Manchester City v Leeds United 1968/69

leeds home 1968 to 69 prog

CITY 3 LEEDS UNITED 1

League Division 1

28th September 1968

attendance 46,431

scorers
City
Bell(4 & 35), Young(55)
Leeds O’Grady(77)

Ref E Jennings

City Mulhearn, Connor, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman – sub Bowles(unused)

Leeds Sprake, Reaney, Cooper, Bremner, Charlton, Hunter, O’Grady, Lorlmer, Jones, Madeley, Hibbitt – sub Gray

leeds home 1968 to 69 bell 1st city goal

leeds home 1968 to 69 bell 2nd city goal
TWO GOALS FOR COLIN BELL
leeds home 1968 to 69 action
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MEMORABLE MATCH FROM THE CITY PROGRAMME 16TH FEBRUARY 1980
Leeds were unbeaten leaders of the First Division and oozing with confidence, but history favoured the Blues. Leeds had not won at Maine Road since 1936 and once again they were sent packing back over the Pennines empty-handed and lucky to escape so lightly.
The Yorkshiremen were outplayed and overwhelmed by the Blues clinical onslaught, particularly by Colin Bell, who hit peak form. Bell was a constant source of worry to Leeds’ ‘keeper Gary Sprake with shots, flicks and headers.
Bell scored twice, hit the bar with a delightful header, had a shot blocked on the line and saw another header flash only inches wide . . . he was magnificent!
leeds home 1968 to 69 action75
Mike Summerbee gave Jack Charlton a rare chasing while Neil Young and Tony Coleman added to the many problems of the overworked Leeds defence.
City’s defence fired on all cylinders and they were only really threatened when Charlton used his well- tested tactics of standing on the goal-line to block Ken Mulhearn’s view from corners and free-kicks.
Glyn Pardoe was brilliant at left-back and Mike Doyle and Alan Oakes provided the front runners with an adequate supply of the ball.
In a brisk opening spell City grabbed a stranglehold on the game with a goal in the 4th minute. Coleman floated over a tantalising cross and first Summerbee and Bell had shots scrambled off the line before Bell forced the ball over.
In the 35th minute Bell struck again. Another cross from the left beat Sprake, who was distracted by a challenge from Summerbee. Bell was left with the simple task of slotting the ball home.
leeds home 1968 to 69 action534
Just before the interval Charlton had the ball in the City net for what looked to be a good goal, but it was disallowed after the referee had consulted his linesman.
Young put the matter beyond doubt when he scored with a glorious drive from 30 yards in the 55th minute.
Mike O’Grady gave Leeds a brief glimmer of hope, scoring with a fine drive from the edge of the penalty area in the 77th minute. But City surged to the other end and only further saves by Sprake prevented the Blues increasing their margin.

2 thoughts on “Manchester City v Leeds United 1968/69

  1. Happy days. Bell, Lee, Summerbee, Young, Coleman. Colin Bell, head and shoulders the best player on the field as usual

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