WEST BROMWICH ALBION 1 CITY 2
League Division 1
25th April 1973
attendance 21,193
Scorers
City Lee(11), Towers(?)
West Brom Astle(55)
Ref R Challis
City Healey, Book, Donachie, Doyle, Booth, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Marsh, Lee, Towers – sub Carrodus(45)
West Brom Osborne, Minton, Wilson, Cantello, Wile, Merrick, Robertson, Shaw, Astle, Hartford, Johnston – sub Brown(70)
FROM THE PRESS BOX
GERRY HARRISON WRITING IN THE TIMES 26TH APRIL 1973
Consumed by worry in the first half and driven by desperation in the second, West Bromwich Albion stumbled into the arms of relegation last night and ended a spell of 24.consecutive years in the First Division. .
Healey twice saved well from Hartford within the space of a minute; Shaw hooked wide in injury time and Albion looked a beaten side.
Their attitude in the opening moments of the second half was different, and again Healey was the key Figure. He failed to.collect a long throw-in from the left, and Shaw headed against the post with the goal unguarded. Then the goalkeeper saved from Hartford’s chip before again failing to divert Merrick’s cross. for Astle to head over him for the equalizer.
City, now drawn somewhat unwillingly into a fight, immediately hit-back. Osborne saved brilliantly from Lee and then Towers drove powerfully past him from 25. yards into the top corner. Albion were by no means finished, although fear and desperation were their guides. Healey finally broke their spirit with three superb saves in rapid succession from Astle, Shaw and Merrick. Even when City were reduced to 10 men after Booth was felled by Hartford and injured his arm the conclusion was inevitabie.
The end came peacefully. Albion go to the Second Division and Manchester City have collected 10 points from the last six games.