WHU Day, McDowell, Lampard, Holland, T Taylor, Lock, A.Taylor, Pardon, Jennings, Brooking, Curbishley – sub Best(60)

JOE ROYLE SCORES THE FIRST OF HIS TWO GOALS

…The Blues were at their brilliant best, happily. They governed the game from start to finish, and the armchair spectators around the land were treated to a feast of good football on Match of the Day that night.
Add to that the fact that City were without four England internationals at various levels – Bell, Watson, Booth and Tueart – and that West Ham were two points above the Blues before the game, and it begins to dawn how good a performance it was.
Joe Royle was leading the front line with tremendous panache at this time, and he destroyed Tommy Taylor in the air. One reporter reckoned Royle was unlucky not to score seven and only ‘keeper Mervyn Day stood between City and double figures.
Big Joe was involved in all three goals. He scored the first after ten minutes, the ball being pumped high out of the City defence, then backheaded by Kevin Lock. It fell at the feet of Ged Keegan, who swivelled and hit a shot at Day’s goal that was off-target but in Royle’s path.
The second started with Royle’s future assistant at Oldham and Everton, Willie Donachie. The Scottish international pushed the ball in from the left-hand touchline to Alan Oaken, who in turn fed Royle. Oaken kept running and Joe released the ball into his path for Alan to net at the far post.
The final goal was earned by Peter Barnes, who dazzled John McDowell and Alan Taylor, the latter bringing the emerging City star down in the penalty area. Royle hit the roof of the net with the spot kick.
ADAPTED FROM A JOHN MADDOCKS ARTICLE IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 17TH JANUARY 1996

JOE’S SECOND GOAL FROM THE PENALTY SPOT