MIDDLESBROUGH 0 CITY 2
League Division 1
27th December 1977
Attendance 26,879
scorers Hartford, Owen
Ref A Jenkins
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Booth, Watson, Owen, Barnes, Bell, Kidd, Hartford, Palmer – sub Doyle(unused)
From 50 YEARS OF MANCHESTER CITY, THE BEST AND WORST OF EVERYTHING by STEVE MINGLE
City kicked off at Ayresome Park with their fans still in a state of euphoria after Colin Bell’s emotional comeback 24 hours earlier. Bell was named in City’s starting line-up for the Boro game and acquitted himself admirably, raising hopes of a return to the glory days. The king set up the second and clinching goal for Gary Owen, but the highlight of the afternoon was City’s first half opener.
Asa Hartford had been consistently excellent for City ever since he arrived in 1974, his achilles heel being his notoriously wayward shooting. It never stopped him trying when the opportunity presented itself, even if some City fans would instinctively turn their eyes away whenever he drew his foot back in anger. On this occasion, though, he produced an absolute stunner, picking the ball up 30 yards out and smacking a ferocious dipping shot into the top corner. It put City on the way to their second win in two days.