BILL SHANKLY proclaimed himself happy with a point as he made his first managerial return to Leeds Road in nine years.

Liverpool had rattled four without reply past Town early in the season at Anfield, but the goalless draw in the return showed that Ian Greaves’ side were finding their First Division feet.

Tommy Smith hardly left the penalty area as the mighty Reds, sixth in the table, seemed content to sit back and soak up 16th-placed Town’s pressure.

There were three major scares for Shankly’s side.

Bobby Hoy brought a brilliant save from Ray Clemence with a stinging volley from Frank Worthington’s pass in the 10th minute.

Then Brian Greenhalgh scraped the outside of an upright on the hour.

And finally, Worthington’s dipping 88th-minute shot from outside the penalty area was just too high.

Liverpool’s only real chance came in the 80th minute when Steve Heighway centred for Phil Boersma to head wide, much to the relief of Town keeper Terry Poole and home fans in a 25,033 crowd.

“The exciting flashes we had hoped to see from wonder discovery Heighway and the evergreen Peter Thompson scarcely developed,” noted the Examiner’s Alan Driscoll.

“And only once did I note that very fine attacking wing-half (Emlyn) Hughes drop his defensive duties and take the ball forward with those characteristic piston-like long strides of his.

“To sum it up, Liverpool played a cat-and-mouse strategy for the most part.

“They had a few shakier-than-usual moments but in general, their organisation at the back was dovetailed so efficiently that there was invariably the vital last man when needed.

“If Smith or Larry Lloyd bungled a clearance – and it happened occasionally – Chris Lawler (pictured above) was lurking to put the ball away for a corner and thus enable Liverpool’s defence to take up chessboard positions once again.”

Shankly, who had swapped Town for Liverpool 11 years earlier, said: “It was great to see so many familiar faces again.

“But while the people are the same, the feel of the place is totally different, and the club seems to be going places.

“Ian has put together a very good hard-working side, and we were made to work hard for a point.”