BLACKBURN ROVERS 3 CITY 2
Simod Cup 1st Round
13th December 1988
Attendance 5,763
scorers
CityHendry(39 og), Gleghorn(118)
Blackburn Atkin(41), Kennedy(102 & 113 pen)
Ref K Lupton
City Dibble, Lake, Hinchcliffe, Seagraves, I Brightwell, Redmond, White, Moulden, Morley, McNab, Gleghorn – subs Bradshaw(45), Taggart(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 14TH DECEMBER 1988
At least defeat didn’t cause Manchester City three valuable promotion points.
That was the only positive outcome of this tepid Simod Cup tie, a competition the Blues are better of.
It leaves. The fixture list comparatively uncluttered for the more urgent and demanding task of securing a First Division return come spring.
Blackburn Rovers, nearest challengers to the table-topping Blues, took the Ewood Park honours last night when two extra time goals salvaged a colourless first round clash.
Andy Kennedy’s double strike enabled Rovers to squeeze through 3-2…
… Thankfully, we were saved the further depressing agony of a penalty shoot-out as City’s carelessness at the back was again exposed as it had been in normal time when the score finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
For all three Rovers goals were the direct result of dead-ball situations, two from left flanking Corners, the third a penalty when Mark Seagraves dragged back Simon Garner in full flight.
Manager. Mel Machin was not too despondent about his side slipping off another Wembley trail for the second time in a fortnight. But he did say: “We must at least learn from the mistakes we made at the back. All the goals were a result of sloppy defending.”
Clearly City Missed the inspirational drive of Brian Gayle, temporarily sidelined because of a strained stomach muscle.
They were lacking too, up front, although Nigel Gleghorn continued to impress with yet another fine display crowned by a late goal from a David White cross to give the score added respectability.
It will be different of course, when City return to Ewood for the more crucial League meeting in April by which time they hope to be still on promotion course. Neither side could seriously relish last night’s match when there were no major injuries although, the Blues did have a late scare as White clattered into Rovers’ goalkeeper Vince O’Keefe