CITY 5 SHEFFIELD UNITED 2
League Division 1
16th September 1967
attendance 31,922
scorers
City Young(11), Summerbee(12), Bell(14), Bowles(44 & 55)
Sheff U Woodward(39), Reece(49)
Ref T Pallister
City Dowd, Book, Pardoe, Doyle, Heslop, Oakes, Hince, Bell, Summerbee, Bowles, Young – sub Horne(unused)
Sheff Utd Hodgkinson, Badger, Shaw, Munks, Matthewson, Mallender, Woodward, Fenoughty, Jones, Birchenall, Reece – sub Cliff
NEIL YOUNG SCORES
FROM THE PRESS BOX
The focus of Manchester’s immediate football interest has transferred itself across the city; it may, indeed. be only ephemeral, but the manner of Manchester City’s destruction of Sheffield United on Saturday hinted that, at Maine Road at least, they are intent that they should linger more enduringly.
One hesitates, on initial acquaintance this season, to be too emphatic that City have grown immune to their bouts of unpredictability, especially when judgements must be based on their showing against such frail opposition as that Sheifield United offered.
MIKE SUMMERBEE MAKES IT 2-0
Figures present a convincing argument though; six matches won in succession, 20 goals scored -within that span, and such abundant confidence and understanding as showed itself on Saturday, represents eloquent persuasion. And the novelty of jostling with the likes of Liverpool and Torrenham at the head of the league could only heighten their stature.
Much of the.transformation in Manchester City’s fortunes comes from the switch of Summerbee from the wing to centre forward; he is fast, eluslve, loth to be denied, and Sheffield found him much too troublesome a handful.
IT’S 3 AS COLIN BELL SCORES
Badger chose to reshape his role as the match progressed, and United slipped even further into the shadows. He took on a midfield linking role, trying to inject some method and purpose into the Sheffield attack, but the inside
forward and wing halves were to occupied with their own problems to offer more than fleeting support, Reece and Woodward responded occasionally. but Jones, left to fend for himself, could make no impression on Heslop
It was all but a token retaliation, a futile groping to salve some semblance of dignity, for Manchester City had crushed the breath out of them in a devastating two minute spell early in the match.
irst, Young touched home Bowles‘s pass. then Summerbee headed in Bell’s centre, and while they still reeked under the onslaught Bell headed another. What Hodgkinson and his colleagues were doing while havoc heaped upon them will no doubt be the subject of searching and critical analysis at Bramall Lane.
Thus primed, Manchester City’s confidence knew no bounds and United were scurrying everywhere to hold them. Woodward did manage to reduce the margin after 39 minutes but Bowles restored the lead near the interval and added the fifth with a fine shot on the hour.
STAN BOWLES GRABS A BRACE
What a remarkable first appearance it was for 18 year old Bowles; few had even heard of him before he took over as substitute and scored two goals in last Wednesday‘s Football League tie against Leicester City. His two goals on Saturday could well have four, but for Hodgkinson’s second half agility.
Reece scored a second for United but no one imagined for a moment that it might threaten City’s firm grip on aflairs; indeed, speculation dwelt on what toll this ebullient side might take of their visitors from Old Trafford in two weeks‘ time.
TOM GERMAN WRITING IN THE TIMES 18TH SEPTEMBER 1967
This was the first city match I ever went to …… I was 10.