LIERSE SV 2 CITY 2
Friendly
11th August 1978
attendance ???
scorers
City Booth(1), Henry(61)
Lierse Coulemans(86), Bosch(88)
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Keegan, Futcher, Booth, Owen, Channon, Bell, Kidd, Hartford – subs Coughlin(45), Henry(20)
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FROM THE PRESS BOX
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PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 12TH AUGUST 1978
Manchester City were today licking their wounds near the end of a demanding tour that has been riddled with injury problems.
Major snags over the fitness of Dave Watson and Brian Kidd could leave manager Tony Book thin on experience for tomorrow’s wind-up game against Alkmaar, the powerful new emergent force of Dutch football.
… Tommy Booth gave what the City manager described as “an England-class display” against Lierse, fourth in the Belgian League last season and, like City, UEFA Cup qualifiers.
But it was a game that ended on a bitter note as Book and chief coach Bill Taylor had to be escorted from the pitch by Belgian officials.
A flashpoint incident when Russel Coughlin, City’s 18 year old Welsh youth international was the victim of an unneccessary tackle by Lierse skipper Swat Janssens, ironically it was his testimonial match City were playing, sparked off by trouble.
Book and Taylor rushed on to the pitch to protect their youngster who had been sent flying over the touchline right in front of the dugout where the City pair were sitting,
Said Book: “Fortunately Russell wasn’t seriously hurt, but a seasoned professional like Janssens shouldn’t have done that to a young kid like him, especially in a friendly.
Despite that last minute incident Book was still delighted with City’s all round display, the best of the tour so far.
Only let down was that the Blues surrendered a two goal lead with Lierse scoring twice in four minutes near the end.
Booth commanding in the air and immaculate with his distribution, gave City a flying start with a first minute header.
From that point City proceeded to give Lierse a lesson, although the balance was upset when Kidd went off after 17 minutes and Booth had to be replaced at half-time because of a leg knock.
Lierse took control in the second half but City, with Scotland World Cup men Asa Hartford and Willie Donachie outstanding, withstood the onslaught until the closing minutes.
Then Lierse scored a disputed first goal with the equaliser coming two minutes later.
It was still an extremely useful workout and provided City with a solid lesson in what to expect when they return to Europe next month...
Manchester City were today licking their wounds near the end of a demanding tour that has been riddled with injury problems.
Major snags over the fitness of Dave Watson and Brian Kidd could leave manager Tony Book thin on experience for tomorrow’s wind-up game against Alkmaar, the powerful new emergent force of Dutch football.
… Tommy Booth gave what the City manager described as “an England-class display” against Lierse, fourth in the Belgian League last season and, like City, UEFA Cup qualifiers.
But it was a game that ended on a bitter note as Book and chief coach Bill Taylor had to be escorted from the pitch by Belgian officials.
A flashpoint incident when Russel Coughlin, City’s 18 year old Welsh youth international was the victim of an unneccessary tackle by Lierse skipper Swat Janssens, ironically it was his testimonial match City were playing, sparked off by trouble.
Book and Taylor rushed on to the pitch to protect their youngster who had been sent flying over the touchline right in front of the dugout where the City pair were sitting,
Said Book: “Fortunately Russell wasn’t seriously hurt, but a seasoned professional like Janssens shouldn’t have done that to a young kid like him, especially in a friendly.
Despite that last minute incident Book was still delighted with City’s all round display, the best of the tour so far.
Only let down was that the Blues surrendered a two goal lead with Lierse scoring twice in four minutes near the end.
Booth commanding in the air and immaculate with his distribution, gave City a flying start with a first minute header.
From that point City proceeded to give Lierse a lesson, although the balance was upset when Kidd went off after 17 minutes and Booth had to be replaced at half-time because of a leg knock.
Lierse took control in the second half but City, with Scotland World Cup men Asa Hartford and Willie Donachie outstanding, withstood the onslaught until the closing minutes.
Then Lierse scored a disputed first goal with the equaliser coming two minutes later.
It was still an extremely useful workout and provided City with a solid lesson in what to expect when they return to Europe next month...