Manchester City v Reading 1987/88
Date Published
CITY 2 READING 0
League Division 2
4th April 1988
Attendance 15,172
Scorers Stewart(64 & 87 pen)
Ref Peter Vanes
City Stowell, Gidman, Hinchcliffe, Seagraves, Brightwell, Redmond, White, Stewart, Morley, McNab, Simpson - subs Moulden(unused), Beckford(unused)
Reading Francis, Baillie, Richardson, Beavon, Hicks, Curle, Jones, Tait, Robson, Moran, Gilkes - subs Cowling(70), Taylor(70)
PAUL STEWART SCORES THE FIRST OF HIS TWO GOALS
FROM THE PRESS BOX
STEVE THOMSON WRITING IN THE READING EVENING POST 5TH APRIL 1988 Reading are already doomed if their abysmal Easter form is any indicator. In just eight days, Royals have undergone a personality transformation from all-conquering Simod Cup heroes to nerve-ridden near certainties for relegation. ... Their two goal destroyer at Maine Road was £1M rated Paul Stewart, who was also City's double-hit marksman at Elm Park last November. To make matters worse, Keith Curle and Mick Tait were booked for fouls on Stewart, and both face suspension as a result. ... Stewart gave due warning of his power up front as early as the fifth minute, when he fired just wide after leaving Curle in the lurch. The Blues then proceeded to force another half a dozen chances in an embarrassingly one-sided first half..
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Trevor Morley and Paul Simpson both went close twice, David White was off-target when put clean through by Stewart, and John Gidman blasted a free-kick over the bar. Reading's only hope of hitting back was by exploiting Michael Gilkes' pace on the left wing, where he was preferred to Neil Smillie. But they didn't give him a decent pass until Steve Richardson sent him clear just before the break. Gilkes responded with an excellent cross, but Billy Whitehurst's header bounced narrowly wide. ... But it was an isolated raid, as slick City continued to dominate.
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Steve Redmond had an effort disallowed before Stewart belatedly gave the home side a deserved lead in the 64th minute, heading home emphatically from White's right-wing cross. ... Three minutes from the end City wrapped up the points when Reading skipper Martin Hicks clumsily pulled down White in the box. And Stewart sent Steve Francis the wrong way from the penalty spot for his 22nd goal of the season.