TORINO 0 CITY 0
Friendly
8th August 1992
attendance
City Coton, Hill, I Brightwell, Curle, Vonk, White, Sheron, Quinn, Holden, Simpson, McMahon – used subs Flitcroft, Reid, Brennan, Mike, Lake, Margetson
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PAUL HINCE WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 10TH AUGUST 1992
Manchester City wrapped up their tour to Italy in style with a magnificent display against UEFA Cup finalists Torino.
The fans hanging from the trees around the bursting stadium of Pines in the ski-ing village of Pinzolo watched Peter Reid’s side respond brilliantly to another night of provocation and play-acting.
But the Blues have absorbed some valuable lessons during the 14 days they have spent in and around the awe-inspiring Dolomite Mountains.
And those lessons were put to good effect against Torino When the Maine Road men simply refused to abandon their self-discipline in circumstances which would have taxed the patience of a saint.
Despite the blues grin-and-bear-it approach, three names went into the referees notebook, new boy Rick Holden for kicking the ball away and Steve McMahon and Michel Vonk for heaven knows what.
But in another potentially explosive match in blistering conditions the Blues kept their cool to win over the noisy, partisan Italian supporters with a superb team effort which will serve as a great morale booster for the coming Premier League season.
In a largely rearguard action, chances for City were few with Vonk coming closest to breaking the deadlock.
He was inches away from converting one of Holden’s inswinging Corners. Holden, City’s, £900,000 capture from Oldham Athletic, is still finding his feet. But he he’s a devastating crosser of the ball and the signs were there against Torino that big Niall Quinn is going to have a field day this season from the service provided by the leggy left-winger.
However, with their backs to the wall for much of the match, it was City’s defence which took the honours with skipper Keith Curle marshalling his troops superbly to bring the best out of Andy Hill, Ian Brightwell and the ever-improving Vonk.
And when the defensive blanket was breached the Torino forwards met an unbeatable obstacle in keeper Tony Coton who again looked every inch “England’s number one”, whatever Graham Taylor might say to the contrary.
Said Blues boss Reid, “This was a disciplined display against one of Italy’s top sides. The experience of our five matches in Italy will be invaluable and I cannot think of a better preparation for the test to come in the Premier League.”