BIRMINGHAM CITY 0 CITY 3
League Division 2
30th April 1988
Attendance 8,014
Scorers I Brightwell(18 & 65), Varadi(88)
Ref R Lewis
City Stowell, Lennon, Hinchcliffe, Seagraves, Brightwell, Redmond, J Beckford, Stewart, McNab, Morley, Varadi – Subs White(64), Moulden(unused)
Birmingham Hansbury, Ranson, Roberts, Bird, Overson Atkins, Handysides, Langley, Whitton, Kennedy, Wigley – Subs Childs(29), Ashley
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EEING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 30TH APRIL 1988
Ian Brightwell gave Manchester City a 19th minute lead in a bad-tempered match against Birmingham at St Andrews this afternoon.
His sheer persistence and determination saw him outsmart Birmingham goalkeeper Roger Hansbury, who had back-tracked when racing to the edge of his penalty area attempting to cut off a long ball down the left.
But Birmingham lifted their pursuit of an equaliser and City were made to soak up pressure, with Mike Stowell making a flying leap to his right to keep out a stinging attempt from the always-dangerous Steve Wigley.
Lennon, the 16 year old Belfast boy making his League debut, was given a fiery Second Division baptism.
Within 70 seconds the Northern Ireland schoolboy international was flattened by a disgraceful late tackle from Birmingham’s Kennedy that rightly earned him a yellow card.
… A bad-tempered match was liberally sprinkled with unnecessary fouls, particularly by the uncompromising home side.
… The Blues settled down to reveal a better blend and understanding, although when they took a 19th minute lead it was courtesy of an outrageous clanger by Birmingham.
Hinchcliffe drove the ball high down the left, Brightwell went in pursuit, but it seemed Hansbury would easily win the chase. But the keeper inexplicably stopped in his tracks and Brightwell kept going to loft the ball over his head.
Half-time: Birmingham City 0, Manchester City 1.
… City finally brought off Lennon in the 64th minute replacing him with White. The youngster looked to be physically wilting after the strenuous efforts. There was still no excuse for the abuse Lennon received from Birmingham fans, doubtless angry at the fact that he had been involved in the booking of two home players.
… However in the 65th minute, City drove home their superiority with Brightwell again on the mark as he rose at the far post to head in a Stewart cross.
… In the 88th minute Varadi confirmed City’s superiority when he hammered in the third goal following a Morley through-ball.