NOTTINGHAM FOREST 3 CITY 1
League Division 1
9th May 1979
attendance 21,104
scorers
City Lloyd(52 og)
Forest Birtles(4), Bowyer(61), Woodcock(62)
ref M Baker
City Corrigan, Reid, Donachie, Henry, Watson, Bell, Channon, Hartford, Silkman, Deyna, Owen – sub Viljoen(unused)
Forest Shilton, Anderson, Clark, McGovern, Lloyd, Burns, O’Meill, Francis, Birtles, Woodcock, Robertson – sub Bowyer(45)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 10TH MAY 1979
Two killer goals inside a sizzling 60 seconds sent Manchester City reeling to inevitable defeat last night.
No other First Division side has beaten Nottingham Forest on their own ground in the League in the last two years and the Blues never remotely looked like topping that particular summit.
Yet there was a spell when it seemed they might salvage a point after a first half pummelling when Forest piled on the agony but failed to profit in front of goal.
It left City beaten at a stage when they looked strongest.
A Mike Channon cross had been turned into an own goal by Forest centre half Larry Lloyd to wipe out the fourth minute lead Gary Birtles had given the home side.
From that point City pushed forward in numbers but were caught on the rebound with Forest counter-punching at the double.
Ian Bowyer lobbed in a fine effort after a John McGovern cross had been headed on by Trevor Francis.
Then Tony Woodcock started, and finished, a left flank move after City had again wasted possession.
City’s new found tactics demand that tey don’t give the ball away. Yet this was a trap they once again fell into to such an extent that Forest were able to lift the pace and cruise to a comfortable 3-1 victory in a confident build up for the European Cup final against Malmo later this month.
Most consistent City player was again Joe Corrigan, whose string of fine saves prevented an even bigger defeat…