CITY 4 COVENTRY CITY 0

League Division 1

27th November 1971

attendance 31,003

scorers Lee(25 & 82), Bell(33 & 76)

Ref K Walker

 City Corrigan, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Davies, Lee, Mellor – sub Towers(unused)

Coventry Glazier, Coop, Strong, Smith, Blockley, Parker, McGuire, Carr, Chilton, Hunt, Rafferty – sub Alderson

COLIN BELL SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL

IT’S A FIRST GOAL OF THE GAME FOR FRANNY LEE AS WELL

FROM THE PRESS BOX

It is a pity Francis Lee and Colin Bell could not carry Manchester City’s attacking courage and conviction with them to Greece this week. The men whose goals shattered feeble Coventry City at Maine Road might then inject some of their scoring zest into the negative pattern of a boring England set up.
Sir Alf Ramsey, too, would do well to study in depth the bold, buccaneering approach Malcolm Allison brings to a side firmly established in second position in Manchester’s great double headed title tilt.
City romped to a 4-0 victory on a saturated greasy surface where their all round skill and running stamina had Coventry sagging at the knees.
The strength and power the Blues brought to a game always full of incident, also saw them claiming a slice of the luck that goes with teams of Championship potential.

At a time when City were cruising on the strength of a first half lead Lee and Bell had built in an eight minute sprint. Coventry had the sort of chances outplayed sides rarely get.
Chris Chilton did all the hard work then blazed wide of a relieved Joe Corrigan and Ernie Hunt hit just as easier chance over the top. They were slips on City’s part, but at the same time it added to the entertainment that merited more than a miserable count of 31,000. City’s recent performances deserve, perhaps demand, better support than this.
Mike Doyle never ceases to amaze with the authority he brings to each new game, while Tommy Booth and Alan Oakes, the middle two at the back, have forged a partnership that both reliable and stable. On the defensive flanks too, Tony Book revealed the sort of form he has rarely bettered in the past and Willie Donachie now has the added advantage of at last being able to believe in himself as a First Division full back of standing and stature.
Lee once more revelled in the freedom Wyn Davies now finds for his ex Bolton buddy and the wing play of Mike Summerbee and Ian Mellor give City a front line to be feared.
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 29TH NOVEMBER 1971