CITY 1 READING 1
Coca Cola Cup 2nd Round 1st Leg
22nd September 1993
Attendance 9,288
scorers
City White(16)
Reading Lovell(23)
Ref R Hart
City Coton, Fiitcroft, D Brightwell, McMahon, Curle, Kernaghan, White, Sheron, Quinn, Edghill, Groenendijk – subs Simpson(19), Mike(45), Margetson(unused)
Reading Hislop, Hopkins, Kerr, McPherson, Williams, Parkinson, Gilkes, Dillon, Quinn, Lovell, Gooding – subs Taylor(unused), Gray(unused), Veysey(unused)
MATCH REPORT FROM THE MANCHESTER CITY OFFICIAL HANDBOOK 1994/95
After the dismal start to the season which had culminated in the sacking of Peter Reid and Sam Ellis, new boss Brian Horton had got off to a flying start with League victories home and away. This was Horton’s fourth match in charge and his first Cup tie at City. With less than ten thousand turning up Horton was aware that a quality performance by the team was needed to restore belief.
Reading seemed to be the ideal opposition for expensive City to stamp class on the match. When David White gave the Blues a sixteenth minute lead Reading already looked out of their depth. But events turned sour for City as first Garry Flitcroft was stretchered off and Reading equalised with a goal gifted to them by Alfons Groenendijk’s careless clearance.
In the second half City’s woes continued when White limped out of the game with ankle trouble. The night clearly belonged to Reading who would start level and have home advantage in the second leg.
