LEEDS UNITED 1 CITY 2
Canon League 2nd Division
24th September 1983
attendance 21,918
Scorers
City Baker(79), Parlane(86)
Leeds Ritchie(59)
Ref K Baker
City Williams, Ranson, Davies, Reid, Power, Caton, McNab, May, Parlane, Baker, Tolmie – sub Davidson(68)
Leeds Harvey, Thomas, F Gray, Burns, Brown, Dickenson, Sheridan, McCluskey, Ritchie, Donnelly, Gavin – sub Wright(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 26TH SEPTEMBER 1983
It’s easy to define the secret of Manchester City’s Second Division success, the Blues no longer accept the word defeat exists.
Manager Billy McNeill has instilled a never-say-die spirit that has twice seen the side grittily fight back from a goal down in two successive away fixtures.
That is something that has been missing in recent years and which was a significant reason for relegation last term.
Depitetrailing to Andy Ritchie’s 59th minute goal at Elland Road on Saturday, there was never any real fear City might lose their grip on a fast, entertaining and action-crammed thriller.
Leeds United boss Eddie Gray put his finger on it when he said after City’s 2-1 victory: “They worked extremely hard, especially after going a goal down.”
And McNeill added: “We never accept that we might be defeated. The thought no longer enters our mind.”
On that basis and with two more points away from home than at Maine Road, City must ultimately emerge the red hot favourites to make an immediate First Division return.
There is the ever present danger of complacency in a Second Division where I have yet to see a team to fear, but the disciplined management of McNeill and his right hand man Jimmy Frizzell is such that they will never allow this threat to materialise.
Even the loss of the dependable Kevin Bond failed to unsettle City, although it took Tommy Caton and Nicky Reid time to come to grips ewith the difficult Leeds front runners, Ritchie and George McCluskey.
Leeds, too, played into the hands of City, employing a sweeper system and without a right back, which enabled Paul Power and Ian Davies to enjoy a virtual field day on City’s left flank.
In fact, City used the flanks to extreme advantage, building up in a delightful four-man move instigated by Ray Ranson and followed through by Jim Tolmie and substitute Duncan Davidson, for Graham Baker to hit a crisp equaliser, his second goal of the season.
And it was from the left that Tolmie launched the cross that enabled Derek Parlane to maintain his goal-a-game scoring record, heading the vital winner, and his 7th so far, 4 minutes from the end.
Baker again had a marvellous match, revelling in the role of sittng in the centre of the midfield.
Neil McNab too, was outstanding, although he almost blotted his copy book with a last gasp, suicidal back pass.
Only the defensive defiance of uncompromising Kenny Burns and the brilliance of Leeds goalkeeper David Harvey prevented City making it a more convincing victory.