CITY 3 GRIMSBY TOWN 0
League Division 2
27th August 1984
attendance 21,137
scorers Parlane(25), Smith(58), Bond(60 pen)
Ref Colin Seel
City Williams, Bond, Power, McCarthy, McNab, Phillips, Baker, Cunningham, Wilson, Parlane, Smith – sub Tolmie(unused)
Grimsby Batch, Cumming, Crombie, Koley, Nicholl, Moore, Ford, Wilkinson, Drinkell, Bonnyman, Emson
GORDON SMITH SMASHES IN CITY’S SECOND GOAL
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 28TH AUGUST 1984
Don’t get too excited about Manchester City’s Maine Road curtain raiser.
The Blues won well enough but the standard of opposition left much to be desired.
Grimsby Town were a pale shadow of the side that challenged the big four for promotion last season, finishing fifth only because of inferior goal difference to City.
Even manager Billy McNeill admitted his surprise at the ease in which his team was allowed to cruise to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
That makes it an even better start than last season following Saturday’s 2-2 draw at Wimbledon, leaving the Blues with four points compared to three 12 months ago.
Yet it’s still early days and any euphoric talk of instant success is totally unrealistic to say the least.
For instance City were a disaster for 25 minutes of yesterday’s opening home League match.
But once Derek Parlane, last terms 19 goal leading marksman, superbly slotted in his second of the current campaign, there was only one side in it.
The Graham Baker, Neil McNab and Clive Wilson midfield created enough chances for the side to have won by half a dozen goals.
Just as they had done at Plough Lane 48 hours earlier when City bounced back to wipe the smile off newy promoted Wimbledon’s face.
Had City’s finishing matched their approach work, they would already have a dozen of the 80 odd goals I believe they need to make it back to the First Division.
Said McNeill: “We have come through two difficult games and to win the first at home so convincingly is particularly satisfying.”
Just as satisfying has been the form of hot-shot Parlane whose clinical finishing against Grimsby was on a par with his early season form last time round.
Parlane might have had a hat-trick at Wimbledon but had to be satisfied with one.
Yesterday he made the second for Gordon Smith, who rounded goalkeeper Nigel Batch before slotting the ball in via the boot of defender Kevin Moore and the inside of a post.
And hard-working striker Tony Cunningham “won” the third when he was brought down by Batch although in the circumstances I thought the penalty a harsh award.
However, Kevin Bond despatched the spot kick to provide the Blues with a home flier and the opportunity to capitalise this weekend when Fulham are the visitors.
Wilson again had a fine match with Bond recovering his composure following the early doubts at Wimbledon on Saturday when the Blues were torn apart at the back in the first quarter of an hour.
David Phillips has impressed in two games so far and if the Blues can build on this solid start there can indeed be hope of another sustained push for promotion.