City Law(18 & 90), Bell(59)
Birmingham Hatton(37)
Birmingham D Latchford, Martin, Pendrie, Page, Hynd, Burns, Campbell, Francis, R Latchford, Hatton, Talor – sub Calderwood
Denis Law gave an honest reaction to his shock transfer from the Reds on the eve of the 1973/74 season, as he prepared to make his second debut in the sky blue of City.
“lt will be really great going back to my old club. But I can tell you that if City hadn’t made a bid for me, l would have packed in the game’.
He had signed for a single season, with an option for a second, after being given a free from Old Trafford.
New City manager Johnny Hart admitted taking a gamble on the man he wanted to join Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Mike Summerbee and the unsettled Rodney Marsh to make an irresistible front line.
“Both Denis and myself stand to be shot at,” added Hart, alluding to the gamble he was taking.
Immediately Marsh was removed from the transfer list and Law scored his first goal for the first team in a pre-season game versus Oldham.
City launched the season with a home defeat against Burnley in the Charity Shield, but, as the sun came out over an expectant Maine Road a week later, the scene was set for a memorable City performance and a tingling display from Law.
More than 34,000 made their way to the old ground to witness Law’s home-coming and they were soon singing his praises as he put the Blues ahead against Birmingham, swinging his right foot at a headed pass from Colin Bell at the North Stand end, after Marsh and Lee had combined down the left flank.
By half time the Brummies were level after Trevor Francis ran at the City rearguard down the right flank and, beating them with a combination of pace and trickery, crossed low for Bob Hatton to deflect into the net.
Then came the moment of the match. With Birmingham beginning to tire in the sun and City beginning to showboat. the ball fell to Rodney Marsh on the Kippax side of Birmingham’s penalty area. He brought the ball under control and waited for the defender, Roger Hynd, to face him properly, before wafting his foot over the ball, as if he didn’t quite know what he was going to do with it, .
Suitably off balance, Hynd fell to one side as Marsh dummied again and went the other, crossing to the far post with his left foot, where Law climbed to head home his second of the game.
“The perfect finish to Denis Law’s perfect day,” chirruped a young John Motson on that night’s Match of the Day and few could argue. Law’s double set City off to a good start to the season…
It was a very memorable day for me- Denis leaving Utd was a shock as I had been a boyhood and young man fan throughout that time and I assumed he would retire or go down the leagues. Signing for CITY was a surprise and to score twice on his second debut was magic; Deliiberately stayed into watch MOD.