PARTICK THISTLE 3 CITY 1
Friendly
5th August 1984
Attendance 2,000
Scorers
City Parlane(75)
Partick McDowall(31), Cochrane(34), Herd(60)
City Williams, Reid, May, Bond, Power, McCarthy, Phillips, McNab, Kinsey, Cunningham, Tolmie – subs Ranson(45), Parlane(45), Smith(55), Lomax(unused), Dalziel(unused)
Partick Brough, Walker, Shields, Doyle, Carson, Murray, Gilmour, McDowall, Cochrane, Herd, O’Hara – subs Scott(?), Hernon(?), Hutchison(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 6TH AUGUST 1984
Billy McNeill today reflected on a disastrous defeat at the hands of £50-a-week Scottish part-timers and admitted: “I am glad it happened.”
The Manchester City manager, still angry at a 3-1 setback that in no way flattered Partick Thistle, called a clear-the-air meeting with his players at Maine Road.
The Blues boss said: “We were given a lesson at Firhill yesterday that must not be repeated again.”
McNeill added: “It was almost as thoough everyone had slipped back to the attitude that prevailed a year ago. Yet in retrospect I am glad it happened. At least it gives us the opportunity to see what problems face us.”
City looked far from 5-1 promotion favourites as they conceded two goals in five minutes midway through the first half on a difficult bumpy pitch.
Partick grabbed a third on the hour and eight minutes later the agony intensified for the Blues when Kevin Bond hit the post with a penalty, and Gordon Smith slammed the rebound over the bar.
Derek Parlane scored a consolation goal 1 minute from the end of a game in which no City player enhanced his reputation…