MANCHESTER UNITED 0 CITY 0
League Division 1
21st April 1973
attendance 61,500
Ref D Smith
City Healey, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Marsh, Lee, Towers
United Stepney, Young, James, Graham, Holton, Buchan, Morgan, Kidd, Charlton, Macari, Martin – sub Anderson
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER’S ‘VERDICT’ FROM THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 21ST APRIL 1973
City pitifully failed to find the sparkle that has stamped their last four performances and the outcome was one of the worst derby matches it has been my displeasure to see.
But the Blues were not alone in making this an abysmal match. There was too much pettiness and niggle on both sides in a match where chances were at a premium.
Any honours that were going for City must be handed to a hard working defence in which Mike Doyle had another marvellous match. Alan Oakes, too, worked tremendously hard and City did improve overall in the second half pushing United back for long periods.
City salvaged something from this shambles by stretching their unbeaten record under caretaker manager Johnny Hart to five matches from which they have taken eight points. But this was small compensation for the suffering fans who endured this 90 minute bore.
The game was a poor reward for the 61,500 gate, the highest attendance in English League football this season…