NOTTS COUNTY 1 CITY 0
League Division 1
7th September 1982
Attendance ???
Scorer Goodwin(13)
Ref M Robinson
City Williams, Ranson, McDonald, Baker, Bond, Power, Caton, Hareide, Cross, Reeves, Hartford – sub Tueart(72)
Notts County Avramovic, Benjamin, Worthington, Kilcline, Richards, Chiedozie, Harkouk, Christie, Hunt, Goodwin, Mair – sub McParland(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 8TH SEPTEMBER 1982
Manchester City’s new term problem is not difficult to define.
The pre-season goal shortage remains manager John Bond’s major headache after less than two weeks of a fresh campaign.
It was the reason the Blues’ brief reign as table toppers ended at Meadow Lane last night.
Chances were created but City’s ineffectiveness in front of goal enabled a mediocre Notts County to cling to their 14th minute lead, and win 1-0.
Kevin Reeves was the chief culprit, missing two gilt-edged opportunities and a third half-chance that would have given him a hat-trick and maintained his sides 100% record.
As Bond said: “I have no complaints about the way we played, only about the way we finished.”
Or rather didn’t. For while Reeves was at least there to miss them, David Cross was conspicuous by his total absence.
It is abundantly clear he is struggling with a painful ankle knock first picked up in pre-season.
While his gritty determination to try and play through the problem has to be admired, he is not doing himself or the team much justice by persisting in such circumstances.
The lack of goal front fire apart, City’s performance, particularly in the second half, had to be admired.
They completely dominated County with players pushing forward ambitiously trying to wipe out the deficit when Mark Goodwin pounced after Trevor Christie had headed on a long throw in from John Chiedozie on the right.
It was City’s one lapse of concentration and from that point Alex Williams in his first match at the outset of a six week stint as stand-in for injured Joe Corrigan had little t do.
“I told him at the end all games won’t be as easy as that,” said Bond.
With Tommy Caton, Aage Hareide and Kevin Bond once more in superb form, City were never seriously troubled again.
In fact, Hareide was able to drive forward relentlessly twice narrowly failing with blistering efforts.
In the last three games the lanky Norwegian international has really begun to emerge as a player of note in City’s new system which suits his style admirably.
Yet, there were time County’s orthodox wingers caused City some concern although once that problem had been sorted out there was never the same threat from the home side.
Asa Hartford continues to be the midfield inspirator but too often his play cries out for more quality support.