CITY 1 BARNSLEY 1
League Division 2
26th December 1984
attendance 27,131
scorers
City Melrose(36)
Barnsley Wylde(65)
Ref Gary Aplin
City Williams, May, Power, McNaught, McCarthy, Phillips, Smith, Baker, Melrose, Wilson, Kinsey – sub Cunningham(61)
Barnsley Baker, Joyce, Law, Ronson, May, Futcher, Plummer, Thomas, Walsh, Wylde, Campbell
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 27TH DECEMBER 1984
Manchester City still fail to provide a conclusive enough argument that they have what it takes to mount a sustained promotion challenge.
A calamitous Christmas has cast them adrift of the leading pack once more with five points carelessly tossed away in games in which they led both times.
… It left City hanging on, thankful for a 1-1 draw in a game which they should have been leading comfirtably had only half the chances been taken.
Even manager Billy McNeill admitted bitterly: “It has been a depressing Christmas. We have allowed five points to evaporate, but then we have only our selves to blame.”
McNeill added: “In the past two games we have revealed inadequacies and carelessness that must stop immediately. A gap has emerged above us and the aim now must be a pick-me-up, starting against Wolves on Saturday.”
… City played the more inventive football, although it was insufficient to overcome the industry and commitment Barnsley provided, especially in the second half once Roger Wylde had equalised with his first goal following a £15,000 move from Sunderland.
Jim Melrose maintained his incredible sequence by scoring his fifth goal in as many games, yet in all honesty he could have had a hat-trick.
David Phillips, hard working throughout provided right-flanking crosses that could have left Barnsley dead and buried long before they were allowed to bounce back with a 65th minute goal which a schoolboy defence would have been ashamed to have conceded.
City’s chief problem in the last couple of matches at least is that Melrose has been looking the only player likely to score, and it is asking too much for just one man to shoulder the burden.
Clive Wilson disappeared too easily from the game in the second half when the Blues’ midfield balance was upset by injury to Gordon Smith that forced him to be replaced by Tony Cunningham.