HIBERNIAN 0 CITY 0
Friendly
3rd August 1984
Attendance ???
City Williams, Ranson, May, Bond, Power, McCarthy, Phillips, Reid, Parlane, Cunningham, Smith – subs Tolmie(45), McNab(55), Lomax(60)Dalziel(unused), Kinsey(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 4TH AUGUST 1984
… McCarthy led the team for the first time last night and played a leading role in the goalless draw against Hibs at Eater Road.
But the Blues real hero of the hour was Alex Williams, whose string of magnificent saves prevented the team from plunging to a landslide defeat.
City were under pressure for most of the match in which the Scottish Premier League side were on top revealing a sharper approach thanks to having four previous matches under their belt.
This was City’s first serious match of the pre-season build up, and it clearly showed.
They were sluggish at the outset but rose to the occasion later on with Williams and McCarthy in particular outstanding in stemmig the Hibs tide.
City were also well served by £95,000 newcomer Tony Cunningham who battled bravely up front, particularly in the second half when Jim Tolmie was introduced.
Tolmie, who has missed a couple of days training this week because of injury, replaced Derek Parlane and he immediately struck up a useful understanding with Cunningham who, I feel sure, will become a crowd pleaser with Maine Road fans this season.
… Bobby Thomson the Hibs midfielder who has been interesting City, only made a late appearance as substitute due to a back injury. But Billy McNeill said: “It was not long enough for me to really assess his capabilities.”