The 1975-76 season proved to be a successful campaign for the Tynesiders, despite only managing to finish the season off in fifteenth position. It proved to be Malcolm Macdonald’s last season at the club, and he was once again prolific in front of goal, finishing as their top goal scorer. The Geordies reached the final of the league cup and were unlucky to lose it at the hands of Man City, being defeated 2-1. They also put on a decent run in the FA cup, losing in the quarter final against Derby County.
The 1976-77 season saw Newcastle reach the forth round of both the FA and league cup, they most notably suffered a humiliating 7-2 thrashing against Manchester United in the league cup. There league form however peaked and they finished the season off strongly in fifth place. They did not have as much league fortune the following campaign as they finished off the term in 21st position, demoting them to the second tier of English football. Their first season in the second tier was not successful; they could only manage to finish the term off in 8th place, not even sufficient for a play off birth. They dismantled them selves in the cup competitions, most notably losing to Watford in the second round of the league cup. They were beginning to look like an ordinary football team. They showed little ambition during the 1979-80 season as they struggled in the second division for much of the season and it was only a good finale which saw them peak in ninth place.