CITY 2 LEEDS UNITED 1
League Division 1
8th April 1977
attendance 47,727
Scorers
City Kidd(38 & 65)
Leeds Jordan(17)
Ref K Burns
City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Doyle, Watson, Booth, Barnes, Kidd, Royle, Hartford, Tueart – sub Keegan(unused)
Leeds Stewart, Reaney, Hampton, Cherry, McQueen, Madeley, F Gray, Lorimer, Jordan, Currie, E Gray
FROM THE PRESS BOX
DOUBLE STRIKE KIDD ANSWERS CALL
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 9TH APRIL 1977
Strength and character, rather than any subtle skills saw Manchester City labour to an unconvincing victory at the outset of the demanding Easter programme.
It was no mean feat, coming from behind to beat Leeds United 2-1, but the truth is that this was the Blues’ lucky day with any favours owing them doubly repaid at Maine Road yesterday.
Yet on reflection, if City can play as bad and still get away with both points they have got to be in with a chance of some reward at the end of the season.
Even manager Tony Book admitted: “We never got going in the first half, but the important thing is that character ultimately carried us through a difficult game against opponents who are extremely hard to break down.”
City’s initial problem stemmed from the inability of a new-look line-up incorporating defender Mike Doyle and striker Brian Kidd in a strange looking midfield link to blend with any real cohesion.
Doyle, in particular, looked strangely miscast and he struggled to find his feet in the first game following a month’s injury lay-off. Once an aggressive player in this role, Doyle in recent years has really found his position as the solid defensive anchorman.
However, his inclusion followed Book’s reluctance to split up the new back four pairing of Dave Watson and Tommy Booth.
And in the circumstances, it was a sound decision for both Watson and Booth again forged an effective partnership that eventually helped to turn the tide City’s way.
Overall, the Blues just about deserved victory, their third League double of the season. But it could never be described as a championship quality display.
Chances were again thrown away with Royle missing at least two gilt-edged openings and Dennis Tueart scorned another.
In the end, City had to rely on two from Kidd, ironically answering Book’s call for more goals from midfield men. And there was a shade of luck about both of them, although at this stage of the title run-in it doesn’t matter how they are scored so long as they count.
City’s redeeming feature was there will to win follow the loss of that early goal when Joe Jordan headed in a Peter Lorimer cross.
And their fight was never better personified than by Kenny Clements. After a struggling start against Eddie Gray, the most effective and skilful player on the field, Clements emerged to give a fine display in a defence in which Willie Donachie also recovered after a shaky opening spell.
