CITY 4 SHEFFIELD UNITED 2
Littlewoods cup 3rd Round
2nd November 1988
attendance 16,609
Scorers
City Moulden(7, 26 & 66) Morley(55)
Sheffield United Bryson(19), Duffield(52)
Ref J Lloyd
City Dibble, Seagraves, Hinchcliffe, Gayle, Biggins, Redmond, Beckford, Moulden, Morley, McNab, I Brightwell – subs Gleghorn(81), Scott(unused)
Sheffield United Benstead, Wilder, Pike, Webster, Carr, Smith, Roberts, Todd, Agana, Deane, Bryson – subs Duffield
A HAT-TRICK FOR PAUL MOULDEN
FROM THE PRESS BOX
CYNTHIA BATEMAN WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 3RD NOVEMBER 1988
Paul Moulden, Manchester City’s leading scorer this season, quickly reminded Maine Road of his scoring talents when he struck a hat-trick in this third-round tie last night to send Sheffield United out of the Littlewoods Cup.
“Twenty-one today,” sang the Maine Road supporters as Manchester City’s captain, Steve Redmond, ran out on to the pitch. Birthdays, they meant, not goals, but the tie had a bagful-of-goals look about it from the start.
It looked as though this game would be a gift for City after they went ahead after only seven minutes. Moulden, dropped from City’s side at the weekend, was back in place of the cup-tied Carl Bradshaw and easily eluded the United defenders to head home from a corner.
United’s defence, missing the injured captain Paul Stancliffe, was exposed again as Ian Brightwell, City’s England Under-21 midfielder, found the way to goal wide open. But he was so surprised to have so much space that he spurned a glorious chance.
United’s striking combination of Agana and Deane, with more than 20 goals between them this season. began to show themselves. It was Agana who carried on a move after Andy Robert’s long run and crossed for Bryson to equalise after 19 minutes.
But United’s rocky defence invited more City pressure and forced Graham Benstead into some brilliant saves. The goalkeeper was given no chance, however. after Moulden, looking suspiciously offside. drove his side further ahead in the 26th minute.
United were playing an offside trap but they had seemingly forgotten how to set it. Seconds later, Carr was forced to clear oft‘ the line. and Brightwell missed another sitter.
City, whose manager Mel Machin is searching for a new striker and is said to be interested Simon Gamer of Blackburn Rovers. were not at their most devastating. But they demonstrated a division’s worth of difference in quality between themselves and the Third Division leaders.
At half-time United were no doubt reminded of their impressive League form and opened the second halt‘ tigerishly. Duffield. United’s substitute, traded passes with Agana and levelled the score in the 52nd minute. But only three minutes later they were behind again as Morley rose to head in a Biggin’s cross.
McNab found more loopholes in the United’s defence to cross for Moulden to complete his hat-trick with a spectacular flying header in the 66th minute.
TREVOR MORLEY ALSO GETS ON THE SCORESHEET
2 inflatable Dinosaurs battle it out on the terrace
The loser was treated to a fine rendition of “Going down Going down Going down”