CITY 1 LIVERPOOL 0
League Division 1
1st September 1971
attendance 45,144
scorer Mellor(48)
Ref Ken Burns
City Corrigan, Book, Connor, Doyle, Booth, Heslop, Summerbee, Bell, Davies, Lee, Mellor – sub Jeffries(26)
Liverpool Clemence, Lawler, Lindsay, Smith, Lloyd, Hughes, Keegan, Thompson, Heighway, Toshack, Callaghan – sub Graham(unused)
IAN MELLOR SCORES CITY’S WINNER AND TOSHACK’S HEADED EFFORT IS RULED OFFSIDE
It was a well competed match, but for the majority of the game it was bereft of real chances, but the City fans were loud in their support to the extreme. Tony Book said “I won the toss and because the new North End Terrace have got so popular with our vocal supporters, I decided to play into that goal. The crowd were really tremendous and the lads and myself were spurred on by their support. When we scored just after half time I think this was due a large extent to our fans from all over the ground rooting for us. City’s best performers were Colin Bell and Mike Doyle who drove The Blues forward but the final chance never seem to come and the teams trouped off the Maine Road pitch, goal-less at half-time. Just three minutes after the break City got the breakthrough, albeit with a touch of luck.Mike Summerbee took a corner which was headed on by Wyn Davies, the ball fell to Ian Mellor, who smashed a shot at goal, the ball hitting a Liverpool defender and looping up and over a helpless Ray Clemence to put City 1-0 up.
The scousers managed their first shot on target in the 58th minute, which Joe Corrigan comfortably saved.
It wasn’t until ten minutes, or so to go before Liverpool truly pushed for the equaliser, Corrigan making saves from Heighway and Keegan.
Liverpool’s best chance fell to John Toshack, who, after a great run down the left flank, cut in and smacked his shot against the crossbar. City had held out and successfully taken both points.