CHELSEA 2 CITY 1
League Division 1
26 August 1972
attendance 30,845
scorers
City Mellor(46)
Chelsea Osgood(45), Houseman(83)
Ref R Tinkler
City Corrigan, Barrett, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Towers, Summerbee Bell, Mellor, Lee, Jeffries – sub Carrodus(unused)
Chelsea Bonetti, Mulligan, McCreadie, Holins, Webb, Harris, Garland, Kember, Osgood, Hudson, Cooke – sub Houseman(72)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 28TH AUGUST 1972
Manchester City manager Malcolm Allison, who has asked the FA to lift the life ban on him from coaching from the touchline, blamed inexperience and experience for his sides fourth defeat in five games at Chelsea.
The disappointing display of experienced England man Francis Lee came under fire from Allison at a post-match inquest.
He also criticised the inexperience of 19 year old Colin Barrett, Tony Book’s successor, and faulted him for one of Chelsea’s goals.
Also strongly criticised by Allison, the tackle by John Hollins that led to Derek Jeffries being carried off after 25 minutes.
It was then that Allison defied the FA ban and went down to the touchline as substitute Frank Carrodus prepared to go on.
City players kept the substitute off, but Allison stayed on the line issuing instructions for the four minutes that Jeffries needed treatment.
There were bright moments amidst the gloom. City showed more skill and flair than highly placed and rated Chelsea, and looked to be the way back to form with Jeffries and Tony Towers in top form.
Goal scorer Ian Mellor was a positive danger to the Chelsea defence all the game, he and Mike Summerbee kept plugging away, and Corrigan weighed in with two good second half saves.
And the way that Willie Donachie tamed Chelsea marksman Chris Garland, who had five goals in four games, impressed Chelsea manager Dave Sexton.