CITY 1 EVERTON 0
League Division 1
21st April 1990
attendance 32,144
scorer Quinn(64)
Ref John Moules
City Dibble, Brightwell, Harper, Reid, Hendry, Redmond, White, Ward, Heath, Quinn, Megson – Subs Clarke(76), Hinchcliffe(73)
Everton Southall, Atteveld, Pointon, McDonald, Watson, Whiteside, Nevin, McCall, Sharp, Cottee, Sheedy – Subs Ebbrell(53), Wright(unused)
NIALL QUINN SCORES THE WINNER
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 21ST APRIL 1990
Niall Quinn’s third goal since a £800,000 move from Arsenal put Manchester City firmly on course for a fourth successive victory.
The big Republic of Ireland striker struck with a 64th minute header as the in-form Blues, unbeaten in their previous eight matches, attempted to dent Everton’s European ambitions in a rousing Maine Road match.
Andy Dibble played his parts with two splendid saves to deny the third-placed Merseysiders while veteran Peter Reid was also outstanding against his former club. Manager Howard Kendall provided a pre-match shock by dropping Clive Allen, The club’s nine goal leading League marksman
Adrian Heath, two goals in his last two games, took over at number nine, with David White resuming after injury which kept him out of Monday’s safety clinching victory at Norwich. And City vigorously attempted to carry on where they left off at Carrow Road.
Reid, one of six ex-Everton players in the City 13, linked with Megson and Harper with five minutes gone, Heath attempted to complete the build up with a spectacular overhead effort that dropped into the arms hands of Southall.
Two minutes later Hendry, celebrating a Scotland, B call next week, won possession on the halfway line. His pass down the line found White, Hendry raced forward screaming for the return ball, although it came it was too close to Southall.
The Merseysiders replied almost as impressively. Sheedy and Sharp traded passes and Nevin revealed some neat skill but the move was wrecked with Atteveld advancing into an offside position.
City, with some attractive football, continued to dictate the pace although White should have done better with his final attempt that he blazed over the bar.
Nevin, too, headed an attempt over the bar at the other end as Everton counter-punched swiftly.
Everton again pushed forward ambitiously, McDonald driving a long angled ball from the left to right that left Sharp in pursuit. However quick thinking by Harper saw him backtrack intelligently to squeeze the ball on for Dibble to clear.
Megson, again having a fine game, set up White as City counter-punched. White played the ball in too early and by the time Ward had driven a cross back into the middle from the opposite left flank, Everton had covered.
With half an hour gone City were still attempting to make the vital breakthrough, although, when white set up Brightwell the full back’s cross was driven behind. For a spell Everton lived dangerously as Harper twice, and then Megson drove in shots that were blocked.
Megson’s persistence on the right saw him win a corner at the expense of McDonald but Ward’s cross from the right was taken by Southall.
Hendry got himself out of trouble when Cottee and Sharp converged on him with Dibble providing the final safety cover as he leapt from his line.
In the 47th minute Harper set up Brightwell who drove a stinging low shot into the side netting, much to the annoyance of Heath who indicated a ball pulled back into his path would have been to City’s greater advantage.
White won a corner on the right, Quinn got the headed flick-on, only for Whiteside to clear. The chance still loomed for City, however, but Hendry coming in from the left, drove low straight at Southall.
Everton created the game’s best opening In the 50th minutes. Sharp’s cross from the right found Cottee unmarked and his piercing header brought a spectacular save from Dibble.
Three minutes later Sharp limped off Injured to be replaced by Ebbrell whose arrival coincided with a miss from Heath who shot wide from an excellent position on the right.
But City finally forced the breakthrough they so richly deserved when they took a 64th minute lead. McDonald’s slip on the right was exposed by Heath who pulled the ball back across the face of the Everton goal where Quinn came in from the far post to score with a superb header.
Yet Everton’s immediate reply almost brought an equaliser as Atteveld saw his low attempt turned behind by Dibble.