CITY 0 CHELSEA 1
FA Premier League
20th September 1992
attendance 22,420
Scorer Harford(40)
Ref Keith Hackett
City Coton, I Brightwell, Phelan, Reid, Curle, Hill, White, Flitcroft, Sheron, Simpson, Holden – sub Mike(72), D Brightwell(unused), Margetson(unused)
Chelsea Hitchcock, Hall, Sinclair, Townsend, Lee, Donaghy, Newton, Fleck, Harford, Spackman, Wise – subs Stuart(84), Spencer(72), Chamberlain(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MATCH REPORT FROM THE IRISH INDEPENDANT 21ST SEPTEMBER 1992
Chelsea skipper Andy Townsend last night spoke out about the tackle that sent him into a rage during yesterday’s stormy Premier League clash with Manchester City at Maine Road.
Townsend was seen by television viewers and 20,000 fans having to be restrained by team-mates and opponents after a dreadful foul by City’s Fitzroy Simpson on Dennis wise.
Townsend said afterwards: “I was right there and the tackle was dangerously high. Player’s careers are at stake out there. I would hate people to think that I tried to start a riot, but it’s only right as captain of the team that I stand by my players. We lost Paul Elliot two weeks ago to another bad tackle and in the heat of the moment you react.
I’m not saying that Fitzroy was out to top Dennis, but I said to him ‘you’re a good player, you’re better than that.’ That’s a tackle that Fitzroy won’t be proud of.”
Simpson, who was booked for the waist-high tackle, defended himself, saying: “I saw the ball and went for it. My game is all about tackles from midfield. How they react is up to them.”
Mick Harford hit Chelsea’s winner five minutes before half time while City were down to ten men, with winger Rick Holden having treatment for a cut face.
Holden was off for 17 minutes up to the interval, giving Chelsea the chance to seize the initiative after a shaky start.
City could have been in front in the opening minutes but for the brilliance of goalkeeper Kevin Hitchcock, who produced two more fine saves after the break to stake a claim for a regular first team spot.
