16	4			A	4-5
5	1970-71	Sep 09, 1970	Huddersfield Town	1/6	1/11	2			A	0-0
5	1970-71	Sep 21, 1970	Huddersfield Town	1/13	1/18	2		Replay	H	2-0
5	1977-78	Feb 08, 1978	Leeds United	1/1	1/6	Semi	1		A	3-1
5	1977-78	Feb 22, 1978	Leeds United	1/1	1/6	Semi	2		H	4-2
5	1989-90	Feb 25, 1990	Coventry City	1/4	1/9	Semi	2		A	0-0
5	2022-23	Dec 21, 2022	Blackburn Rovers	1/18	2/3	4			A	4-1
5	1989-90	Jan 24, 1990	Tottenham Hotspur	1/4	1/9	Quarter		Replay	A	3-2
4	2022-23	Jan 11, 2023	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1/15	1/19	Quarter			H	1-1
4	1972-73	Sep 05, 1972	Aston Villa	2/2	2/6	2			H	0-1
4	1989-90	Nov 01, 1989	Crystal Palace	1/9	1/13	3		Replay	H	5-0
4	1967-68	Oct 10, 1967	Burnley	1/7	1/11	3			A	0-3
4	2023-24	Aug 30, 2023	Burnley	1/14	1/18	2			H	0-1
4	1977-78	Mar 18, 1978	Liverpool	1/1	1/5	Final			N	0-0
4	1977-78	Mar 22, 1978	Liverpool	1/1	1/5	Final		Replay	N	1-0
3	1989-90	Oct 24, 1989	Crystal Palace	1/8	1/11	3			A	0-0
3	1988-89	Nov 02, 1988	Coventry City	1/5	1/8	3			H	3-2
3	1969-70	Sep 23, 1969	West Ham United	1/12	1/15	3			H	1-0
3	1981-82	Jan 18, 1982	Tottenham Hotspur	1/6	1/9	Quarter			A	0-1
3	1975-76	Sep 10, 1975	Plymouth Argyle	2/12	2/15	2			H	1-0
2	2004-05	Sep 22, 2004	Rotherham United	2/22	2/24	2			H	2-1
2	1979-80	Mar 15, 1980	Wolverhampton Wanderers	1/8	1/10	Final			N	0-1
1	1982-83	Nov 10, 1982	Watford	1/5	1/6	3			H	7-3
1	1989-90	Jan 17, 1990	Tottenham Hotspur	1/5	1/6	Quarter			H	2-2
1	1984-85	Oct 31, 1984	Sunderland	1/7	1/8	3			H	1-1
Places Below Opposition
-1	1993-94	Jan 26, 1994	Tranmere Rovers	2/6	2/5	Quarter			H	1-1
-1	1993-94	Jan 29, 1994	Tranmere Rovers	2/6	2/5	Quarter		Replay	A	0-2
-1	1991-92	Mar 01, 1992	Tottenham Hotspur	1/16	1/15	Semi	2		A	2-1
-1	1985-86	Nov 25, 1985	Queens Park Rangers	1/10	1/9	4			A	1-3
-1	1991-92	Jan 08, 1992	Crystal Palace	1/11	1/10	Quarter			A	1-1
-1	1982-83	Jan 19, 1983	Manchester United	1/3	1/2	Quarter			A	0-4
-1	2024-25	Aug 28, 2024	Newcastle United	1/7	1/6	2			H	1-1
-2	1978-79	Nov 07, 1978	Everton	1/4	1/2	4			A	3-2
-2	1991-92	Feb 05, 1992	Crystal Palace	1/12	1/10	Quarter		Replay	H	4-2
-3	1986-87	Jan 21, 1987	Arsenal	1/4	1/1	Quarter			A	0-2
-3	1991-92	Feb 09, 1992	Tottenham Hotspur	1/14	1/11	Semi	1		H	1-1
-3	1984-85	Nov 06, 1984	Sunderland	1/10	1/7	3		Replay	A	0-1
-4	2013-14	Sep 24, 2013	Burnley	2/6	2/2	3			A	1-2
-4	1989-90	Nov 22, 1989	Everton	1/11	1/7	4			H	1-0
-5	1979-80	Jan 22, 1980	Liverpool	1/6	1/1	Semi	1		H	1-0
-5	1979-80	Feb 12, 1980	Liverpool	1/6	1/1	Semi	2		A	1-1
-5	1982-83	Oct 06, 1982	West Bromwich Albion	1/10	1/5	2	1		H	6-1
-5	1996-97	Oct 23, 1996	West Ham United	1/18	1/13	3			A	1-4
-6	1968-69	Sep 03, 1968	West Bromwich Albion	1/20	1/14	2			H	2-3
-6	1971-72	Oct 06, 1971	Chelsea	1/21	1/15	3			H	1-1
-6	1971-72	Oct 11, 1971	Chelsea	1/21	1/15	3		Replay	A	1-2
-7	2017-18	Aug 23, 2017	Newcastle United	2/4	1/17	2			A	3-2
-7	1991-92	Apr 12, 1992	Manchester United	1/9	1/2	Final			N	0-1
-8	1982-83	Oct 26, 1982	West Bromwich Albion	1/10	1/2	2	2		A	1-3
-9	2022-23	Jan 25, 2023	Manchester United	1/13	1/4	Semi	1		H	0-3
-9	2022-23	Feb 01, 2023	Manchester United	1/13	1/4	Semi	2		A	0-2
-10	1992-93	Dec 02, 1992	Tottenham Hotspur	1/22	1/12	4			H	2-0
-10	1999-00	Oct 13, 1999	Sheffield Wednesday	2/10	1/20	3			A	1-4
-12	2014-15	Sep 24, 2014	Tottenham Hotspur	2/1	1/9	3			A	1-3
-13	1960-61	Jan 10, 1961	Burnley	1/16	1/3	4			A	1-2
-13	1992-93	Jan 12, 1993	Arsenal	1/22	1/9	Quarter			A	0-2
-16	1998-99	Nov 11, 1998	Manchester United	1/19	1/3	4			A	1-2
-16	1993-94	Dec 01, 1993	Manchester City	2/11	1/17	4			H	0-0
-16	1993-94	Dec 15, 1993	Manchester City	2/11	1/17	4		Replay	A	2-1
-16	2022-23	Nov 09, 2022	Tottenham Hotspur	1/20	1/4	3			H	2-0
-17	2003-04	Oct 29, 2003	Portsmouth	2/8	1/11	3			H	2-4
-17	2018-19	Aug 29, 2018	Newcastle United	2/13	1/16	2			H	3-1
-18	2009-10	Aug 25, 2009	Middlesbrough	2/20	2/2	2			H	2-1
-19	1976-77	Sep 21, 1976	Coventry City	2/12	1/15	3			H	0-3
-20	2007-08	Sep 18, 2007	Leicester City	3/15	2/19	2		Replay	H	2-3
-20	2012-13	Aug 28, 2012	Wigan Athletic	2/8	1/8	2			H	1-4
-21	2008-09	Aug 27, 2008	Sunderland	2/14	1/13	2			H	1-2
-21	2009-10	Sep 22, 2009	Blackburn Rovers	2/19	1/18	3			H	0-1
-22	2019-20	Sep 24, 2019	Arsenal	2/6	1/4	3			A	0-5
-25	1993-94	Oct 27, 1993	West Ham United	2/20	1/17	3			H	2-1
-26	2001-02	Oct 08, 2001	Bolton Wanderers	2/11	1/5	3			A	0-1
-26	1974-75	Sep 25, 1974	Newcastle United	2/13	1/9	2		Replay	A	0-3
-27	2017-18	Sep 20, 2017	Chelsea	2/10	1/3	3			A	1-5
-28	1974-75	Sep 10, 1974	Newcastle United	2/17	1/11	2			H	1-1
-28	2021-22	Aug 24, 2021	Wolverhampton Wanderers	2/24	1/16	2			H	0-4
-29	2016-17	Sep 20, 2016	Arsenal	2/13	1/4	3			H	0-4
-31	2004-05	Nov 10, 2004	Fulham	2/23	1/12	4			H	2-4
-32	1975-76	Oct 08, 1975	Manchester City	2/19	1/9	3			A	1-2
-33	2007-08	Aug 28, 2007	Leicester City	3/18	2/9	2			H	1-0
-38	2011-12	Sep 20, 2011	Newcastle United	2/22	1/4	3			H	3-4

The City Ground.com   Seasons: 161 | Games: 7,610 | Goals: 12,311 | Players: 2,022 |Opponents: 578 | Opponent lineups: 7,558 | Sources: 20,988 | Players pictures: 994 | Game cuttings: 1,036 | Half-time scores: 91%