CITY 2 PLYMOUTH ARGYLE 0
League Division 2
25th February 1989
attendance 22,451
Scorers McNab(12 pen), Biggins(55)
Ref H Taylor
City Dibble, Lake, Taggart, Gayle, Megson, Redmond, White, Gleghorn, Morley, McNab, Biggins – subs Hinchcliffe(67), Moulden(77)
Plymouth Wilmot, Brown, Uzzell, Burrows, Marker, Smith, Matthews, McCarthy, Tynan, Hodges, Stuart – subs Plummer(75)
NEIL MCNAB CONVERTS FROM THE PENALTY SPOT
FROM THE PRESS BOX
MICHAEL HENDERSON WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 27TH FEBRUARY 1989
Since losing at Brentford in the fourth round of the FA Cup, Manchester City have won four Second Division games without conceding a goal. Unbeaten in the league since surrendering the lead at Stoke on Boxing Day, they made it six wins out of six on Saturday to regain top spot.
The eerie quiet at Maine Road was only broken three minutes from time when news emerged from Stamford Bridge of Oldham’s equaliser from Roger Palmer, a City old boy which transferred the balance of power to his former club.
Promotion, within reach of a dozen of clubs, is essential for City, whose Stadium like they’re standing, is haunted by years of neglect. Failure to achieve it would deprive them of the young players much coveted by clubs who are already there.
Mel Machin would have to spend his money more wisely in the First Division than he has so far. Megson, who seems to command an obligatory £250,000 fee whenever he switches clubs contributing nothing and Gleghorn is a plodder.
Apart from the assured Redmond and the quicksilver White, there was little quality. The sooner Machin buys a right back, Bradford’s Brian Mitchell is under observation, the more speedily Lake can be released from the defensive jankers to redefine the Midfield.
McNab scored one first half penalty and missed another. Biggins added a bizarre second half goal when Wilmot misjudged White’s deep corner. The crowd dispersed unimpressed.
