City MacRae, Pardoe, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Carrodus, Bell, Summerbee, Lee, Towers – sub Leman(unused)

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 7TH NOVEMBER 1973
With the sort of amazing luck they had at Brunton Park, Manchester City will now surely win the League Cup!
Twice within 60 seconds Carlisle hit the inside of the post before Francis Lee scored the last gasp goal which puts the Blues in the last 16 for the first time since they won the trophy three years ago.
City can counter claim that they too hit the cross bar and created the clearer cut chances in a gripping third round tie.
But they should also be truthful and admit that they were played off the park, particularly in the first half, by a useful Second Division side who clipped the ball about menacingly but lacked real thrust in front of goal.
Until Lee broke through from a perfect pass by Frank Carrodus, who vindicated himself from an otherwise struggling perfomance, Colin Bell had the best opening, but shot across the face of goal with Carlisle stretched at the back.
Earlier, Mike Summerbee had missed a close-in header and Tony Towers had driven a 25 yard shot against the bar. Other than that it was Carlisle’s night as they fought furiously to repeat their 1970 feat of beating the hides off the Blues.
However, the 84th and 85th minutes should have been the turning point as first Frank Clarke, brother of Allan of Leeds, hit the post and then, incredibly, Joe Laidlaw smacked a shot against the same post.
If they do get to Wembley, City should obtain those few inches of post and have them ceremoniously mounted at Maine Road.
But perhaps it was time the Blues had some luck after a long series of disasters against inferior opponents.
Loyal servant Alan Oakes struggled and Mike Doyle was again handicapped by injury.
But Glyn Pardoe, consistent if not as pacey as before, did well, particularly with a first half goal-line clearance, and the handling of Keith MacRae was again impressive, keeping a clean sheet for the third successive game…