Manchester City v Middlesbrough 1977/78

CITY 2 MIDDLESBROUGH 2

League Division 1

25th March 1978

Attendance 37,944

Scorers
City Channon(10 & 89)
Middlesbrough Cummins(33), Ashcroft(90)

Ref M Baker

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Booth, Watson, Owen, Channon, Bell, Kidd, Power, Barnes – sub Keegan(11)

Middlesbrough Platt, Craggs, Bailey, Mahoney, Boam, Ramage, Mills, Cummins, Ashcroft, McAndrew, Armstrong – sub Hickton

PETER GARDNER’S ‘VERDICT’ FROM THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL
City were pathetic shadows of the side that had once fought so courageously as championship challengers.
On this Maine Road display against Middlesbrough they were lucky to be in the top six never mind the First Division’s leading three.
Once more the need for a creative artist of Asa Hartford’s standing was again needed, and the added handicap was the early loss of leading scorer Brian Kidd, who provides so much in the way of enthusiastic drive.

But even so it doesn’t excuse the Blues feeble display against no more than average opponents.
Too often City gave the ball away carelessly and at times only the irresistible Barnes was left the main striking force.
Bell continued to struggle in midfield, and though Power and Owen pulled their weight, they clearly couldn’t do the job on their own.