CITY 5 LEICESTER CITY 0

League Division 1

22nd January 1977

attendance 37,609

Scorers Kidd(7, 49, 77,80) Doyle(25)

Ref George Courtney

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Doyle, Watson, Power, Owen, Kidd, Royle, Hartiord, Tueart – Sub Barnes(18)

Leicester Wallington, Whitworth, Rofe, Kember, Blockley, Sims, Weller, Sammels, Worthington, Birchenall, Earle – Sub Yates

BRIAN KIDD BRAVELY SCORES HIS FIRST GOAL

FROM THE PRESS BOX 

Poised only a short stride behind the leaders with the championship course half run is a healthy strategic position for Manchester City to occupy, for the evidence suggests they have skill and wind enough to pounce when the opportunity offers itself. Indeed, they look quite capable of deciding the moment for themselves. Eleven successive league encounters without defeat since Ipswich Town upset them in October indicate that the old unpredictability, especially on their travels. has been harnessed. Established names are forging the bonds while gifted young players like Owen and Power are injecting a gust of fresh air into the side. Five goals without response against Leicester City at Maine Road on Saturday confirms the substance of their challenge.

The match was a personal triumph for Kidd, desperately anxious to do well in the city where his career began and dove-tailing neatly now with Royle. Kidd claimed four goals with a show of pace, boldness and perceptive positioning. The entire attack, though flowed, and if Kidd’s handsome haul, the best of his career, made him the prime focus.

Manchester City owed a good deal to fine work in the middle areas by Hartford. Owen and Power, and the commanding presence of Watson and Doyle. … The seam of eagerness and excellence ran right through the Manchester City structure; the same could hardly be said of Leicester. They have more to offer up front than behind.

The forwards showed enough neat, constructive touches to cause a flutter or two, especially early on. Earle, Birchenall and Worthington all managed shots which called for action from Corrigan. but they became less and less effective as Watson and Doyle began to beat them to the incoming ball and as Manchester City’s own attacks began to flower.

Defensively , Sims apart, Leicester often looked slow and disordered, particularly as Kidd bustled determinedly. He gave two opponents at least a yard start and still beat them to the ball to score the first goal after six minutes when Royles’ shot bounced off Wallington. His second came In a melee on the goal-line with two defenders and the goalkeeper; his third was hoisted neatly over the goalkeeper’s head. when Blockley seamed remarkably unaware that Kidd was lurking behind him, awaiting Watson’s shrewd lob. And his fourth came with a bold bustling header as a cluster of opponents challenged Ineffectively. Little wonder that at the end Kidd sought the ball as a permanent souvenir.

 Punctuating Kidd’s goals was one by Doyle. Alongside the imprint made by established names was the impression left by young Owen.

TOM GERMAN WRITING IN THE TIMES 24TH JANUARY 1977

KIDDO GRABS THE MATCH BALL AFTER A TRULY MATCH WINNING PERFORMANCE