CITY 2 GRIMSBY TOWN 0
League Cup 2nd Round
29th August 1978
attendance 21,481
scorers Moore(57 og), Palmer(74)
Ref Kevin McNally
City Corrigan, Clements, Keegan, Power, Booth, P Futcher, Channon, Owen, R Futcher, Hartford, Palmer – used sub Viljoen
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 30TH AUGUST 1978
Only the outstretched leg of goalkeeper Joe Corrigan saved Manchester City the embarrassment of a tricky League Cup replay at Grimsby next week.
His 72nd minute save was the turning point of a frustrating second round tie in which the unsung Fourth Division heroes had scared the pants off the millionaire Blues.
Up to that point City had been walking a tightrope, livingon the strength of a daft own goal conceded by Kevin Moore from a speculative Asa Hartford cross on the right.
But when Bob Cummings had the goal at his mercy, and an equaliser seeming inevitable, Corrigan courageously threw himself forward and the Blue breathed again.
Two minutes later it was all over as Roger Palmer eaded in a rebound from the woodwork and City squeezed through 2-0.
However the highlight of a match in which injury-crippled City were without internationals Brian Kidd, Dave Watson, Peter Barnes and Willie Donachie was te 15 minute appearance of Colin Viljoen.
Amid a storm of abuse from the terraces manager Tony Book replaced Ron Futcher with the £100,000 signing from Ipswich.
But those jeers turned to cheers as the inventive Viljoen, at the flick of a switch, brought imagination and craft to the City ranks.
Here is an exciting player who can restore that midfield balance. A man to slow the pace, to create the space for others to exploit and, most important of all , a man with the vast experience and know-how to complemebt the raw aggression of City’s eager youth.
Viljoen looks a player who knows his craft and his appearance last night paves the way for his City League debut at Norwich on Saturday.
before his substitution Ron Futcher had also revealed a willingness for work he was denied two goals by the brilliance of goalkeeper Nigel Batch.
Batch, so often came to Grimsby’s rescue that City’s frustration mounted before the deadlock was broken.
Grimsby’s midfield had earlier posed problems for the Blues although, apart from Corrigan’s save at the feet of Cummings, the City goalkeeper was rarely troubled.
City’s inability to take inferior opponents to the cleaners was again revealed yet they were happy to scrape through a difficult match that, at one stage, seemed destined for a replay.
Mike Channon worked hard without much reward once more and there was again an unstinting effort from the versatile Paul Power, this time as emergency full-back for the injured Donachie.