CITY 2 NORWICH CITY 1
League Division 1
15th September 1990
Attendance 26,247
Scorers
City Quinn(22), Brennan(27)
Norwich Fleck(77)
Ref Alan Wilkie
City Coton, Brightwell, Pointon, Redmond, Hendry, Reid, White, Harper, Quinn, Heath, Ward – subs Brennan(19), Allen(75)
Norwich Gunn, Culverhouse, Bowen, Butterworth, Blades, Sherwood, Gordon, Fleck, Crook, Fox, Phillips
NIALL QUINN PUTS CITY INTO A 1-0 LEAD
Norwich City had started the season with the worst defensive record in the First Division. City took advantage of this with a barnstorming start in the first half at Maine Road.
Despite losing Steve Redmond due to a thigh injury In the 19th minute, City were comfortably 2-0 up Before the half hour, driven on by another great performance from 34 year old Peter Reid.
In the 22nd minutes City took the lead through Niall Quinn. It was Reid on the right, Sprinting down the wing to centre for Adrian Heath, his volley was blocked, Only for the ball to land at Quinn’s Feet, and he easily beat Brian Gunn in the Norwich goal.
Indeed, Quinn could have had a second a mean a few minutes later, when Gunn managed to block another close range shot From the 6 feet 4 inch Irish International.
Then three minutes later it was Quinn who set up the second goal, when his through ball put substitute Mark Brennan through on goal, although he looked offside, there was no flag, and Brennan calmly put the Blues 2-0 up.
It was all Manchester City, and it could have easily been 3-0 before the break, when Quinn had a stunning volley brilliantly saved by Gunn.
Early in the second half, Peter Reid’s influence on the game faded due to a hip injury, and Kendall’s team looked to just defend their two goal lead throughout the second half, however, they were hanging on slightly near the end, when in the 77th minute Robert Fleck scored a fine solo goal. However, the canaries didn’t have enough upfront To find an equaliser.
This was the canaries fourth defeat on the trot.
After the match, Dave Stringer, the Norwich manager commented: “We are going to have to work hard. If we are to turn the tide, we do have our problems at the moment, But this game is all about confidence. The players must try and keep that confidence. Although I do appreciate that it’s not easy when things are not going well.”
