SUNDERLAND 1 MANCHESTER CITY 0

League Division 1

31st December 1966

Attendance 28,826

Scorer Kerr(89)

Ref H Williams

kCity Ogley, Book, Kennedy, Horne, Heslop, Oakes, Crossan, Connor, Summerbee, Bell, Young

Sunderland Montgomery, Irwin, McNab, Todd, Kinnell, Harvey, Kerr, O’Hare, Martin, Baxter, Mulhall

Both sides were in the relegation mire. Newly promoted City managed by Joe Mercer were two points better off.
Main talking point was the expected battle between schemers, Jim Baxter and Johnny Crossan. The latter, a former Roker midfield man was subdued, while Baxter continued a run of poor form that brought boos from the fans.
Slim Jim himself was at a loss to explain his poor form. “My brain seems dull,” said the midfielder, who on his day was a world beater.
With Sunderland’s Scottish front line lethargic, apart from Kerr, visiting keeper Alan Ogley had little to do. That all changed with seconds remaining.
Colin Todd’s long, hopeful ball was nodded down by George Mulhall for Bobby in the penalty box. Sunderland’s debutant outwitted pivot Heslop, and coolly slotted the ball home.
“I thought I’d taken it too far.” He hadn’t and visiting manager Mercer acknowledged the finish bore the hallmark of an intuitive striker, rather than a raw teenager.
ADAPTED FROM AN ARTICLE BY HARRY BARRETT IN THE SUNDERLAND PROGRAMME 31ST AUGUST 2008