CITY 1 ARSENAL 1
League Division 1
3rd February 1968
attendance 42,392
scorers
City Lee(69)
Arsenal Graham(56)
Ref K Howley
City Mulhearn, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Lee, Bell, Summerbee, Young, Coleman – sub Connor(unused)
Arsenal Furnell, Simpson, Storey, McLintock, Neill, Ure, Redford, Gould, Graham, Sammels, Armstrong
FRANCIS LEE (OUT OF SHOT) SCORES CITY’S GOAL
FROM THE PRESS BOX
CITY HOPES CRASH ON URE STUMBLIMG BLOCK
Francis Lee’s freak goal in the 70th minute of a fluctuating stop-go game prevented Manchester City from being completely wiped out of the League title race.
Now the last chance to peg back Manchester United’s huge lead of six points must be taken at Old Trafford in five days time if the Blues are to cling by their finger tips and retain an outside interest in the championship gallop.
City came very near to stumbling to a second successive home defeat against a competent, but negative Arsenal side who had to thank that superb defensive strategist, Scottish international Ian Ure, for virtually obliterating the menace of City’s attacking weapon, Mike Summerbee.
Even when Summerbee scuttled out to hois one time right wing position, he failed to completely throw off the shadow that blonde bombshell Ure cast over him.
However it was from this position that Summerbee proved to be more effective in a secind half wghich saw City jerked to life at the sight of George Graham calmly shooting Arsenal ahead with a 58th minute goal after the Gunners’ expensive newcomer, £90,000 Bobby Gould, had made his only constructive contribution to a mixed debut that ended with him having his name taken.
City’s smooth goal scoring machine was never able to fire on all five cylinders against a defence brilliantly marshalled by the domineering Ure and Irish international Terry Neill who spent most of the time at right back attending to lively Tony Coleman.
The Blues had their moments to clinch both points, particurlarly Summerbee and Neil Young, but excellent chances were scorned.
