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
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.