Manchester United v Manchester City 1969/70

MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CITY 2

League Division 1

28th March 1970

attendance 60,286

scorers

City(10 pen), Doyle(24)

Man Utd Kidd(18)

Ref Roger Kirkpatrick

City Corrigan, Book, Mann, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Jeffries, Bowyer, Lee, Young, Pardoe - sub Towers(unused)

United Stepney, Edwards, Dunne, Crerand, Sadler, Burns, Morgan, Sartori, Charlton, Kidd, Best - sub Law(55)

FRANCIS LEE PUTS CITY 1-0 UP FROM THE PENALTY SPOT

  BRIAN KIDD EQUALISES

MIKE DOYLE SCORES CITY'S WINNER

FROM THE PRESS BOX

ERIC TODD WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 30TH MARCH 1970 Manchester City, who had dispensed with an attack against Derby County the previous day, found and used four forwards when they met Manchester United on Saturday at Old Trafford. This defiant move paid off and a thoroughly deserved victory 2-1 enabled City to complete their first League double over their neighbours in 15 years. In appalling conditions and with domestic prestige the only incentive the game never really got off the ground. United's reactions after their protracted battle with Leeds United were very obvious and for all l know they may also have seen enough of City whom they have met five times this season. City in their turn are going through one of their traumatic phases although they certainly put themselves in the right mood for their safari into Europe this week. The United machine was never given full throttle. Morgan had a lively first half, Best delivered a couple of very good shots, and there was some useful work by Burns, Edwards, and Dunne Nevertheless, the individual brilliance which United frequently prefer to collective purpose was missing, in short, United looked as if they had had enough football for one season.

Most people felt sorry for Sartori who along with Kidd has uplifted United in recent months. For the third time he was called off the field and Law went on as substiute to the evident delight of the Stretford Enders who can't make up their minds whether Law or Kidd is their king. Anyway Law made no more impression than Best has done latterly. l hope that these inexplicable tactics will not unsettle Sartori who is far too prolific a worker to warrant maltreatment. Nothing gave City more satisfaction than the revival of Young. No less satisfying was the continued promise of young Jeffries who, still sporting a No.7 jersey, was clean and eflective in his allotted task of shadowing Kidd. With only four nominal forwards, City still contrived to make a considerable impact on the proceedings.

City's defenders were magnificent, and Oakes once more revived memories of Roy Paul at his best. Book stood revealed as a raider‘ of some distinction, has he been watching Jimmy Armfield? And Pardoe, Mann and Doyle all found the strength to combine attack with defence. And Booth offered Charlton little hope. At all times City were the more methodical and tenacious, and they were unrecognisable from the rabble which played Derby. City went ahead after 10 minutes. A mistake by Sadler gave access to Young whose progress was checked Illegally by Stepney who was well beaten by Lee‘s penalty kick. United equalised comically in the 18th minute. Corrigan lost the ball when Morgan drove it hard in, and Kidd stared at if with the stupefaction shown by Pharaoh's daughter when she found the infant Moses in the bullrushes. Kidd recovered more smartly than did the Egyptian lady, and United were level. Within six minutes City again were in front.. After a fine run by Young. the ball bounced off the hapless Sadler and arrived at Doyle whose shot was too good for Stepney. United tried hard for a time but in a strong City finish Stepney was fortunate to survive a centre from Young.