CITY 1 MIDDLESBROUGH 1
League Division 2
4th November 1987
attendance 18,434
scorers
City Hinchcliffe(71)
Middlesbrough Glover(20)
Ref D Shaw
City Nixon, Gidman, Hinchcliffe, Clements, Brightwell, Redmond, White, Stewart, Varadi, McNab, Simpson – subs Lake(49), Adcock(78)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 5TH NOVEMBER 1987
Manchester City did well to salvage even one point from arguably the best side they have faced in the Second Division this season.
Middlesbrough admirably organised and efficient throughout, revealed just why they are leading promotion contenders as they continued the current free-scoring Blues to 1-1 in an enthralling Maine Road match last night.
Yet, but for an outrageous refereeing non-decision in the last minute, City would have pinched all three points for their first three-game winning sequence in almost two years.
Sandbach official Don Shaw turned his back on play when Gary Hamilton clearly handled a Paul Simpson free kick for the most blatant penalty offence I have seen this season.
It rightly left City team manager Mel Machin fuming as did Boro’s equally blatant time wasting tactics that had the desired effect of curbing the Blues attacking momentum at crucial periods.
However, these were perhaps minor blemishes on what was otherwise a splendid clash between refreshing young sides who might soon grace the First Division.
City’s misfortune was that they persisted for too long with high ball tactics that left Boro’s commanding central defenders the heroes of the night.
When balls were played to the feet and the opposition stretched in the second half, the Blues were a more potent but by then the Teessiders had the confidence to hold and contain a team who had scored 12 goals in four previous games.
City’s saving grace was that they at least did not lose and that is vitally important for a side so young and inexperienced.
For that they can thank a maiden League goal from Andy Hinchcliffe, again an outstanding performer who clearly has a glittering future in the game.
Hinchcliffe struck a stunning 25 yard half volley that over-shadowed even the equally slick goal Boro right back Dean Glover had scored to give his side a deserved 20th minute lead.
City looked more effective once Paul Lake had replaced the limping Ian Brightwell. The change was dramatic in that Lake is more creative, Brightwell’sforte is stopping others playing.
Varadi’s injury problem clearly told as City bravely tried to overcome sheer numbers at the back where Boro often had eight or nine men back behind the ball.
It left too much for Paul Stewart to do single-handed and City may well eventually reflect that this was a point gained rather than two lost against such commanding opponents who could well stay the promotion course.