SWANSEA CITY 0 CITY 2
Friendly
7th August 1972
attendance ???
scorers Marsh(57), Lee(60)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 8TH AUGUST 1972
Four days to soccer’s big kick-off and Manchester City have both first team full backs under treatment.
A third defender is also out of action to leave manager Malcolm Allison with an anxious wait before he can name a side for Saturday’s opening test against Liverpool at Anfield.
Scottish international Willie Donachie is the biggest doubt. He damaged his left ankle ligaments in the FA Charity Shield victory over Aston Villa at the weekend and his fitness will be in doubt almost until Saturday.
Now club captain Tony Book and defensive anchor man Tony Towers are also under treatment. They were injured in the last match of City’s eight match build-up programme, a 2-0 victory over Third Division Swansea at Vetch Field last night.
… Book received a knock on a knee and Towers went off with a bruised ankle during another useful workout against the Welsh side, for who City youngsters Jeffrey, Johnson and Keith Hanvey, on a “lease lend” contract with Swansea looked impressive.
However, it was again the brilliance of a goalkeeper that defied City in a game where £200,000 Rodney Marsh cut loose with some fine touches. On Saturday it was Aston Villa’s Jim Cumbes who stood between City and the more convincing victory.
Last night Welsh international Tony Millington pulled off a string of miraculous saves.
City’s midfield effort was again the most impressive feature with Colin Bell, Mike Doyle, and Mike Summerbee creating a host of chances.
Book, before his departure at half time, looked as polished as ever, while Francis Lee revealed he had shaken off the effects of the ankle injury that had threatened to keep him out.
Said Allison: “I wasn’t going to play Francis at first, but he was anxious to turn out for the vital match practice.”
All turned out well for Lee as he drove in City’s second goal three minutes after Marsh, from Doyle’s prompting had opened the scoring in the 57th minute.