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CITY 2 COVENTRY CITY 0
League Division 1
14th October 1978
attendance 36,723
scorer Owen(67 pen & 90 pen)
Ref Keith Hackett
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Booth, Watson, Kidd, Palmer, Owen, R Futcher, Hartford, Barnes – Sub Bell(unused)
Coventry Sealey, Coop, McDonald, Yorath, Holton, Gillespie, Hutchison, Wallace, Thompson, Powell, Hunt – Sub Roberts
RON FUTCHER IS BROUGHT DOWN AND IT’S A PENALTY FOR CITY
GARY OWEN CONVERTS THE PENALTY PUTTING CITY 1-0 UP
THIS TIME IT’S PETER BARNES WHO’S BROUGHT DOWN IN THE AREA
IT’S GARY OWEN AGAIN FROM THE SPOT MAKING IT 2-0 FOR THE BLUES
from ‘THAT WAS THE WEEK an article in the City programme 12th October 1998
Manchester City have had some of the most reliable penalty-takers in the business.
Former chief scout Ken Barnes once scored a hat-trick from the spot against Everton at Maine Road in December 1957. And, of course, the older fans will remember the powerful blasts of Francis ‘Lee Won Pen’ in the late Sixties and early Seventies.
Then, later in the 1970s, there emerged Gary Owen, who turned out to be yet another ice-cool character.
In 1977-78, he scored three penalties out of his total of seven League goals. Dennis Tueart had been the regular penalty expert, but he was about to depart to New York Cosmos, so Gary asked the management if he could step into the job.
The Manchester Blues made one change to the side that had won 2-1 at Birmingham the previous Saturday, Roger Palmer coming in for the injured Mike Channon. Blackpool had also been put out of the League Cup in a midweek replay, one of Owen’s goals a penalty and the other from Tommy Booth.
Coventry had lost one and drawn three of their previous four League games, and they brought Gary Gillespie back into the side to replace Jim Hagan.
The game was far from brilliant. The teams were likened to heavyweight boxers who would spend ages circling each other before deciding to attack.
Manchester City have had some of the most reliable penalty-takers in the business.
Former chief scout Ken Barnes once scored a hat-trick from the spot against Everton at Maine Road in December 1957. And, of course, the older fans will remember the powerful blasts of Francis ‘Lee Won Pen’ in the late Sixties and early Seventies.
Then, later in the 1970s, there emerged Gary Owen, who turned out to be yet another ice-cool character.
In 1977-78, he scored three penalties out of his total of seven League goals. Dennis Tueart had been the regular penalty expert, but he was about to depart to New York Cosmos, so Gary asked the management if he could step into the job.
The Manchester Blues made one change to the side that had won 2-1 at Birmingham the previous Saturday, Roger Palmer coming in for the injured Mike Channon. Blackpool had also been put out of the League Cup in a midweek replay, one of Owen’s goals a penalty and the other from Tommy Booth.
Coventry had lost one and drawn three of their previous four League games, and they brought Gary Gillespie back into the side to replace Jim Hagan.
The game was far from brilliant. The teams were likened to heavyweight boxers who would spend ages circling each other before deciding to attack.
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In a fierce midfield battle, Asa Hartford and Owen came out in front of Terry Yorath and Barry Powell, but Ron Futcher was out of sorts and Peter Barnes was heavily marked wherever he went.
The home side looked extremely comfortable at the back, with Joe Corrigan and Dave Watson in total command, and Coventry’s Les Sealey was equal to the best Manchester effort in the first half, a header from Booth following a corner.
Hartford was booked for encroaching at a free kick before the game took an upturn. Futcher forced his way past three defenders to reach a shooting position, and the referee, Keith Hackett, ruled that the forward had been held back by Bobby McDonald and former Red Jim Holton.
Owen sent Sealey the wrong way and Holton was booked for expressing his opinions on the award. McDonald then followed him into the notebook for over-vigorous play.
The home side looked extremely comfortable at the back, with Joe Corrigan and Dave Watson in total command, and Coventry’s Les Sealey was equal to the best Manchester effort in the first half, a header from Booth following a corner.
Hartford was booked for encroaching at a free kick before the game took an upturn. Futcher forced his way past three defenders to reach a shooting position, and the referee, Keith Hackett, ruled that the forward had been held back by Bobby McDonald and former Red Jim Holton.
Owen sent Sealey the wrong way and Holton was booked for expressing his opinions on the award. McDonald then followed him into the notebook for over-vigorous play.
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It was injury time when we were given a second penalty, though Coventry‘s Joe Mercer was of the opinion that Barnes was at least three yards off-side when he was brought down by Sealey.
Up stepped Owen and this time he whacked the ball the other side of the ‘keeper to make the final score 2-0 which saw the Manchester side go above Coventry in the table.
“I like the excitement of taking penalties,” enthused Owen. “I try to place the ball and hit it with the right amount of power. It really gives me a buzz when the ball hits the back of the net.”
Up stepped Owen and this time he whacked the ball the other side of the ‘keeper to make the final score 2-0 which saw the Manchester side go above Coventry in the table.
“I like the excitement of taking penalties,” enthused Owen. “I try to place the ball and hit it with the right amount of power. It really gives me a buzz when the ball hits the back of the net.”
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Only ten men are listed in Man City’s starting eleven plus Colin Bell as substitute.
Who is the missing player ?
Well spotted Ian 🙂 it was Ron Futcher, now added, cheers