CITY 1 BLACKBURN ROVERS 2
League Division 2
5th September 1987
attendance 20,372
scorers
City Scott(5)
Blackburn Patterson(20), Curry(85)
Ref B Stevens
City Nixon, Gidman, Hinchcliffe, Clements, I Brightwell, Redmond, White, Stewart, Adcock, Scott, McNab – subs Simpson(57), Lake(unused)
Blackburn Gennoe, Price, Sulley, Barker, Hendry, Dawson, Gayle, Reid, Curry, Patterson, Sellars – subs Ainscow(45), Millar
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 5TH SEPTEMBER 1987
Ian Scott’s second strike in a week gave Manchester City a flying start… at a rain-lashed Maine Road.
But Battling Rovers returned with a 20th minute equaliser, Mark Patterson flighting a fine header past Eric Nixon, who had earlier made a superb save to deny the busy Scott Sellars.
A cloudburst at the outset failed to dampen the spirits of this hungry young City side, who were given the best possible start with a goal after just five minutes.
Stewart made the running down the left, with the ball breaking perfectly for him.
When he dragged his cross bac into the middle Scott powered through to shoot past Gennoe for his second senior goal.
… But Rovers struck back in what was rapidly developing into an all action clash between these fallen Lancashire giants.
… In the ninth minute Patterson was narrowly wide following good work by Price… but Rovers finally gained their reward in the 20th minute with a fine equaliser.
Barker’s free-kick from the right was inch-perfect, and despite Nixon’s gallant lunge he could only get a hand to Patterson’s header, which rocketed into the top corner of the net.
Half-time: Manchester City 1, Blackburn Rovers 1.
… Five minutes from the end the hapless Nixon was all at sea in failing to cut out a left-flanking free kick from Millar and Curry headed Blackburn ahead.
It was no more than Rovers deserved with City a sad, sorry and disjointed side throughout the second half.