Portsmouth v Manchester City friendly 1974/75

City Macrae, Hammond, Pardoe, Donachie, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Keegan, Marsh, Barnes, Tueart – subs used Horswill, Clarke

FROM THE PRESS BOX

BOY BLUES DROP TITLE RACE HINT

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS FOOTBALL PINK FINAL 15TH FEBRUARY 1975
Teenagers Peter Barnes and Gerrard Keegan are ready to challenge for first team places in Manchester City’s last lap challenge bid.
They proved their worth as City firmly held off a fighting Portsmouth rally in a 3-3 Fratton Park draw last night.
… Keegan in particular, looked impressive when given the unique opportunity of a second chance in one match.
An original starter for the injury-crippled Blues, he was taken off at half-time but returned later when Mike Summerbee limped off to become yet another casualty.
And it was in this period that Keegan was at his best, defending stubbornly one minute and going forward aggressively the next.
Barnes too, buzzed as the Blues twice fought back from being a goal down to the spirited and enterprising Second Division side who were spearheaded intelligently by George Graham, the former Manchester United skipper.
Barnes scored City’s third goal and would have clinched victory five minutes from the end but shot straight at the goalkeeper when trying to place his drive.
City playing at half pace, for most of the time, showed their greater class and skill in an exhibition display.
… Skipper Rodney Marsh scored a spectacular goal with a thunderous shot, only for Portsmouth’s Norman Piper. an industrious and intelligent midfield player, on whom Malcolm Allison had eyes in his days as Maine Road boss, to score one almost as good.
Though Keith Macrae made Portsmouth a gift of the first goal, his handling improved later but goalkeeping remains a thorny problem for Book.