NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 CITY 0
League Division 1
25th March 1972
Attendance 37,460
Ref H Davey
City Healey, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Davies, Lee, Marsh – sub Towers(unused)
Newcastle McFaul, Craig, Moncur, Howard, Clark, Gibb, Green, Hibbitt, MacDonald, Tudor, Barrowclough – sub Reid(62)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
.
.
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 27TH MARCH 1972
If Manchester City do take the League Championship it could be in spite of Rodney Marsh and not because of him. It remains undeniably clear that Marsh is at present an expensive luxury desperately struggling to overcome a double barrelled handicap. He is striving to bridge the huge gulf between second and first Divisions, while at the same time attempting to impress his £200,000 value talents in the pressure can atmosphere of a side battling for the League title.
Malcolm Allison maintains City will not benefit fully from Marsh until next season, but like the man who buys a Rolls Royce to enjoy an immediate improvement in his motoring standards, a club paying so much money to boost its ranks has every right to think along similar lines.
If Manchester City do take the League Championship it could be in spite of Rodney Marsh and not because of him. It remains undeniably clear that Marsh is at present an expensive luxury desperately struggling to overcome a double barrelled handicap. He is striving to bridge the huge gulf between second and first Divisions, while at the same time attempting to impress his £200,000 value talents in the pressure can atmosphere of a side battling for the League title.
Malcolm Allison maintains City will not benefit fully from Marsh until next season, but like the man who buys a Rolls Royce to enjoy an immediate improvement in his motoring standards, a club paying so much money to boost its ranks has every right to think along similar lines.
.,
There will be inevitable comparisons between Marsh and Manchester United’s Ian Moore. However only the long term view will bring a serious conclusion to this particular point. I believe Marsh will eventually produce the goods, I sincerely hope he does so armed with a League Championship medal in his top pocket.
At Newcastle, City and Marsh failed once more to find the harmony and blend that could have stretched their lead with an extra point.
At Newcastle, City and Marsh failed once more to find the harmony and blend that could have stretched their lead with an extra point.
Newcastle might have had a safe interval lead but for some incredible goal-line escapes by City. On the other hand Ian McFaul twice saved bravely, first at the feet of Mike Doyle and then from a Mike Summerbee thunderbolt.
City did the second half pressing, but even when presented with the best chance of the game, Francis Lee, that normally devastating finisher, for once failed to find the mark.
It was Summerbee’s aggression that again provided City with most of their attacking inspiration while the command of Tommy Booth and Alan Oakes was magnificent at the back. Their was fine support from Willie Donachie and Tony Book in curbing a Newcastle side, inspired by clever Tony Green and skipper Bobby Moncur, who are always hard to beat on their home ground.
City did the second half pressing, but even when presented with the best chance of the game, Francis Lee, that normally devastating finisher, for once failed to find the mark.
It was Summerbee’s aggression that again provided City with most of their attacking inspiration while the command of Tommy Booth and Alan Oakes was magnificent at the back. Their was fine support from Willie Donachie and Tony Book in curbing a Newcastle side, inspired by clever Tony Green and skipper Bobby Moncur, who are always hard to beat on their home ground.
.
