CITY 1 SOUTHAMPTON 0
League Division 1
11th January 1986
attendance 21,674
Scorer Phillips(84)
Ref John Key
City Nixon, Reid, Power, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, Lillis, May, Davies, McNab, Simpson – sub Moulden(unused)
Southampton Shilton, Forrest, Dennis, Townsend, Wright, Bond, Holmes, Cockerill, Moran, Armstrong, Wallace – sub Puckett
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER BALL WRITING IN THE OBSERVER 12TH JANUARY 1986
MANCHESTER CITY’S continuing rise towards mid-table respectability was the only satisfaction they could take from another stumbling performance. Their forwards showed about s much as a classic British horizontal heavyweight, and only an 85th minute goal from Phillips spared their blushes against a Southampton side still searching for their first away win of the season.
What action there was to applaud centred around the two midfield playes in the No 10 shirts, Armstrong and Mc’Nab.
McCarthy’s height proved decisive as Forest’s cross came over, and M.cNab had come back to intercept Dennis’s cross as Wallace moved in. As well as his interception, McNab’a close control and accurate passes won the only ripple of applause from the home supporters in the early stages.
The little Scot, for so long a player of much promise but little fulfillment since his early days at Tottenham, has at last established himself as a favourite at Maine Road. He received little response fiom his forwards, however, And it was Phillips who at last brought Shilton into the action as he pushed a delicate ball into the penalty area. For once Davies had avoided the offside flag but Shilton saved at the Welsh forward’s feet as he attempted to go round him, and the goalkeeper recovered quickly to turn aside Simpson’s follow up.
Perhaps surprised by the ease of that probe, City at last raised their game, Simpson brought Shilton to his knees with another effort, but when Phillips chested Reid‘s cross into the path of Lillis on the stroke of half time, the resulting shot would have been unlikely to damage the proverbial paper bag, let alone worry England’s goal-keeper.
Even when Southampton’s defence was opened up, Lillis and Davies spurned the opportunity and it looked as if we could wait all night for a goal. Finally it came as Phillips tired of his forwards’ inadequacies and went through himself, beating two defenders before driving a low shot beyond Shilton for his first goal in the First Division.