Coventry (where he would be re-united with Ernie Hannigan from their successful partnership at Queen of the South) splashed £90,000 for the battling Scot during a relegation battle. Neil Martin replaced Bobby Gould and by the season's end had equalled Gould as joint top goal getter for the season with eight. Coventry survived their first season of top-flight football. A couple of mobile, smaller strikers benefited from their partnership with Martin, namely Ernie Hunt and John O'Rourke. After another relegation battle in 1968–69 things improved significantly. With Martin and O'Rourke up front and youngsters Willie Carr and Dennis Mortimer in midfield Coventry achieved a European spot by finishing sixth. After scoring against Trakia Plovdiv before being knocked out of Europe by Bayern Munich, the 30-year-old was on the move again. Nottingham Forest Although Neil Martin only contributed one goal in what was left of that season the club stayed up benefiting from the Scot's experienced presence. With injuries starting to niggle Martin, Forest were relegated at the end of the 1971–72 season. Martin's days of top-flight football were over. 1972–73 season was a disappointment with Forest never threatening a promotion challenge and Martin picking up an injury pre-season against Kaiserslautern – he would miss three months. Martin hit the net on his come back in a 2–1 victory at Sheffield Wednesday but the season was undistinguished. Under fellow Scot Allan Brown the next season saw some improvement. Martin kept away from injury and acted as foil to Duncan McKenzie who hit 26 goals as the division's top scorer that season. In the FA Cup Martin scored twice in sweeping aside Bristol Rovers in the third round. Martin then played his part as Manchester City were on the end of a tremendous 4–1 thumping. After seeing off Portsmouth, Forest were away to Newcastle United in the sixth round. Forest were looking good as they went 3–1 up against a 10 men Newcastle. Newcastle fans invaded the pitch. After the restart the roof fell in on Forest – they lost 4–3. The FA declared a replay at neutral Goodison Park. After a no score draw Newcastle went through 1–0 when they replayed on Merseyside again. In 1974–75, in good form Martin scored twice winning in 3–2 at Sheffield Wednesday in late September, and so scored 100 league goals in each of Scotland and England. In scoring the 1–0 winner in the FA