WEST HAM UNITED 0 CITY 0
League Division 1
20th February 1971
attendance 30,168
Ref E Wallace
City Corrigan, Book, Towers, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Jeffries, Young, Lee, Hill, Bowyer – sub Mann(unused)
West Ham Ferguson, McDowell, Lampard, Bonds, Taylor, Moore, Redknapp, Boyce, Hurst, Eustace, Greaves
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 22ND FEBRUARY 1970
Manchester City kicked over the traces of their miserable cup defeat with a performance that merited more than a point from the goalless draw at West Ham.
Only the brilliant goalkeeping of Bobby Ferguson deprived them of a notable victory in a match that saw Derek Jeffries play a hero’s part in curbing the menace of World Cup star Geoff Hurst.
Only twice did Hurst slip Jeffries, but each time his finishing was as ineffective as City’s efforts against Arsenal last week.
There was a new, invigorating urgency about City, particularly up front where Neil Young was again the best forward. Francis Lee weighed in with aggressive support and Ian Bowyer, too, bravely battled to break the deadlock in an always interesting clash between sporting sides.
It was Lee and Bowyer who brought the best from £65,000 Ferguson, while Mike Doyle also saw his fine headed effort saved by Britain’s costliest goalkeeper who is at last living up to that reputation.
Doyle and Alan Oakes contrived to win the midfield in atrocious conditions, while skipper Tony Book defended stubbornly, completely rubbing out Jimmy Greaves, the West Ham striker who was seeking a goal to celebrate his 31st birthday.