Birmingham City v Manchester City 1978/79

birmingham away 1978 to 79 prog

BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 CITY 2

League Division 1

7th October 1978

attendance 18,378

scorers
City
Kidd(1), R Futcher(27)
Birmingham Ainscow(64)

Ref M Sinclair

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Booth, watson, Kidd, Channon, Owen, R Futcher, Hartford, Barnes – sub Henry(60)
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.Birmingham Montgomery, Van den Hauwe, Dennis, Dillon, Gallagher, Towers, Page, Ainscow, Givens, Emmanuel, Barrowclough – sub Fox(86)
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“OUR LAST VISIT” An article from The City programme 14th March 1981
Winger Peter Barnes put behind him the embarrassment of a mid-week substitution in a League Cup tie at Blackpool to reveal the dazzling side of his talents and lay on goals for Brian Kidd (40 secs.) and Ron Futcher (27 mins). which always had the Blues assured of victory despite a reply from Ainscow (64th min.). Barnes gave 17 year old debutant right back Van Den Hauwe a difficult time and showed the mood he was in straight from the kick off by popping the ball between the spread legs of Ainscow, elegantly easing round his man and crossing. Kidd arrived on cue at the far post but since the ball was too high for his boot and too low for his head he simply kneed it home. Van Den Hauwe was caught 30 yards the wrong side of the action when Barnes picked up a long pass from Kidd, centred unchallenged, and Futcher made a winning far post header. Birmingham’s response came when Ainscow fired in after Gallagher headed an Emmanuel free kick across the face of the goal.
By this time, however, City had lost Barnes through a thigh injury (60th min.) following the heavy buffeting he took, the damage being done by an earlier Page tackle.
Mike Channon, looking more settled in the side, had a ‘goal’ disallowed soon after the interval because of an offside decision against Barnes and it was amazing that City didn’t hammer home their advantages to greater effect. Their first half play of skill and enthusiasm deserved it, but at the end they were grateful to hang on.
Praise belonged to Kidd, in fine form playing a midfield role in the absence of injured Paul Power, and especially to Barnes, full of skill and a tormentor of the home defence.
Birmingham striker Givens was booked.
“It was Barnes’s best game of the season, and he knew it when he came off” complimented City manager Tony Book after.
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