CITY 0 LEICESTER CITY 0
League Division 1
20th August 1977
attendance 45,963
Ref Michael Lowe
City Corrigan, Clements, Booth, Watson, Donachie, Hartford, Doyle, Owen, Channon, Royle, Tueart – sub Barnes(unused)
Leicester Wallington, Whitworth, Sims, Wollett, Rofe, Kember, Kelly, Sammels, Alderson, Earle, Worthington – sub Yates
Tony Book’s comments from the City programme 3rd September 1977
The loss of a home point was maddening in itself, but the anguish was heightened by the fact that we did it on a day when the crowds came rolling up in their thousands to Maine Road. It was, in those circumstances especially, a day when everyone at City wanted to please, but, as we have so often found in the past, football does not produce results and performances to order and we surrendered a point and failed to ignite the excitement that greets goal-scoring form.
I’m told by many people with very long memories that the 45,963 attendance for the first match of the season is the best turn-up there has been at Maine Road on an opening day. It was a remarkable turn-out when you consider how long and hard we have been working to establish an average at 40,000, and to come as it did with the holiday season still in its peak, it augurs well for the future. Particularly if it is, as we all feel, a very successful future.
The early lessons we learned are that it is going to be easier for the City team playing away from home. I am sure that the majority of our First Division opponents will arrive at Maine Road with the identical approach that Leicester had to smother us from sight of their goal with a heavy defensive blanket. It doesn’t make for much pretty football, but we have got to accept that it will happen because of the impressive reputation we have gained for home performances in the past.
We did not get the breaks against Leicester but we must go out and seek them very early against teams who only visit with the intention of stopping us and surviving with one point. I did not think we were sub-standard in the 0-0 draw with Leicester, but the disappointment was intensified because I’m sure most fans turned up expecting a lot from us with the addition of Mike Channon’s goal-striking talents after our £300,000 summer deal to get him. I think some followers were expecting too much, too soon.
MICK CHANNON LEAVES THE FIELD AFTER HIS DEBUT
