The
narrow defeat at Highbury and the sending off of Anelka was a bitter blow to the
start of February. After viewing the television replays many times I am still
baffled why the referee failed to send off Edu and Cole as they were equally guilty
as Anelka in the furore that followed the City goal in the final minutes. I hope
that the lesson is learnt by Anelka whose absence will be sadly missed in the
three games of his suspension. Which brings me to the Cup replay against Spurs.
The
North Stand is now down and there are a few new views of the existing stands from
different viewpoints.
Below
are some pics from the Under -19 game against Liverpool which City won 2-1 to
extend their lead at the top of the table. The remarkable fact was that on the
nearby pitch the Under -17's had won 4-3 after being three down. Below left is
Ashley Timms making his debut in goal. He is on trial from Atherton LR.
A
strong bitter wind hampered the players and with few watching I wonder how many
of these youngsters will go on to play in the Premiership?
Bradley
Wright -Phillips scores his second to win the match
Ireland
prepares to take a free -kick -alas it sailed over the bar
Manchester
City 0 Birmingham City 0
Feb 8th 2004 att. 46,967
Following
the epic performance on Wednesday I suppose it was too much to ask for a repeat
against a defensively minded Birmingham. Van Buyten made a good debut and James
returned to goal at the expense of Arason who made a brilliant debut in the Cup.
Barton was on the bench after his stupid red card at Spurs. He let the fans and
his colleagues down badly. Anelka was injured so Macken remained upfront with
Fowler. Reyna returned after injury.
The
fans gave Colin Bell a great welcome when he came out onto the pitch. Bell one
of City's best ever players had just had the main stand named after him.
The
City supporters gave the team a great welcome after their second half display
on Wednesday
The
first of injury histrionics by the visitors. The best was yet to come.
After
about 15 minutes City lost a great chance to take the lead when Taylor pulled
off a great save from Sibierski.
Taylor
again in action to stop the City onslaught.
David
James did not have a lot to do during the game but whenever there was a corner
or cross he was in charge of the situation and there were a lot less nervousness
among City supporters.
Daniel
van Buyten made an excellent debut and looks perfect as a partner for Distin.
Here he is heading clear
Taylor
continued to be Birmingham's savior as he saved from Tarnat.
The
pressure on the Birmingham goal continued in the second half but Taylor saved
time and time again.
Team
James
7: Dunne 6 ( Sun 6 ) van Buyten 7, Distin 7, Tarnat 6: Wright-Phillips 7, Bosvelt
7 (Barton 6), Sibierski 7, Reyna 6 (McManaman 6) Macken 7, Fowler 6:
Christophe
Dugarry who came on in the second half and was pretty useless made a big play
of being injured and to boos and general delight of the supporters got carried
off on a stretcher and we all counted the seconds as he got up ,hobbled around
for a minute and then came back as if nothing had happened. This kind of childish
behaviour should be dealt with by the FA. I must say I thought Durkin was a better
referee than to allow this to go on.
City
piled on the pressure but Taylor who was having a great game had a bit of luck
when he made a double save from Macken and Sibierski . City just could not get
the ball over the line. They had played quite well and deserved three points but
it was just not to be.
It
is difficult to pinpoint the reasons for this poor run of home form. The support
from the fans today was not all that bad considering how long it was since we
won at home. With league games against Liverpool, Bolton Chelsea and United to
come in the forthcoming weeks it looks like we will have to rely on the poor teams
below us to continue to lose to escape the unthinkable. Just think it wasn't all
that many months ago we were talking about a top 6 place!
It's always very
easy to play the game from the stand. The signing of van Buyten is likely to strengthen
the defence but I am more worried about the finishing and speed of moving the
ball from defence to attack. With Anelka injured and then under suspension and
Wanchope injured we are stuck with Fowler and Macken upfront. Barton's poor discipline
and poor passing is disappointing. Sinclair and McManaman have not reached the
heights expected of England players so it is going to be a hard graft for the
rest of the season.
Manchester
United 4 Manchester City 2 at Old Trafford
Feb 14th FA Cup R 5 att.67,228
I
think this was my first visit to the swamp for almost 35 years - the last time
was in March 1969 when Mike Summerbee scored the only goal. We won the championship
that year! I stood up that time and stood up this time though I had paid for a
seat. Slightly more expensive too. Anelka had failed a fitness test so Fowler
was left alone upfront with Sibierski just behind. Jihai Sun had gone to China
to play for his country so Dunne was at right back.
I
always did think it odd that the players came out from a corner and not from the
half way line.
A
full complement of 9000 City supporters gave tremendous vocal support throughout
and drowned out the P.A. Pity we don't do it at home.
City
gained a free kick after 5 minutes for hand ball. With the City faithful calling
for Tarnat to shoot, Sibierski tried to curl it in but it was deflected wide for
a corner.
Two
Vans clash at the edge of the area
Referee
Winter looks very amused as Barton and Keane exchange Valentine greetings
Ronaldo
heads wide after a quarter of an hour
Arason
saves well from Roy Keane after 20 minutes
After
34 minutes Scholes scored for United from close range after defensive errors on
the right by Dunne and Reyna who missed the cross.
This
was the incident that sparked off the Gary Neville incident. Here he is ,falling
in the area endeavoring to get a penalty
McManaman
makes his feelings known to Gary Neville who head-butts him. The referee (out
of picture) was giving City the advantage but is ' racing' back.
The
referee arrives to caution Neville for 'diving' and then gives him a red card
for the head-butt.
The
United players try to explain to Mr Winter that none of their players are allowed
to be sent off at the 'swamp'.
Eventually
Gary N gets the message and the red card and departs the action as referee Winter
shows him where the exit in
Keegan
joins in the fun suggesting a right hook or maybe a left jab
Looks
as though Silvestre has got a fly in his eye and van N and Phillip Neville give
commiseration
The
other players now join the 'handbags at 3 feet festival' There were miniature
confrontations all over the place with pushing and shoving and mouthing off. Great
entertainment for the watching TV audience and hard work for the TV director trying
to organize his camera shots!
Barton
ends up with a yellow card for his part in the confrontation.
With
United down to ten men Reyna forces Howard into a one handed save after a corner
just before half time.
Within
minutes of the restart Howard was forced into making good saves - the second -above
- being a brilliant save from Barton
United
somehow survived and it looked as though it was only a matter of time before we
scored.
Keegan
seemed passive 'on the bench' and there was no sign of any of the subs warming
up. A goal down - the opposition down to ten men and no Macken?
Disaster
struck after 70 minutes against the run of play. With the whole City defence frozen
in time waiting for the referee's whistle that never came Ronaldo crossed to the
far post to find van Nistelrooy ghosting in to score from close range.
There
was worse to follow. Ronaldo followed up a brilliant save by Arason from Giggs
to score to make it 3-0 .
City
reduced the arrears after 78 minutes. A good move ended with Tarnat thundering
the ball past Howard from a narrow angle.
If
we thought this was going to be another comeback van N put paid to it with United's
4th two minutes later.
City
still fought back and Fowler pulled another one back with four minutes to go.
While Howard was busy organizing his defence wall, Fowler took a quick free-kick
after a nod from the referee.
In
the dying minutes City and Sibierski in particular had two chances with headers
to put City level but it was just not City's day
So
the cup run came to its end at the swamp. It is difficult to understand why KK
did not bring on Macken to help Fowler and Sibierski. Reyna could easily have
been subbed.
The
defence once again looked full of leaks and the lack of communication is evident,
but the lack of finishing is the main worry. We made a fair number of chances
but despite the great saves of Howard more should have been put away. McManaman
and Wright-Phillips in particular had good chances that did not give Howard enough
problems.
At
least we can now concentrate on the battle against relegation. With Bolton - away
and Chelsea but with Anelka suspended is this a chance to give young Elliott a
go. An injury to either Fowler and Macken and we are running out of options.
Both
Andy Morrison and Goater were sitting with the supporters in the stand today.
Oh for both of them in the team at the moment.
Team
Arason
5: Dunne 5, Distin 5, van Buyten 6, Tarnat 6: Wright-Phillips 5, Barton 6, Reyna
5, McManaman 5, Sibierski 6, Fowler 6:
Mission
Impossible
When
the half time whistle blew and KK1 got the news about agent Dick Barton's - sorry
Joey Barton's red card the message on his mobile from upstairs read - 'your mission
should you accept is to win the hearts and minds of City supporters throughout
the land by winning though three down and down to ten agents and top agent Anelka
off injured. Failure .....and instructions on how to reach the nearest job centre
will be sent'! KK1's task looked impossible but have faith. After three minutes
of the final 45 minutes the Spurs defence failed to decipher a free kick taken
by German agent Tarnat and Deuxieme agent Distin headed home to reduce the odds.
An incredible double save - easily the best I have ever seen - by Icelandic newcomer
Arason from Zeige and Poyet kept KK1 away from the job centre - and then City
pulled another one back, Bosvelt's shot being diverted past a helpless Keller.
Blue hearts lifted and with Spurs fans in a state of shock like their players,
Wright -Phillips took a splendid pass from Fowler and clipped the ball over the
advancing keeper to even the scores with just ten minutes to go. With extra time
looming KK1 sent on a couple of fresh agents in Sibierski and McManaman and in
the final minute it was Michael Tarnat's left foot once more that did the trick.
His superb cross to the far post was brilliantly headed across Keller and into
the far corner. 4-3 What a comeback.
Magnificent. Mission Accomplished.
I checked in my records to see if
I could spot a similar comeback I'd seen. The nearest was on Christmas Day 1946
when Plymouth were the visitors at Maine Road. City went 3-0 up with the wind
and in the second half Plymouth came back to 3-3 but City went on to win 4-3 with
Smith 2, Herd and Constantine scoring for City.
Now
its the PLC at the Swamp in Round 5 next Saturday and I'll be there. After spending
an hour trying to get through to the ticket office on the phone I drove 40 miles
or so to collect my ticket and then to complete a trio of grounds went to Maine
Road to see what had happened to the North Stand and then onto the Platt Lane
ground to see the under 19's beat Liverpool 2-1. Pictures below
