CITY 3 DERBY COUNTY 0
League Division 1
15th December 1979
attendance 27,667
Scorers Robinson(3), Henry(72), Webb(80 og)
ref – D Shaw
City Corrigan, Ranson, Donachie, Bennett, Booth, Caton, Henry, Robinson, Daley, Shinton, Power – sub Deyna(unused)
Derby McKellar, Langan, Buckley, Daly, Webb, Osggod, Emery, Powell, Duncan, Davies, Rioch – sub Emson(45)
MICK ROBINSON SCORES TO SET UP A 3-0 VICTORY
FROM AN ARTICLE BY JOHN MADDOCKS PUBLISHED IN THE CITY PROGRAMME 2ND DECEMBER 1989
… We entertained Derby County, anxious to recover from the 0-4 mauling received at Ipswich a week earlier. Donachie was recalled to left-back, Power wore the No.11 shirt, dislodging Palmer, and Shinton came into the team for Viljoen.
The welcome 3-0 victory ensured that the Blues hoisted themselves out of the bottom six in Division One, yet it wasn’t a wholly convincing one. Frankly Derby were terrible and looked a safe bet for relegation.
It took only 3 minutes for City to go ahead. Shinton and Power combined well on the left before Power evaded Buckley’s desperate tackle to put a low cross into the box which Robinson prodded home. The game then became virtually one-way traffic and everyone sat back to enjoy an anticipated goal-feast. But it never came, the Blues’ finishing being woefully inadequate. The midfield was firmly in City’s grip, Bennett, Henry and Shinton catching the eye, but for much of the game, up front it was a different matter. ‘
The Rams’ ‘keeper, McKellar, also chose this match to show off his talents to a 27,667 crowd as he was forced into a series of splendid saves due to the flimsy cover afforded him by his defence. The fans had to wait until the 72nd minute for City’s second goal, scored by Henry after Bennett and Shinton had linked skilfully. And it was after that when Corrigan was seriously tested for the first time as he tipped a Daly header over the bar.
Derby kindly scored our third goal in the closing stages, Webb helplessly sliding the ball past McKellar as he tried to cut out a right-wing Henry cross.