WIMBLEDON 0 CITY 1
FA Premier League
1st September 1992
attendance 4,714
Scorer White(49)
Ref M Reed
City Coton, I Brightwell, Phelan, Curle, Vonk, White, Reid, Flitcroft, Simpson, Quinn, Holden – subs McMahon(80), Sheron(unused), Margetson(unused)
Wimbledon Segers, Anthrobus, McAllister, Barton, Blackwell, Fitzgerald, Miller, Earle, Fashanu, Sanchez, Holdsworth – subs Clarke(67), Joseph(unused), Sullivan(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
RUSSELL THOMAS WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 2ND SEPTEMBER 1992
David White showed impeccable timing last night, celebrating his first England call up by scoring Manchester City’s winner in front of a paltry Selhurst Park crowd that included Graham Taylor.
The goal, his fifth in six games, made him the Premier League’s joint top scorer and rewarded a City team benefiting from the return of their Player-manager Peter Reid to midfield and determined returns By the £5 million Wimbledon old boys Keith Curle and Terry Phelan.
The muscular Fashanu announced his presence in typical fashion in his first game of the season. There was little sign of hamstring trouble as the Wimbledon striker seized upon Holden’s intended clearance, only for Vonk to pull him back. The Dutchman was booked.
City looked to Quinn’s aerial power to supply the perpetually active White, who eagerly advanced into inviting positions.
Sanchez levelled the bookings counts after 23 minutes with a late challenge on Reid, who soon had to chase back to his area to pressure Holdsworth into shooting tamely from close range. Five minutes before half-time Holdsworth’s measured cross found Sanchez and even though he scooped his shot, Coton needed to back pedal and tip over hurriedly.
Vonk was living dangerously. Spoken to by the referee shortly before half-time, the Dutchman felled Fashanu again just after the interval as the striker turned inside, but Mr Reed merely awarded a free-kick
The Quinn-White combination continued to threaten, although Reid interposed himself when City went ahead in the 49th minute. Blackwell, under pressure from Quinn headed sideways and Reid advanced deep into the area before crossing low for White to jab home.
An angry clash between Fashanu and Curle ensured a frantic final 13 minutes. The city Defender had to be pulled away by Reid as he tried to get at the Wimbledon captain, who at one stage was himself restrained by the referee. The basement club came closest to scoring right on time when a Holdsworth shot was blocked on the line by Brightwell.
