EVERTON 1 CITY 2
League Division 1
22nd December 1979
attendance 26,308
scorers
City Daley(11),Henry(26)
Everton Kidd(64)
Ref G Owen
City Corrigan, Ranson, Donachie, Henry, Caton, Booth, Power, Robinson, Daley, Shinton, Bennett – sub Reid(unused)
Everton Hodge, Gidman, Bailey, Wright, Lyons, Ross, Hartford, Stanley, Latchford, Kidd, King – sub Varadi(81)
REPORT PUBLISHED IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 20TH DECEMBER 1980
City gained a grip on the game in the opening half-hour with smart goals from Steve Daley and Tony Henry and though former Blues striker Kidd pulled one back via a free kick there was never doubt about the visitors superiority with better application and organisation.
A hesitant attempt by Stanley to clear his zone proved costly on the ice-bound pitch and Mike Robinson took charge of the ball and sent Daley surging into the Everton penalty area. A 15-yard left foot shot from Daley (who was booked later on) found its target. David Bennett laid on the next, skating round Wright and aiming in a cross which Lyons tried to knock away. But he laid the ball into Tony Henry’s path, who first-timed it into the net from 18 yards. The Everton response came when Ross touched a free kick to his left and from 25 yards out Kidd drove a goal through the fragile City defensive wall.
Everton had a miserable time trying to piece their first half game together and foundered against the strength of Tommy Booth, who was supported by an improved Willie Donachie display. Tommy Caton, too, had complete mastery of Latchford.
The real effect came from midfield in which Henry hit the heights and the only time the nippier Blues were in difficulty was when full back Gidman led a home revival for a spell in the second half. Corrigan coped with the problems.
”We started badly and got worse” groaned Everton manager Gordon Lee after.
“The ground conditions were difficult but we took our chances well” said City team manager Malcolm Allison as he enthused about the midfield performances.
