CITY 4 COVENTRY CITY 2
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League Division 1
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13th December 1975
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attendance 27,256
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scorers
City Oakes(42), Barnes(48), Booth(58), Tueart(90),
Coventry Cross(85), Ferguson(89)
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scorers
City Oakes(42), Barnes(48), Booth(58), Tueart(90),
Coventry Cross(85), Ferguson(89)
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Ref J Reynolds
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City Corrigan, Hammond, Donachie, Doyle, Watson, Oakes, Barnes, Booth, Royle, Hartford, Tueart – sub Power(60)
Coventry King, Coop, Brogan, Dugdale, Ferguson, Holmes, Powell, Mortimer, Cross, Murphy, Hutchison – sub Craven(69)
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Peter Barnes scores City’s second
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The 3rd goal from Tommy Booth
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FROM THE PRESS BOX
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JOHN HUDSON WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 15TH DECEMBER 1975
Manchester City, after laying claim to the points against Coventry City with three goals in 15 minutes midway through Saturday’s match at Maine Road, were given a sharp reminder that in the First Division even potential champions ease up at their peril. They learned their lesson well, however, at least, knowing City, until the next time, for after the visitors had fought back with goals in the 85th and 89th minute they scrambled a fourth past the substitute goalkeeper deep in injury time to produce a more fitting winning margin in this, their 17th successive match without defeat.
The two points aside, however, it was not a game to enhance City’s championship hopes. For much of the first half, with Hartford out of sorts and Hutchison menacing, they could make little of Coventry in midfield and in the last 20 minutes, when the visitor’s goalkeeper, King, had withdrawn with concussion, they gave his deputy Craven little to worry about until events at the other end of the field shook them from their lethargy.
Manchester City, after laying claim to the points against Coventry City with three goals in 15 minutes midway through Saturday’s match at Maine Road, were given a sharp reminder that in the First Division even potential champions ease up at their peril. They learned their lesson well, however, at least, knowing City, until the next time, for after the visitors had fought back with goals in the 85th and 89th minute they scrambled a fourth past the substitute goalkeeper deep in injury time to produce a more fitting winning margin in this, their 17th successive match without defeat.
The two points aside, however, it was not a game to enhance City’s championship hopes. For much of the first half, with Hartford out of sorts and Hutchison menacing, they could make little of Coventry in midfield and in the last 20 minutes, when the visitor’s goalkeeper, King, had withdrawn with concussion, they gave his deputy Craven little to worry about until events at the other end of the field shook them from their lethargy.
… It was Hutchison, however, who dominated the first half in every department but finishing, a vital failing for which Coventry paid three minutes before half time when a back heel by Tueart sent Oakes clear for the first goal. Worse was to come for the visitors six minutes later when Tueart robbed Powell on the halfway line and centred on to Royle’s head and Barnes dummied the through-ball past King for the goal of the afternoon.
When Booth added a third 10 minutes later, splitting an eyebrow in the process, that should have been that. But a lengthy holdup while King, who had earlier clashed with Barnes, was treated and finally pulled off after a challenge by Royle, robbed City of much of their rhythm, and Cross and Ferguson capitalised on defensive slackness to set the scene for a grandstand finish. Fittingly it was Tueart who provided it, bundling a Donachie centre over the line. It was his least graceful deed of the afternoon but there were no complaints.
When Booth added a third 10 minutes later, splitting an eyebrow in the process, that should have been that. But a lengthy holdup while King, who had earlier clashed with Barnes, was treated and finally pulled off after a challenge by Royle, robbed City of much of their rhythm, and Cross and Ferguson capitalised on defensive slackness to set the scene for a grandstand finish. Fittingly it was Tueart who provided it, bundling a Donachie centre over the line. It was his least graceful deed of the afternoon but there were no complaints.
