Birmingham City v Manchester City 1985/86

birmingham away 1985 to 86 prog

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 CITY 0

Canon League Division 1

3rd September 1985

Attendance 11,706

Scorer Geddis(67)

Ref H Taylor

City Williams, May, Wilson, Clements, McCarthy, Phillips, D Beckford, McNab, Kinsey, McIlroy, Simpson – Sub Smith(75)

Birmingham Seaman, Ranson, Jones, Wright, Armstrong, Kuhl, Bremner, Clarke, Kennedy, Geddis, Hopkins – Sub Roberts

FROM THE PRESS BOX

Guardian

CYRIL CHAPMAN WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 4TH SEPTEMBER 1985
Manchester City found Birmingham‘s speed and determination hard to combat at St Andrews last night, and after  looking the better side in th  first half went down to their  first away defeat to a goal headed by Geddis from Ranson’s right-wing centre in the  67th minute.  
City began with several intriicate passing movements, one involving eight players, but  their more direct approach  caused Birmingham most trouble. McNab shot over after  Simpson had obligingly cut  open the defence for him. and  two more shots went into the large open space behind the  goal. now a no-man’s-land between rival supporters.  
Birmingham preferred the  right-hand side of the field. and one centre from that quarter gave Geddes a chance, but his header towards the top corner of the goal was frustrated  by the athletic Williams with a double-handed save.
Geddes sliced a shot wide after Kennedy had made the running. then Kuhl pushed the  ball ahead for Clarke. who  came off worst in a collision with Williams and needed  treatment for a bruised leg.
As the visitors increased the pressure. mainly through Simpson. Birmingham escaped three  times in ihe same attack. Seaman turned a shot from Mcllroy out to Phillips, whose  attempt was kicked off the goal line by Armstrong. When  the ball came back the third time it was again forced away.  
Birmingham also fought off  a series of corner kicks as City emphasised the superiority of  their approach work. but they  retaliated sharply soon after half-time, sweeping past the line of Manchester defenders only for Bremner to shoot over the bar. In City’s next  attack Kinsey struck a shot  against  Seaman, whose save was quite involuntary. 

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