STOKE CITY 2 CITY 0
League Division 1
24th April 1971
attendance 14,836
scorers Bernard(20), Ritchie(53)
Ref I Jones
City Corrigan, Book, Connor, Towers, Booth, Donachie, Johnson, Hill, Lee, Young, Mann – sub Mellor(unused)
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FROM THE PRESS BOX
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PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 26TH APRIL 1971
At least Manchester City obeyed Football League regulations on Saturday … they turned out against Stoke at the Victoria Ground.
That said, there remains little to say about a plodding, pedestrian effort that saw them slump to a 2-0 defeat with a performance that matched the abysmal weather.
It is easy to excuse City on the grounds of their more demanding European engagement against Chelsea in 48 hours time.
At least Manchester City obeyed Football League regulations on Saturday … they turned out against Stoke at the Victoria Ground.
That said, there remains little to say about a plodding, pedestrian effort that saw them slump to a 2-0 defeat with a performance that matched the abysmal weather.
It is easy to excuse City on the grounds of their more demanding European engagement against Chelsea in 48 hours time.
What is much more difficult is finding a strong enough argument to state categorically that they can raise sufficient steam once more to wipe out a deficit in defending the Cup Winners’ Cup.
There is every hope and ambition that they can, but the display at Stoke lacked so much conviction that an unbiased observer would be correct in writing off City’s chances before the second leg against the Londoners starts.
There is every hope and ambition that they can, but the display at Stoke lacked so much conviction that an unbiased observer would be correct in writing off City’s chances before the second leg against the Londoners starts.
Undoubtedly the worst part of City’s performance against a Stoke side who had as big an injection of youthful talent as the Blues was in attack.
Only at the back did City offer token resistance where Tommy Booth, David Connor and Willie Donachie, until he tired, held together the remnants of a side that could have been beaten by half a dozen goals.
Only at the back did City offer token resistance where Tommy Booth, David Connor and Willie Donachie, until he tired, held together the remnants of a side that could have been beaten by half a dozen goals.
