STOKE CITY 2 CITY 1

League Division 1

18th March 1981

Attendance 15,842

Scorers
City McDonald(28)
Stoke Doyle(43), O’Callaghan(77)

Ref Howard Taylor

City Corrigan, Ranson, McDonald, Reid, Power, Booth, Bennett, Henry, MacKenzie, Tueart, Reeves- used sub Caton

Stoke Fox, Johnson, Hampton, Dodd, O’Callaghan, Doyle, Munro, Chapman, Heath, Bracewell, Maguire – used sub Ursem

FROM THE PRESS BOX

CHARLES BURGESS WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 19TH MARCH 1981
A goal apiece from Stoke City’s central defender Mike Doyle, a former Manchester City player, and Brendan O’Callaghan, a forward converted to defender, gave Stoke their first home win this year in an enjoyable match against Manchester City at the Victoria Ground last night.
A depleted City, missing the grit of Gow and the subtleties of Hutchison in midfield, had led through Bobby McDonald, who maintained a remarkable scoring record for a full back with his fourth goal in three games.
… Corrigan was kept busy. He made a fine full length diving save from Heath’s cracking 25 yard shot early on, but had little chance of preventing Stoke’s equaliser a minute from half time, McGuire swung over a corner from the right and the straight-backed Doyle was unmarked at the near post to head home.
After the interval Stoke had more energy than their opponents on the strength-sapping mud and sand pit, and City found themselves pinned back…
Their hopes of escaping with a point were dashed 13 minutes from time when O’Callaghan surged forward. Chapman’s header from his cross was kicked off the line by Ranson, but O’Callaghan smacked home the rebound.