Bristol City v Manchester City friendly 1974/75

City Macrae, Hammond, Donachie, Horswill, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Marsh, Royle, Tueart – used subs Corrigan, Keegan, Pardoe

PETER GARDNER’S ‘VERDICT’ FROM THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 25TH JANUARY 1975
Joe Royle is ready to fulfill a dual role for Manchester City. He again demonstrated his worth as a goalmaker in the 2-2 friendly with Bristol City at Ashton Gate…
…It was Royle who laid on both goals as City hit back to rescue their First Division reputation in a highly entertaining match against an enterprising Bristol side.
Slapdash and careless in the first half when they allowed the Second Division side to dominate them, City paid for their mistakes by going two down in half an hour.
For once Tommy Booth looked vulnerable and the back four suffered. However, a half-time shake-up brought the Blues to life and a more determined approach saw them stage a fighting comeback.
Critical assessment of friendly match form is always difficult particularly against lower class opponents. They are inevitably the ones with something to prove as Bristol revealed in building a useful lead through Don Gillies and Shaun Penny.
Gerrard Keegan, on of three City second half subs, provided the cross from which Royle set up the chance for Dennis Tueart to pull one back, and 60 seconds later it was Royle again as he provided a great cross for Colin Bell to equalise.