QUEENS PARK RANGERS 3 CITY 0
League Division 1
9th April 1974
attendance 20,461
scorers Leach(11 & 67), Bowles(28)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
STEVE CURRY WRITING IN THE DAILY EXPRESS 10TH APRIL 1974
Manchester City could be excused if they summoned an exorcist to their Maine Road ground today.
The devil haunting their souls is Stan Bowles, the player they discarded, now performing as a prodigal son at Queens Park Rangers.
It was the impish, skilful Bowles who plunged City to yet another defeat and raised Rangers’ hopes of European football next season.
Bowles, skipper for the night against his old club, who had Rodney Marsh sitting injured on the touchline, summoned a photographer to capture the toss-up for his scrap book.
Bowles began his magic with a superb defence-splitting pass in the 9th minute, leaving Francis to cross from the left and Dave Thomas to side-foot over on the volley from inside the six yard box.
But when Bowles received a similar ball himself from Don Givens two minutes later he drilled his shot under Keith MacRae’s body, and the ball was on its way to the net when Mick Leach stabbed it over the line.
Bowles added his name to the scoring list in the 28th minute, his shot from a rebound brushing the unfortunate MacRae as it entered the net.
City took off Doyle at half time, but even with replacement Mick Horswill there was no improvement.
It certainly didn’t prevent Rangers scoring a third in the 67th minute, MacRae completely missing a Thomas corner, leaving Leach an easy header at the far post.