CITY 2 IPSWICH TOWN 1

League Division 1

2nd April 1977

attendance 42,780

Scorers
City Kidd(36), Watson(87)
Ipswich Whymark(54)

ref G Kew

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Booth, Watson, Keegan, Barnes, Kidd, Royle, Hartford, Owen – sub Henry(69)

Ipswich Cooper, Burley, Mills, Talbot, Hunter, Beattie, Lambert, Wark, Mariner, Whymark, Woods – sub Tibbott(50)

 DAVE WATSON SCORES CITY’S SECOND GOAL

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER CORRIGAN WRITING IN THE OBSERVER 3RD APRIL 1977
Having regained the leadership of the First Division before lunch, Liverpool players were able to pop across to Maine Road and take pleasure in the sight of their position being preserved as their closest pursuers stumbled around in a most unchampion-like manner during a second half which brought the slow hand-clap from a crowd primed for a more stirring conflict.
Ipswich were not deprived of the points they needed to stay level with Liverpool until three minutes from the end, when England centre half Watson gave City victory with an almighty header. The East Anglian challenge ought to have been brushed aside long before.
City are now three points behind Liverpool with a match in hand, but they have to visit Anfield next Saturday, where they will require a far more consistent performance to maintain their contention.
… Kidd gave City the lead with a goal in some way controversial, Mills had headed hurriedly at Clements’s free kick, and the ball flew to Booth, who headed through a crowd of players to Kidd. Kidd looked offside; indeed the linesman’s flag was half raised when the referee waved Kidd on to the simple task of beating Cooper from six yards.
… Mills made the the Ipswich equaliser. He collected a difficult ball from Talbot in the centre circle, left Watson stranded with a sudden spurt, and after a 30 yard run, supplied Whymark with a pass which required the striker to do no more than round Corrigan and slide the ball in.
… There seemed little to prevent a tame and unsatisfactory ending before the impressive Watson rose with majesty as Barnes’ corner flew to the far side of the goalmouth and sent the ball into the goal with an explosive header…