CITY 2 MANCHESTER UNITED 2
League Division 1
27th September 1975
attendance 46,931
scorers
City Royle(31), Nicholl(20 o.g.)
United McCreery(28), Macari(30)
ref Jack Taylor
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Doyle, Watson, Oakes, Hartford, Bell, Royle, Marsh, Tueart – sub Leman(80)
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United Stepney, Nicholl, Houston, McCreery, Greenhoff, Buchan, Coppell, McIlroy, Pearson, Macari, Daly – sub Albiston
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A GOAL FOR JOE ROYLE
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AN ARTICLE FROM THE CITY MAGAZINE APRIL 1996 BY JOHN MADDOCKS
United had just spent a season in the Second Division, placed there in April 1974 by Denis Law’s instinctive backheel flick late in the second half in the Old Trafford derby.
Under Tommy Docherty they had taken the Second Division by storm, increasing their average gates to around 48,000, and had made a fine start in the First Division with six wins and a draw in their first nine League matches. The Blues were rebuilding too, with England centre half Dave Watson now in the ranks, and Kenny Clements and Paul Power had both made their League bows by the time this derby was played in September.
The goals came thick and fast in a 10 minute span midway through the first half of the game. The first came after 21 minutes when Joe Royle bore down on United full-back Jimmy Nicholl. The United player hadn’t realised that Alex Stepney had left his goal-line in anticipation of a high ball towards Royle and lobbed it over the keeper to give City a lead.
It was a lead that didn’t last long, though.
United had just spent a season in the Second Division, placed there in April 1974 by Denis Law’s instinctive backheel flick late in the second half in the Old Trafford derby.
Under Tommy Docherty they had taken the Second Division by storm, increasing their average gates to around 48,000, and had made a fine start in the First Division with six wins and a draw in their first nine League matches. The Blues were rebuilding too, with England centre half Dave Watson now in the ranks, and Kenny Clements and Paul Power had both made their League bows by the time this derby was played in September.
The goals came thick and fast in a 10 minute span midway through the first half of the game. The first came after 21 minutes when Joe Royle bore down on United full-back Jimmy Nicholl. The United player hadn’t realised that Alex Stepney had left his goal-line in anticipation of a high ball towards Royle and lobbed it over the keeper to give City a lead.
It was a lead that didn’t last long, though.
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Seven minutes later the Reds were level thanks to David McCreery. The City defence had been in clearing their lines and McCreery seized the moment, darting through, gaining possession and beating Joe Corrigan all ends up.
Barely had the Kippax’ groans died away when United went ahead. This time the goal stemmed from a corner-kick taken by Sammy Mcllroy. His curling centre from the flag found Lou Macari, whose header left Corrigan clawing thin air and wondering what might have been.
And the excitement still wasn’t over. lt was City’s tum to hit back and they did it stylishly. Dennis Tueart raced across to take a corner and weighed up his options in the penalty area. He found Mike Doyle, always ready to assist any downfall of United that might be going, and his flick-on connected with Royle’s boot. City were level.
That was the end of the scoring for the afternoon, both sides clearly deciding that the punters had their money’s worth. Alan Oakes missed a good chance to give City the points before the end, but in truth for either side to lose would have been an injustice.
Barely had the Kippax’ groans died away when United went ahead. This time the goal stemmed from a corner-kick taken by Sammy Mcllroy. His curling centre from the flag found Lou Macari, whose header left Corrigan clawing thin air and wondering what might have been.
And the excitement still wasn’t over. lt was City’s tum to hit back and they did it stylishly. Dennis Tueart raced across to take a corner and weighed up his options in the penalty area. He found Mike Doyle, always ready to assist any downfall of United that might be going, and his flick-on connected with Royle’s boot. City were level.
That was the end of the scoring for the afternoon, both sides clearly deciding that the punters had their money’s worth. Alan Oakes missed a good chance to give City the points before the end, but in truth for either side to lose would have been an injustice.
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