Not sure where you get this idea from, as after losing 1-0 at Old Trafford on the 4th of April 1981, we were 11 points behind Leicester City in 21st place with 5 matches to play, and therefore already relegated before we played you.
And it was our second time in the top division, not our first...
Which is all the more ironic in the light of the last line of this:
Football League - travelling fans as % of home fans
72nd out of 72. Quite an achievement.