BLACKPOOL 1 CITY 1
Texaco Cup
3rd August 1974
attendance 12,342
scorers
City Tueart(86)
Blackpool Dyson(81)
Ref W Johnson
City Corrigan, Barrett, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Lee, Marsh, Tueart – subs Potter(unused), Law(unused)
Blackpool Burridge, Hatton, Bentley, James, Suddaby, Evanson, Walsh, Suddick, Dyson, Tong, Ainscow – subs Wood, Curtis
Dennis Tueart scores City’s only goal
FROM THE PRESS BOX
SAME OLD PROBLEMS FOR CITY
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 5TH AUGUST 1974
Manchester City again lack the scoring thrust they sorely missed last season, and it is clear they still need a resourceful midfield ball winner.
Both these deficiencies were revealed in a tame work-out at Bloomfield Road where two late goals saved the first round Texaco Cup tie against Blackpool from becoming a complete flop.
City’s poor disciplinary streak also showed with skipper Mike Summerbee, due to start the season under a two match ban left over from last term, and Rodney Marsh booked for niggling fouls.
In fact little has changed and unless a drastic improvement is made against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane tomorrow City can forget this particular competition, especially in the light of Oldham’s fine opening victory that gave them a bonus point start.
Biggest disappointment of all for City was Francis Lee whose form, not one shot in the game, was hardly the sort expected from a man seeking improved contract terms.
The best chances fell to Marsh and Colin Bell but both were deprived by the excellent goalkeeping of John Burridge. On other occasions they and Summerbee scorned openings that could have given City victory by a convincing margin instead of a 1-1 draw.
Blackpool, for whom 18 year old local boy David Tong in his first team debut looked impressive, were clearly let off the hook. They rarely moved forward with conviction, but defended stubbornly, particularly Peter Suddaby.
City also looked sound at the back where Mike Doyle confirmed his recent Player of the Year award with another consistent display. Tommy Booth and Willie Donachie also looked sound but a question mark remains against Colin Barrett proving the answer at right back.