CITY 3 COVENTRY CITY 0
League Division 1
22nd September 1979
attendance 30,869
scorers Robinson(4 & 20), MacKenzie(42)
ref Alan Saunders
City Corrigan, Ranson, Donachie, Bennett, Stepanovic, Caton, Futcher, MacKenzie, Daley, Power, Robinson – sub Silkman(unused)
Coventry Sealey, Roberts, McDonald, Blair, Holton, Gillespie, Hutchison, Wallace, Ferguson, Powell, Hunt – sub English(unused)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 22ND SEPTEMBER 1979
Malcolm Allison tore up his defensive blueprint and earned a rapid payoff as Manchester City smashed to a 3-0 half-time lead.
… And it was thanks to two of his recent signings, worth between them a cool million.
It was Mick Robinson (£750,000) who struck up the double scoring in the 4th and 20th minutes, providing the bottom-placed Blues with the confidence boost they need to start climbing the table.
Robinson’s first was a clear cut affair and though some controversy clouded the second. I gave it to the number 9 despite some claims that Jim Holton, the former Manchester United defender, had turned it into his own net.
The Blues, abandoning a sweeper and playing in a more fluid 4-4-2 formation played in greater spirit than in recent weeks and went further ahead three minutes before half-time, with a great goal from young Steve MacKenzie, Allison’s £275,000 summertime signing.
Despite a bright and sunny afternoon the crowd was on the thin side and was only approaching the 30,000 mark when the teams came out,
Stepanovic, looking as though he was going to play a midfield role instead of his usual sweeper position, linked up early on with Bennett but it was Coventry who posed the first threat, Wallace driving the ball in from the right.
The shot took a deflection and Corrigan was sent scrambling to his knees to gather the ball at the foot of the near post.
… However in the 4th minute the Blues were given a tremendous boost by racing into an early lead with a goal taken skilfully on the break.
Donachie made a dazzling run from the defence, racing right to the edge of the Coventry penalty area before blasting in a shot that Sealey could only desperately palm away. As the ball broke loose Robinson saw his chance and raced in to push the ball into an empty net.
… Coventry began to turn on the pressure, Futcher did well to hold off McDonald and Wallace, as they looked for a space for a shot just inside the City penalty area.
… Robinson had the ball in the net for the second time in the 18th minute, but seconds earlier the referee had blown penalising the City striker who had unfairly challenged Sealey as they both went up for a Donachie free kick.
Two minutes later, the big City player did increase City’s lead, and another good goal it was too.
This time, Power did the spade work with a splendid run down the left and when he crossed low, Robinson turned the ball in past Sealey, connecting with the centre as he ran in.
It was the dream start that City desperately needed in their determined bid to climb off the bottom of the First Division.
… Three minutes before half time, the blistering Blues moved further ahead. With spirit at peak pitch. Donachie found Stepanovic and the Yugoslav international rolled the ball inside for MacKenzie to turn sharply and score with a polished low shot, his first goal at Maine Road.
Half time: Manchester City 3 Coventry City 0.
City, who had been given a standing ovation as they went off, were just as warm received when they came back for the second half.
But the Blues were immediately under pressure as Roberts came racing in from the right. It took a magnificent challenge by Caton to stop the Coventry full back.
Hutchison then crossed from the right to left but Ranson saw the danger and came across to clear, setting up Bennett for a spirited right flanking run.
… City hit back with probably the sweetest most skilful move of the match, which should have certainly ended with a goal.
MacKenzie, ten yards inside the Coventry half, floated the ball into space on the left and Power took advantage, closing in to pin point an accurate centre from which Bennett got in a powerful header. Unluckily the young City striker was denied, as Sealey made a superb save.
… Coventry were still dangerous. When Roberts crossed, Wallace headed the ball on for Hunt whose low drive on the turn was just pushed behind by Corrigan.
City were not nearly as effective now, but their grip on the game remained water tight…
