COVENTRY CITY 2 CITY 1
League Division 1
30th August 1989
Attendance 16,111
Scorers
City White(19)
Coventry Gynn(55), Smith(90)
Ref R Nixon
City Cooper, Fleming, Hinchcliffe, Bishop, Gayle, Redmond, White, Allen, Morley, McNab, I Brightwell – Subs Megson(unused), Oldfield(unused)
Coventry Ogrizovic, Borrows, Dobson, Emerson, Kilcline, Peake, Gynn, Speedie, Regis, Bannister, Smith – Subs McGuire(unused), Billing(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
IAN RIDLEY WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN 31ST AUGUST 1989
It only takes a second to score a goal as Brian Clough once said and as Hillsborough and Highfield Road saw in last minute drama last night. And in the instant that David Smith netted Coventry were on top of the First Division for the first time in their 106 year history.
This gave Coventry their third victory in four matches and sent Manchester City, bright, attacking and seemingly the likelier winners for most of the game, to their third defeat in four matches.
With the score at 1-1 City broke through regularly in an open match, open because Coventry’s midfield were just so as they failed to cope with the busy and inventive Bishop and the industrious McNab.
Allen, looking for his first goal since his move from Bordeaux was twice just wide and Ogrizovic saved fortuitously at the second attempt from Brightwell as the ball looked to be crossing the line. “We keep hitting the goalkeeper,” bemoaned the City manager Mel Machin afterwards.
When Smith seized on a chance created by Regis, shooting home from six yards, it was the sort of event that Manchester City sufferers have seen too often; they are accustomed to their side’s defensive frailty.
City had taken the lead for the third consecutive match through their most potent attacking move, a wickedly in-swinging corner from Hinchcliffe which White headed home at the far post in the 19th minute.
Coventry, largely ineffective due to the shackling of Speedy, got back into the match after 55 minutes when Gynn, accepted Regis’s flick and drove home from 18 yards.