MANCHESTER UNITED 1 CITY 1
League Division 1
27th February 1982
Attendance 57,872
scorers
City Reeves(17)
United Moran(39)
ref Keith Hackett
City Corrigan, Ranson, McDonald, Reid, Caton, Hareide, Ryan, Jackson, Power, Hartford, Reeves – sub Kinsey(unused)
United Bailey, Gidman, Albiston, Moran, Buchan, Robson, Birtles, Wilkins, Stapleton, Duxbury, Coppell – sub McGarvey(unused)
KEVIN REEVES PUTS CITY 1-0 UP
In this derby at Old Trafford City were condemned by the media for a very ‘negative display.’ United’s manager Ron Atkinson was far from happy stating “I’ve never played that way in my life.”
So was this anti-football from the Blue Half of Manchester or simply a John Bond Masterclass in how to come away from Old Trafford without a defeat? A feat that many clubs would be very happy with.
Bond, maybe a little tongue in cheek, stated: “It was a good spectacle in terms of what English football is all about.” without the injured £1M man Trevor Francis and the attacking flair of Dennis Tueart, he conceded: “You don’t like to play that way.”
City set up from the kick off with five in midfield and just Kevin Reeves as the sole attacker, and against the run of play he put the Blues in front after 17 minutes, glancing in a header from a Ray Ranson cross.
From that point City resolutely tried to defend their lead with Tommy Caton putting in a Man-of-the-Match performance, however 6 minutes before half-time Moran headed in a Gidman cross.
In the second half, although it was virtually blanket possession for United they didn’t possess the guile to breakdown City’s defence.
