february 2002 city home games

After the blip at Wimbledon in the last away game with most players being off form it was important for City to get back to form as leaders of Division One. With Goater off injured Wanchope returned from his Costa Rican exploits to lead the line and Howey returned to the centre of defence. However it was Preston who had picked an attacking side who had the better of the early exchanges and forced Nicky Weaver, who was fortunate to retain the goalkeeping place, into a good early save in the 2nd minute from Cresswell (no 25 below)

No score at half time but at least City had got back into the game and their passing had improved and Prestons keeper had been the busier of the goalkeepers.
Spectators had hardly returned to their seats when Preston took a surprise lead just after half time. Berkovic was dispossessed in midfield and a quick through ball to Macken who beat Nicky Weaver - below.

Within a minute or two City were level. A corner was headed clear but Shawn Wright -Phillips with a brilliant volley beat the Preston keeper all ends up!

Great stuff and City were beginning to be back at their best and pressure mounted on the visitors goal as illustrated by the two pictures below.

After 56 minutes City went into the lead. Yet another dangerous corner by Benarbia caused problems for Mollanen hampered by Wanchope and the loose ball was hammered home by Steve Howey. 2-1 to City

With City attacking at every opportunity it was only a matter of time before they increased their lead. It was a great ball from Berkovic to Wanchope who ran through and smashed a great goal in off the bar giving the keeper no chance.

In extra time Preston scored a second goal through Anderson to give the vocal Preston supporters some hope but by then I had departed .

City now lead the division by three points

Next week City play at Newcastle in the FA Cup. Some how I don't think this will be a goalless draw.

Before this fixture the crowd gave a sad farewell to Paul Dickov, the savior at Wembley a few years earlier (The Miracle ). Dickov had given City great service over 5 years and his recent signing for Leicester will probably give him more opportunities for first team action.

City who had dropped two points at Walsall in their last away game and were beginning to drop behind Wolves for the first division championship needed a good home performance against the relegation threatened Wednesday.
We were not to be disappointed.

Full marks to the Wednesday fans who had come in numbers on this very cold evening - some of them - on the right showing great bravado in the wintery conditions. I think he was practicing for some Sumo contest !
I noticed though by the end of the match he had put his shirt back on.

Their band added plenty of atmosphere to the occasion though I'm glad the drummer does not live next door !

After about 8 minutes City took the lead through Kevin Horlock from well outside the penalty area. His long range shot beat Pressman easily. I think everyone was surprised except Horlock. His hard work this season has won him well deserved praise and this was his fifth goal of the season.

Almost directly afterwards City nearly scored again. Huckerby's shot hitting the upright - on the left. His speed was causing the Wednesday defence plenty of problems.

On the right is a rare moment to remember- Nicky Weaver actually leaving his goal area to go for a centre !

City were well in control and after half an hour increased their lead through Huckerby whose long range shot beat the Wednesday keeper - on the left

On the right Weaver makes a good catch under a rare bit of Wednesday pressure

Huckerby made the third goal with another great run and his pass to Berkovic was nonchalantly put away by the Israeli international with great ease. 3 - 0 after 75 minutes and more to come as chance after chance went astray with the unfortunate Goater the main culprit.

City were awarded a rather fortunate penalty when Huckerby was upended following a Pressman save from Goater. Huckerby grabbed the ball and decided he was going to take it. However justice was done when Pressman pulled off a magnificent save - above - to frustrate the City forward.

In the dying seconds Goater at last scored City's fourth - he must have been waiting until I had left the ground ! It was a strange game. Won in a canter by City without them having to break sweat. Had all the chances been taken the score might have reached double figures. I guess the Owls are almost doomed to be relegated unless something can be done about their woeful defence.

There was an improvement in the standard of refereeing - Paul Durkin was in charge and City finished with eleven men for a change with no City player booked - only for the second time this season. Shawn Wright - Phillips was taken off with a nasty injury but Edghill was a more than adequate substitute. Pearce and Howey once again played well at the back while Huckerby caused havoc upfront. Keegan must be thinking of signing another striker with Goater's continuing off form and with a number of games coming up in a short period and the March deadline looming I expect another signing soon in addition to the Chinese defender who is likely to make his debut next week.

Preston continued to run the game and with City misplacing their passes with increasing frequency supporters were beginning to get a little worried. Most City attacks, as they came back into the game, broke down at the edge of the area.
On the left a long cross by Horlock was mishandled by Moilanen under pressure from Wanchope but the referee gave a free kick against the City player.

Just after thirty minutes Wanchope demonstrated his close ball control ability to beat two Preston defenders and his shot was brilliantly saved by Moilanen -below