CARLISLE UNITED 0 CITY 0

Canon League Division 2

8th September 1984

attendance 6,461

Ref George Courtney

City Williams, Reid, Power, McCarthy, Phillips, May, Baker, Cunningham, Tolmie, Parlane, Wilson – sub Kinsey(77)

Carlisle McKellar, McCartney, Rushbury, Ashurst, O’Riordan, McAughtrie, MacDonald, Craig, Poskett, Robson, Davies – sub Hill

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 10TH SEPTEMBER 1984
Billy McNeill admitted to a small positive step forward for Manchester City.
A goalless draw against colourless Carlisle at Brunton Park did ease the air of early depression.
But the Blues goa-front failings also left McNeill claiming: “It was two points lost rather than one point gained.
City should have won in a canter in a game where Alex Williams was limited to just one save from a late, short corner by the inept home side.
Carlisle looked pale shadows of the side that contested promotion for much of last season. For that matter, so did City.
But at least the Blues revealed the meaner, more resilient streak that is needed if they are to claw their way back into the top half of the table this autumn.
Mick McCarthy and Nicky Reid in particular served notice of their intentions with a more aggressive and forthright display at the centre of the back four.
McCarthy, on the brink of losing his place, returned to form with a bang with McNeill saying: “It was his best game of the season. He did his job well.”
Reid is also getting back into his stride with City, for once, not falling into the trap of conceding disastrous early goals.
They should have had one themselves with Graham Baker’s crisp 18th minute volley dropping out of the hands of goalkeeper Dave McKellar and, seemingly, over the line.
But neither referee nor linesman were sufficiently up with play to safely sjudicate and Carlisle were let off the hook.
However, even Carlisle fans claimed the ball was over the line but as United manager Bob Stokoe rightly insisted: “The score was stil nil-nil.
Greater goal-front awareness would also have benefitted City when the careless hands of McKellar allowed another long shot to cannon back 10 yards off his body.
It was the sort of opportunity the likes of Law and Greaves would have gobbled up but City strikers were nowhere near sharp enough to exploit such a golden opportunity.
Derek Parlane, David Phillips and Clive Wilson all missed further chances, although overall the poor nature of the game left it instantly forgettable.
Jim Tolmie given his first real chance of the season, failed to take it and was withdrawn in favour of Steve Kinsey who did provide a late ray of hope with some clinical runs at the opposing defence.
And Tony Cunningham needs the inspiration of a goal to get him going if City are to truly benefit from their £100,000 investment.