SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 CITY 1
League Division 1
18th January 1969
Attendance 33,074
Scorers
City Young
Wednesday Smith
Ref Jack Taylor
City Dowd, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Lee, Owen, Young, Coleman – sub Bowles(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 20TH JANUARY 1969
Tony Book completed his tough two match comeback schedule with a display that finally proved the Manchester City skipper is ready to lead the Blues’ big push for Cup glory in five days’ time.
This was never better revealed than in the bruising 15 minute blitz City had to endure in the 1-1 draw at Hillsborough when Sheffield Wednesday’s physical force threatened to drive the opposition back over the Pennines in one mammoth swoop.
City survived this bombardment with calm, thanks to Book’s drive and leadership, the power of Alan Oakes, and the combined talents of young Tommy Booth, who never ceases to amaze with the quality and consistency of his performances.
Only a long range drive from full back Wilf Smith, his first ever goal for Wednesday, beat City, but that was quickly wiped out as Booth revealed his attacking capabilities by moving forward to set up the chance from which Francis Lee’s shot was blocked and Neil Young scored from the rebound.
… The first 45 minutes saw the Blues delicately striding over a heavy surface, with Lee constantly buzzing in attack. And his superb free kick just before the break deserved better reward than a smudge on the crossbar.
Young twice might have sealed up both points for City, once when he weaved through cleverly but finished tamely and then again with a last gasp cross from which Bobby Owen saw his shot turned over.