Thursday, May 4 – 1978
Tommy Smith admitted defeat yesterday and dropped out of next Wednesday’s European Cup Final with Bruges a week after dropping a pickaxe on his foot and breaking a toe.
“I am so sick I don’t know what to say,” said the Liverpool hard man after leaving hospital with his right leg in plaster up to his knee, after going for an x-ray because he felt some reaction after training.
Smith was to have played in the reserves tonight to confirm his fitness. Having scored Liverpool’s second goal in Rome against Borussia Moenchengladbach last year, Smith delayed his retirement after a testimonial game to play on this season. Without him last night, Liverpool were held 0-0 at home by new champions Nottingham Forest. That means that in the last 300 minutes of football between the clubs, including extra time in the League Cup Final, Liverpool have been unable to break down the Forest defence.
And last night Forest were without defender Kenny Burns, who was in London to receive his Footballer of the Year award from the Football Writers’ Association at the Café Royal. This followed Burn’s other successes this season in winning League championship and League Cup winner’s medals as well as selection for Scotland’s World Cup squad.
(Daily Mail, 05-05-1978)
"Play Up, Liverpool" 