CITY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 0

League Division 1

11th April 1977

attendance 37,735

Scorer Hartford(85)

ref B Martin

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

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 12TH APRIL 1977
Manchester City have rarely worked harder for two points that keep them clinging by their fingertips to the championship leaders.
Shattered by the demands of three testing games in four days, the Blues bravely steamed up on the post to clinch a victory that will be remembered more for its punishing boredom than polished skill and poise of potential title winners.
For that blame the negative approach of a Middlesbrough side whose tactics in defending to extreme will ultimately have the game done away with.
City themselves went point-seeking at Liverpool 48 hours earlier, but never for a minute were they as boring as Boro.
In the circumstances City’s Maine Road yesterday earns the highest acclaim.
Despite obvious fatigue, they willed weary, tired limbs to one last holiday effort that eventually found the pay-off with Asa Hartford’s winner five minutes from the end…