January
2006
City
0 Tottenham 2
January 4th 2006 att 40,808
What
an awful start to the New Year. On a chilly evening City's worse home attendance
saw a pathetic performance by the home side against a Spurs side without several
of their best players. Many times in the first half it seemed that Spurs were
the home side as they bossed the midfield and ran the game. It was one of the
worst City performances for effort I can remember. There were few City players
to come out of this game with any pluses. With just two wins in ten games the
need for squad reinforcements is now vital. With a cuptie against Scunthorpe on
Saturday and a week later the game against United this display was not the best
preparation.
To
hear 'Blue Moon' being played on the bagpipes was not a good omen for me.
Thatcher
returned to left back and Ireland came in for the injured Sibierski
Young
Sam Seddon tests David James before kick-off
An
early half chance for Andy Cole went a begging
Thatcher
was soon in action against Lennon who was going to prove himself a difficult opponent
to deal with
City
on the defensive but where is the ball?
Dunne
heads clear a Spurs corner
A
good late tackle by Onuoha
One
of several clashes between Distin and Lennon on the goal line one of which was
to prove calamitous
Mr
Foy the 4th official has a word with the Boss who must have strayed over the line!
Note how worn that patch is
Sun
Jihai heads clear under pressure.
After
30 minutes Spurs score after a dreadful error by Distin. He tried to let the ball
run out of play but misjudged the situation and Lennon centered for Mido to score
easily. James looks angrily at Distin who just shrugs his shoulders in typical
Gallic fashion.
Cole
and company were not getting much support, the ball many times being lofted forward
only for the tall Spurs defence to clear easily. We rarely were able to put any
passing movements together at all.
Ireland
about to be fouled by Carrick who was booked.
The
free kick taken by Barton hit Mido who ended with a headache.
Vassell
was brought down as he raced into the penalty area but alas he had already been
given offside - a tight decision though.
Michael
Brown ex City player lets fly
Danger
man was Lennon who was a constant thorn in the City defence
Sinclair
and Barton seen here attacking the Spurs goal were the only members of the team
... and I use the term loosely... to come out of this game with any credit at
all.
Cole
misses a half chance
Distin
stretches at a City corner
As
Barton lying prone...having been clobbered by Brown, a Spurs player Lee Young-Pyo
from South Korea is also down. Who dunnit we ask ?....as Sommeil slinks away to
a far corner of the field
Referee
Wiley who had a fairly good game booked Brown but obviously did not see the other
incident. He calls for a stretcher not realizing that they had crept up on him.
"They're over there" the crowd shouted. Well it is pantomime time as
City's display showed.
The
Spurs player was taken off and no doubt video evidence will be asked for by the
FA and doubt end in a suspension for Sommeil
Spurs
continued to boss the game and James was kept busy to clear the pressure.
City
had made several changes by now and Bradley Wright-Phillips came near when his
shot from a narrow angle just went wide of Robinsons far post but really the visiting
keeper had little to do all game.
Spurs
scored their second goal with but 7 minutes to go. Mido this time was the maker,his
header down the middle finding Robbie Keane who made no mistake shooting past
James and then enjoying his well known acrobatic celebration. He always seems
to score against City. We should have signed him years ago when he played for
Wolves.
This
was a poor pathetic performance by a lack lustre City team that failed to make
a good chance, defended poorly at times, rarely had a fluid passing movement and
showed little creativity. Thumping the ball downfield against a tall Spurs rearguard
was surely not going to work. What has happened to Musampa ? Not even in the squad
! Has something happened we don't know about. Up until November he was OK. He
then went off the boil.
On this form City will find difficulty in winning
at Monopoly let alone compete in the Interoto Cup.
Watching City is like a
box of chocolates! You never quite know what you are going to get.. but its hard
to get out of the habit.
Team
James
6: Onuoha 5 (Sommeil 5), Dunne 5, Distin 4, Thatcher 3; Sinclair 6, Barton 6,
Sun Jihai 5, Ireland 5: Cole 5, Vassell 5 (Wright-Phillips 5)
City
3 Scunthorpe 1
F. A. Cup R3
January 7th 2006 att 27,779
The
last time I can remember seeing City play Scunthorpe was on Boxing Day 1963 when
City beat them 8-1 at Maine Road in the old Div 2. Both Murray and Gray scored
hat tricks that day and one of Grays was from 80 yards! Neil Young and Alan Oakes
played a part in the victory that day. Ah those were the days ... and the attendance
that day was also 27,000! After the game against Spurs a win was essential to
give the team a bit of confidence before the derby game next weekend. It was good
to see Peter Beagrie again. He was a regular for City in the 94-95 season but
injuries hampered his brief City career
Fowler
made a rare start for Cole and Vassell was rested. Jordan came in at left back
and Ireland started in midfield.
The
visitors brought well over 6000 enthusiastic supporters to help swell a disappointing
crowd .
The
opening exchanges were even with both defences being brought into action but City
appeared to lack sharpness.
After
15 minutes Robbie Fowler went close when his shot went just wide.
A
minute later and Scunthorpe took the lead. The City central defenders were caught
napping when Keogh ran onto a through ball........
....and
beat James comfortably to send the visiting supporters into a frenzy of delight.
Was this going to be the shock of the round! After the Spurs debacle anything
was possible. The collision between Dunne and James ended with Dunne having treatment
but he seemed to be OK.
Scunthorpe
seemed to grow in confidence and the City defence had to be on the ball to prevent
the visitors from going further in front. I was concerned with Onuoha's distribution
though
The
City side left the field at half time with sound of booing in their ears. No doubt
they were in for a rollicking in the dressing room.
Another
narrow escape for City and James tries to punch clear at a corner
A
free kick taken by Fowler hits the wall of defenders or was it hand ball ?
Both
Sinclair and then Sibierski put pressure on the visitors goal before the break
but to no avail. There was a distinct lack of urgency in City's play.
Croft
replaced Onuoha after half time, Sun moving to right back and it wasn't long before
City clicked. Sinclair started the movement at the edge of the area....... and
he passed to Croft who attacked the Scunthorpe defence and broke down the left
.........
Croft
passed he ball back from the touch line and it evaded several players before it
ran to the unmarked Fowler who cracked it into the back of the net.
City
were level and Robbie Fowler had got off the mark much to the relief of the City
fans. There was better to come . Nine minutes later Ireland passed the ball inside........
......
to Robbie Fowler and his left foot did the rest. 2-1 and City were ahead.
40
year old ex City hero Peter Beagrie is given an excellent reception as he leaves
the field after being subbed.
Team
James
6: Onuoha 5 (Croft 7), Dunne 6, Distin 7, Jordan 7: Sinclair 7, Barton 7, Ireland
7, Sun 6.5 : Sibierski 6.5 (Wright-Phillips 6.5), Fowler 8:
After
64 minutes Sun broke down the right and in the scuffle with Rose it appeared the
Scunthorpe defender handled the ball. The referee guided by his assistant on the
line gave a penalty. Not the most clear cut of decisions but the visitors protests
came to naught.
Robbie
Fowler took the penalty and scored easily the keeper diving the wrong way. 3-1
to City and game over really.
Bradley
Wright Phillips who had come on for Sibierski after 70 minutes and almost made
it 4-1 but his shot from a narrow angle just went past the far post.
City
were now well on top and their second half performance was much better .Further
efforts by Barton and Dunne (header) failed to add to the score. At least after
the improvement in the second half one hopes the confidence level will have been
lifted ready for the clash with Glazer United next Saturday. One can only hope.
At least we have the draw to look forward too on Monday. After the match at Oldham
last season where we made our exit its nice to feel we have a fourth round game
to look forward too. Interesting selection problem for the manager too. Does he
bring back Cole and Vassell or stick with hat trick Robbie Fowler ?
