WEST BROMWICH ALBION 0 CITY 2
League Division 1
2nd April 1983
Attendance 13,654
Scorers Cross(48), Reeves(86)
Referee J Deakin
City Williams, Ranson, Power, Reid, Bond, Caton, Kinsey, Reeves, Cross, Hartford, Baker – sub May(unused)
West Brom Barron, Whitehead, Statham, Zondervan, Wile, Robertson, Jol, Thompson, Cross, Owen, Eastoe – sub Lewis(45)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
SAFETY IN SIGHT FOR BENSON AND CITY
RUSSELL THOMAS WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 4TH APRIL 1983
The tide that threatened to sweep Manchester City straight into the Second Division turned at last on Saturday. After two months of careering out of control, the battered boat steered by Benson and Book found an unlikely haven at the Hawthorns.
With time and matches running out, City’s relief was obvious. The memories of 10 League games without victory were washed away in the course of a thoroughly deserved win over West Bromwich. whose own European ambitions may have been drowned in the process. After this match, the distress signal belonged to Albion.
Benson took a long time to come to terms with the achievement of his first managerial victory‘ “What are we doing winning at a place like this ?’ he asked rhetorically at his happiest press conference so far. He should not have been so surprised. His men played
with a confidence and positiveness that mocked their predicament.
Albion. who have now lost their last six League and Cup games to City, could not have been more charitable. Without Regis, they hardly caused a ripple in City’s defensive ranks where Caton and Bond imposed themselves Muscularly. In midfield Albion progressively lost the battle as Owen limped off at half-time and Jol strangely offered little resistance to the abrasive Hartford.
Albion’s manager Ron Wylie was not amused. ” I thought it was a disgrace in terms of individual performances. It makes all the talk of Europe seem silly. I’ll be changing this club and it will be done for next season. I need two or three good players.”
Apart from one late shot against the post from Nicky Cross, Albion produced little to neutralise the goal driven in gleefully by his namesake David after Statham had hesitated and the one headed in simply by Reeves from Hartford’s corner. Two goals don’t make a season. but they certainly help. After all, City face Liverpool today.