Forest started the 1978–79 season by beating Ipswich Town 5–0 in the FA Charity Shield, a record win in the competition. On 9 December 1978 Liverpool ended Forest's 42 match unbeaten league run dating back to the November the year before. The unbeaten run was the equivalent of a whole season surpassing the previous record of 35 games held by Burnley in 1920/21. The record stood until surpassed by Arsenal in August 2004 a month before Clough's death. Arsenal played 49 league games without defeat. Forest also beat Southampton 3–2 to retain the League Cup. Birtles scored twice and Woodcock once. Forest finished second in the First Division, eight points behind Liverpool. In February 1979 Forest completed the English game's first £1 million transfer by signing striker Trevor Francis from Birmingham City.