CITY 2 COVENTRY CITY 3
League Cup 3rd Round
13th October 1965
Attendance 18,113.
Scorers
City Pardoe(23), Crossan(73)
Coventry Hudson(5), Clements(60), Oakes(90 og)
Ref R Windle
City Dowd, Kennedy, Sear, Cheetham, Heslop, Oakes, Summerbee, Crossan, Pardoe, Brand, Young
Coventry Wesson, Kearns, Harris, Farmer, Curtis, Hill, Rees, Hale, Hudson, Roberts, Clements
The outcome of a third round League Cup-tie was one which gave rise to supporters saying, “Well, that’s City for you!” And they didn’t mean the visitors from Coventry.
After the convincing victory over Leicester City in the previous round, the Manchester Sky Blues were favourites to progress, but that was to overlook the vagaries of the home defence.
The Midlanders took the lead while latecomers were still arriving at their seats. Manchester-born striker George Hudson beat ‘keeper Harry Dowd with a fine individual effort, and it wasn’t until the 23rd minute that Glyn Pardoe equalised with another good strike.
Our Blues then started to dictate the game, with Mike Summerbee and Neil Young on the wings tormenting their respective full backs, Mick Kearns and Alan Harris. A string of exceptional crosses reached the middle, but in those days, City had no Wyn Davies-type who might take advantage of them.
Dave Clements restored the Coventry lead on the hour, though City clawed that goal back through skipper Johnny Crossan with 17 minutes to go. We went all out for the winner with George Curtis heading a Young shot from off the line and Crossan hitting the bar.
Everything looked set for a Highfield Road replay until tragedy struck in the last minute. “Mr Dependable” Alan Oakes swivelled round and hit a back pass to Harry Dowd. To his horror, he found the City `keeper just behind him, yards from the goalmouth, and Harry scurried back to try to prevent the ball from crossing the line. He failed – and City were out of the Cup.
ADAPTED FROM AN ARTICLE IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 4TH OCTOBER 1995