CITY 3 WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1
League Division 1
7th April 1979
attendance 32,298
scorers
City Channon(23), Palmer(48), Silkman(81)
Wolves Hibbitt(49)
ref K Styles
City Corrigan, Reid, Donachie, Owen, Booth, Silkman, P Futcher, Henry, Channon, Palmer, Hartford – sub R Futcher(68)
Wolves Bradshaw, Palmer, Parkin, Daniel, McAlle, Derry, Hibbitt, Daley, Rafferty, Richards, Carr – sub Patching
ROGER PALMER SCORES
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 7TH APRIL 1979
Mick Channon’s eighth goal in twelve games gave Manchester City a 23rd minute lead in a patchy end of season clash with Wolves at Maine Road this afternoon.
It was a goal never better timed by the Blues for whom manager Tony Book had set a six point target to ensure absolute First Division safety in the ten matches that remained this term.
A crowd nearing the 30,000 mark were becoming irritable at City’s total incompetence to master Wanderers, but Channon turned jeers to cheers with his goal.
Nicky Reid, the 18 year old making his home League debut after stepping up for the ill fated European campaign last month, crossed into the goalmouth and Channon’s snap shot left Wolves goalkeeper Paul Bradshaw unsighted.
Channon was quickly caught offside as Hartford attempted to pump a long ball high over the heads of the Wolves’ defenders.
Donachie controlled the ball in polished fashion to deny both Richards and Daley, although when he got Palmer away, City’s no. 11 was penalised for a foul on Geoff Palmer.
A Reid clearance was chased by Channon and all McAlle could do was drive the ball into touch. The ball stayed in the right hand corner as City persisted with Hartford showing some neat skill before Carr cleared as Channon threatened on the edge of the penalty area.
Owen was caught in possession half a dozen yards short of his own penalty area by Carr, although the finishing of the Wolves man left a lot to be desired as he tamely put the ball straight at Corrigan.
City got a clear cut chance in the fifth minute however, when a deflection left Channon with a clear run at goal. The former England marksman closed in on Bradshaw’s goal but Berry made a splendid recovery tackle to clear.
Channon made another flying run, this time escaping from the clutches of McAlle. He crossed to the far side for Owen to drive a centre back into the middle where first Channon and then Palmer failed to connect.
Silkman quickly got the crowd on his side, neatly beating his man on the right and crossing towards the far post where Henry arrived a stride to late to turn a possible opening goalwards.
It was Wolves who posted the biggest threat, although the ninth minute chance they had was a self inflected wound by City, Donachie lost possession to Rafferty with the big Wolves man cutting in before hitting an angled shot just outside Corrigan’s far post.
Henry ran back well to cover as Daniel threatened following a Daly-Richards link initiated when Reid lost possession midway inside the Wanderers half.
And there was another let off for the Blues when from an accurate cross by Geoff Palmer, Carr headed the ball on to Richards whose equally well flighted header dipped inches over the cross bar.
Donachie, having a most unhappy time against Hibbitt and the entire Wolves right flank remained under extreme pressure as Wanderers searched for the lead their superiority merited at this stage of what was rapidly becoming a one way battering for the Blues.
Yet incredibly City, right against the run of play took a 23rd minute lead.
Reid, probably more in hope than in anticipation poked the ball high into the middle of the Wolves defence. It was headed out to the feet of Channon who drove a wicked low shot past a bunch of defenders with Bradshaw completely unsighted.
Silkman came in on an angled pass from the left only to shoot straight into the hands of Bradshaw with City getting into their stride and taking command of the match.
Then it took the combined efforts of Geoff Palmer and McAlle to blot out City’s Palmer after another neat move involving Henry.
Henry himself next went through to try his luck, but with Channon unmarked on the right the youngster’s shot was way off the mark and he hung his head in shame realising the mistake he had made in trying to go it alone.
Wolves were twice lucky as McAlle amazingly blocked shots from Roger Palmer after Silkman had made progress down the right with City remaining the superior side.
Two minutes from half time Channon could have increased City’s lead. Again moving on to a long ball from Reid, Channon moved away from Parkin but lofted his effort over the head of Bradshaw as the Wolves goalkeeper sprinted from his line to narrow the angle.
Half time: Manchester City 1, Wolves 0.
Silkman made a sharp, spirited run and cross from which Berry cleared first time.
But then in the 47th minute the crowd was really on its toes as the Blues went further ahead with probably one of the most delightful goals seen at Maine Road this season.
Silkman retrieved the ball on the halfway line, moved forward half a dozen strides before threading it accurately in front of McAlle, leaving Palmer both space and scope from which to hit in a sweet effort that gave Bradshaw no chance.
But within three minutes Wolves had immediately pulled a goal back.
Richards moving in confidently struck a shot against the foot of a post and when the ball bounced out to the feet of Hibbitt he had the simplest of tasks in shooting into an empty net to once more leave the game poised on a knife edge.
It left Wolves with the encouragement they needed, and when Rafferty crossed from the left Carr raced in at the near post to jab a dangerous effort into the side netting.
However Geoff Palmer spoiled some approach work by Wolves when he carelessly crossed behind with the City defence once more all at sea.
Palmer, working extremely hard, almost did it again for City in the 58th minute, As Berry and Bradshaw became tangled up over a back pass Palmer lifted the ball goalwards but Parkin turned his effort behind for a corner that Owen wasted.
There was more confusion between Berry and Bradshaw as they once more chased a Donachie through ball. This time it was Channon after them although the Wolves pair got off the hook with Channon able only to turn the ball behind.
City, again stepping up the pressure, looked as though they had got the third goal. Following a splendid run by Reid, the youngster crossed to the far post where Roger Palmer’s first effort was blocked.
Silkman shot and protested that his effort had crossed the line before Geoff Palmer cleared.
Yet Wolves were by no means finished. Daniel ran well to beat Hartford on the right and from his low cross Berry came in at top speed to turn a fine effort over the cross bar.
In the 68th minute, seconds after he had shot over after coming in from the right the limping Channon, who had been injured earlier, was finally taken off to be replaced by Ron Futcher.
A nice one-two between Owen and Hartford left Roger Palmer again going for goal but this time Bradshaw was quick from his line to pinch the ball off the toes of the City striker.
At the other end the Blues were caught napping Rafferty again popped up to almost squeeze the ball over the line following a long run by Berry.
Eight minutes from the end City virtually wrapped up those points pouncing on the break to increase their lead. Full marks to Henry for his efforts as he worked his way in from the left before angling in a centre from which Silkman headed a delightful home debut goal.
It was Silkman’s second since joining the Blues in a £60,000 pre-deadline transfer last week, for he was on the mark in the 2-1 defeat at Ipswich seven days ago.
