QUEENS PARK RANGERS 1 CITY 1
League Division 1
17th September 1977
Attendance 24,668
Scorers
City Royle(9)
QPR Francis(35)
Ref L Shapter
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Owen, Watson, Booth, Kidd, Channon, Royle, Hartford, Barnes – sub Doyle(unused)
QPR Parkes, Clement, Gillard, Williams, Needham, Webb, Eastoe, Francis, Masson, Bowles Given – sub Abbott(80)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 17TH SEPTEMBER 1977
England striker Joe Royle quickly made his presence felt on his return to first team action for Manchester City against QPR at Loftus Road.
He forced another vital early breakthrough for the Blues, shooting them ahead after only 10 minutes of an all-action clash watched by international boss Ron Greenwood.
But former England skipper Gerry Francis wiped out that lead in the 34th minute with an equaliser for Rangers, who made City fight all the way as they defended top spot in the First Division.
However, Royle almost made a mess of the glorious chance created for him following some inspired play by Brian Kidd and Mike Channon. It took two attempts for him to force the ball over the line. But as Royle said: “It doesn’t matter how you score ’em, they all count.”
…Watson, with an interception midway inside his own half, started the move as he broke away to find Kidd, Channon took over, made progress down the left, then passed the ball back superbly in front of Parkes to give Royle what, on the face of it, was the simplest of chances.
Royle forced the ball over the line all right, but it was a near thing, for the City leader almost missed his chance with Parkes quickly retrieving himself and almost stopped the ball on the line. But it was a goal all the way, and for the fourth successive match the battling Blues had yet again made that vital early breakthrough.
… But the 34th minute saw the Blues lose that lead. It began when Hartford was penalised for a foul on Webb half a dozen yards outside the City penalty area. Masson crossed to the far corner of the area, Williams took a return pass from Bowles then pulled the ball back for Francis to plant it wide to Corrigan’s left, although the made a gallant attempt to keep it out with his foot.
Three minutes before half-time Corrigan again rescued City. He magnificently came from his line to narrow the angle as Williams broke through on his own. The Rangers player’s shot cannoned back off Corrigan’s legs and Watson smashed the ball over his own bar to end further danger.
Half-time: Queens Park Rangers 1, Manchester City 1.
… Rangers were controlling the game more and it was a backs-to-the-wall battle for the Blues, although they were always dangerous on the break.
… City looked happy to settle for a draw as they were forced more and more on to the defensive.
Bowles appealed violently for a penalty when challenged by Watson and Donachie, but the referee, right on the spot, gave a corner.
A GREAT PICTURE FROM ROY OF THE ROVERS
