Man City December games

City 1 Leeds United 1
December 22nd att 47,126

I suppose the events of the past few weeks following the last home result against Middlesbrough deserve some comment. November must have been one of the worst months in recent history with home losses against Leicester and Middlesbrough and an inglorious exit from the EUFA Cup. A so-called bonding exercise that went wrong with Annelka opting out of the 'shooting escapade' and afterwards seemingly dropping out of the ability to score. He is but a shadow of the player we saw early in the season. The pitiful first half display against the PLC at OT was a disgrace to the blue shirt and whilst there was an improvement in the second half the overall performance was just not good enough. Now a word about the shambolic drug testing of a certain PLC defender. What a farce this is turning out to be. If you had written a book about it people would have said it was too far fetched. The F.A. suspension of Ferdinand of 8 months is lenient really. Any athlete who failed to take a drug test would have got a two year sentence immediately. The stubborn defence of Ferdinand by messrs. United - oops sorry PLC and the pathetic bleating of Gordon Taylor is beyond belief. However I don't think the 'drug testing squad' come out of this with plaudits either. Players should be tested before training not after and stricter supervision is essential. If then a player refuses or 'forgets' he should be immediately suspended. Players should also be liable for testing at home - like athletes .
Now for tonight's game against an improving Leeds side fighting against relegation we were expecting a few changes but with only Reyna coming in for Sinclair it was a case of 'as you were'! ... and no Berkovic on the bench either.

An early clash between Distin and Viduka is won by the City defender

Though City had most of the early play City defended well at this corner clearing potential danger.

However disaster struck after 24 minutes when Sommeil committed the error of a lifetime. Instead of clearing when he had both time and space following a Milner cross he contrived to give it on a plate to Viduka

Viduka said thank you very much for this early Christmas present danced round a helpless Seaman and plonked the ball in the back of the net

The hapless Sommeil prayed to the heavens that the earth would swallow him up for this disastrous mistake.

Yet another save by Robinson. City were having all the play but little luck.

A Barton shot hits the post with Robinson beaten and rebounds across the goal to safety.

After 70 minutes KK made three changes - bringing on Sibierski, Wanchope and Macken for Barton, McManaman and Fowler. The Barton substitution was greeted by loud booing by the City faithful but alas Barton's lack of accuracy in passing is his weakness and KK's decision was rewarded after 80 odd minutes. Sommeil passed a long ball to Jihai Sun whose brilliant cross was magnificently headed past a diving Robinson for City's equalising goal.

City and the crowd celebrate a terrific goal by the Frenchman.

City now flung everything into attack and Robinson was kept busy

Though City had most of the play the occasional Leeds attack had to be repelled with Seaman having to earn his keep on these two attacks.

Robinson under pressure again in the dying moments.

City had a spot of luck when a breakaway by Milner looked dangerous. Sommeil speeding back looked as though he fouled the Leeds youngster as Seaman came out to clear. As referee Barber was well behind play he failed to spot it and obliviously the prayer Sommeil had earlier worked this time!

The three minutes added by the referee - I am sure it should have been five for all the injuries and timewasting by Leeds - was full of non stop City pressure eager to win their first home game since the middle of October.

It ended one each and at least City played with a bit of heart for once. They had most of the play and should have won comfortably but in the Premiership misses are costly and passing in the final third has to be better. Our corners are pretty poor and rarely give the opposition much to think about. I sometimes wonder what on earth goes on at Carrington. There is little guile when we get free kicks near the box and some of the crossing is poor.

City 2 Liverpool 2
December 28th att 47,201

The surprise loss on Boxing Day after leading 1-0 for the best part of the game against Birmingham put City dangerously near the relegation area and a win against Liverpool was essential to end the year which had begun so well. City made several changes. Jihai Sun was rested and there was a welcome return for Tarnat at left back, Distin switching to the centre of defence and Sommeil moving over to take Sun's place. Boswelt came in for the suspended Barton. The absence of Owen through injury was a relief as he has the nasty habit of scoring against us. There was another full house to end the year - just beating the previous best against Leeds.

The one minute 'end of year' silence was impeccably kept by both sets of supporters. The only noise to be heard was the winter rain falling on the stand roof.

The opening skirmishes were pretty equal - here Distin clearing from Heskey with Boswelt looking on.

Seaman had to be alert to thwart Kewell while in-form Dunne practices the high jump!

A dangerous cross from Wright-Phillips zaps across the visitors box with nobody able to pop it in.

City were playing well and this effort by Anelka was brilliantly saved by Dudek with Anelka certain to score. Tarnat had supplied the through ball.

The resultant corner led to the first goal. Riise pulled back Fowler - on the ground - and referee Riley gave a penalty. Not before time -he had missed a hand ball earlier.

Nicolas Anelka thundered the resultant spot kick past Dudek to give City a well deserved lead after half an hour. Liverpool were not playing well and it was the poorest Liverpool side I had seen for many a season.

City piled on the pressure and in the very last minute of extra time Fowler pushed the ball home from close range after a scuffed shot by Sinclair following a save from Dudek.

A minor eruption between Sommeil and Kewell off the ball ended with both players getting a yellow card. Reyna is telling Heskey all about it and Seaman and Distin are discussing Seaman's new video!

A good save by Seaman from Harry Kewell ends in a corner.

After 66 minutes Liverpool scored a fortunate equaliser through a Smicer header following a corner. There was a lapse of concentration in a confused City defence. Just who was supposed to be guarding the far post!

Liverpool were having the best of the play and Seaman and company were kept busy.

With only ten minutes to go Hamen hit a purler from nearly 30 yards out into the top corner with Seaman well beaten. 2-1 for the visitors - cruel after City's first half display.

Team
Seaman 7: Sommeil 6, Dunne 8, Distin 7 Tarnat 7 (Sinclair 5): Wright-Phillips 6, Boswelt 7 (Macken 6) , Reyna 8, McManaman 6 (Sibierski 6) : Fowler 8, Anelka 7:

The Liverpool goal manages to escape again as a shot goes just wide.