 |
| Manchester
United
| 0-3
| CITY |
| |
|
Barnes 24,
(P) 51, Barras 53 |
| Attendance: 29,049 |
|
 |
CITY: Kiely,
McMillan, Hall, Pepper, Tutill, Barras, Murty, Williams, Barnes (Atkin 89),
Peverell (Baker 67), Jordan. Sub (not used):
Warrington.
Booked: Pepper 67 (foul). Sent-off:
Baker 75 (second offence)
Man Utd:
Pilkington, Parker, Irwin, McGibbon, Pallister, P Neville (Cooke 46), Davies
(Bruce 58), Beckham, Sharpe, McClair, Giggs. Sub (not used):
Tomlinson.
Booked: Beckham 35 (foul). Sent-off:
McGibbon 50 (professional foul)
Referee: Jim
Rushton (Stoke on Trent)
Shots on target: CITY
5, United 5.
Corners: CITY 3, United 8.
[ Photos on this page available from the Evening Press. For more information,
contact: photosales@ycp.co.uk
]
This was not only a night to
savour for every single City fan in the whole world, it was also a night for
every non-Manchester United fan up and down the country to bask in City's
glory after completing an unbelievable 3-0 victory over eventual double
winners Manchester United. It was also a night when millions of whinging
glory-hunters from just about anywhere other than Manchester were silenced.
United put out one of their
strongest sides with the intent of mauling City but the tables were turned as
City, assembled at a cost of just over £100,000 and with odds of 20-1 to win,
gave Alex Ferguson's men a footballing lesson.
Manchester United chose to make
just two changes to their side that had
thrashed Premiership Bolton a few days earlier with Pat McGibbon making his
full debut in place of Steve Bruce and Kevin Pilkington making only his second
appearance for the reds as Alex Ferguson made a brave decision to rest Peter
Schmeichel ahead of United's European Cup conquest - a decision which was to
backfire on him. City fielded an unchanged side from the one that had beaten
Swansea 1-0 at the Vetch Field the previous Saturday with the Minstermen lying
just second from bottom in 23rd place in the second division.
A sell-out crowd of 29,049 - with
one stand under construction, included a massive 5,000 strong army of City
fans and they helped cheer on their heroes to glory.
City settled quickly and made a
steady and solid start, having the best of the early attacking chances and
almost sneaked ahead after just a couple of minutes when long-range
specialist, Scott Jordan, curled a shot just over Kevin Pilkington's cross-bar
after good work from Graeme Murty, Darren Williams and Paul Barnes. Barnes was
causing McGibbon all kinds of problems with his clever play whilst at the
back, Tutill and Barras were dependable as usual, coping well with United's
attacks and snuffing out any signs of danger.
City had another chance minutes
later when Andy McMillan put in a deep cross which found Barnes but the
five-goal striker fired wide and then the Minstermen came even closer still as
a 25-yard free-kick from Nigel Pepper screamed agonisingly wide of the
upright. At the other end all United could muster in the way of scoring
chances was a tame header over the bar from Gary Pallister following a corner.
United could hardly believe what was happening as City continued to out-class
the English champions and the reds were made to sweat again as Graeme Murty
made space in the box but his low shot was blocked by Paul Parker.
Gradually
City were forced to defend deeper and deeper as United began to get their
attacking game together although their shooting had obviously gone to pot as
Sharpe blazed over and then Giggs managed to miss an open goal from a couple
of yards. The Premiership side did manage to force Dean Kiely into one
spectacular save, however, when McClair's nimble header from Beckham's cross
forced the 'keeper into a brilliant save at full stretch as he tipped the ball
over the bar. From the resulting corner, Gary Pallister headed over when
well-placed, once again. United had one further chance minutes later as Ryan
Giggs ran through but the Welsh 'wizard's sorcery came to nothing as he wasted
the chance, spending too much time dwelling on the ball.
Those misses were to prove costly
for United as City sensationally took the lead moments later as Phil Neville's
poor control allowed Graeme Murty to
steal in and the pacey winger played a great ball to Barnes who turned
brilliantly and then from all of 25 yards the striker unleashed a powerful
shot which may have taken the slightest of deflections on the way towards goal
but it was enough to fool dozey keeper Pilkington who managed to somehow dive
over the ball and the ball squirmed away from the feminine-looking keeper's
grasp, sending jubilant City fans wild and simultaneously shocking the
footballing world. Arrogant United fans and players alike were clearly rattled
but in truth it was no more than City deserved for their gallant efforts.
As half time approached, it was
City who were continuously causing United problems as United struggled to get
to grips with City's solid midfield, which saw David Beckham booked as United
became increasingly frustrated by City's flowing football. On the one
occasion, in the remainder of the half, that they did manage to venture
forward Ryan Giggs blasted high and wide to the delight of City fans whilst
York gave the reds' fans a huge scare as Nicky Peverell tormented debutant Pat
McGibbon before charging down a clearance from 'keeper Pilkington but
fortunately for United, the former Hartlepool striker was forced wide and the
chance went begging.
I
n
the second half, United, on the back of five consecutive Premiership wins,
started to put City under intense pressure with Ryan Giggs causing York's
defence all kinds of problems but they were still unable to break York's
resistance and the pressure was soon relieved moments later as the Minstermen
doubled their lead
Andy McMillan picked up the ball in
his own half and played a fantastic long ball from deep which found Paul Barnes
who got in front of McGibbon and the young defender panicked and as Barnes homed
in on goal, McGibbon committed a professional foul inside the penalty area and
there was never any doubt that the Irishman would be sent off and that a penalty
would awarded to City - despite ignorant protests from big-headed halfwits like
Beckham. Barnes picked himself up and stroked home the resulting penalty in
style, sending Pilkington the wrong way from the spot.
And if that was hard enough to believe for football
fans around the world, it wasAt this stage City were toying with United as the
European giants almost went four down moments later as Nicky Peverell burst
through the shaky United back three but, staring glory in the face, he shot over
the bar when well placed inside the area.
United brought on Steve Bruce to
tighten up their defence but within minutes of coming on, Bruce found himself
rounding his own 'keeper as Pilkington once again dithered and had it not been
for Bruce, Peverell would have made amends for his miss moments earlier. City
should definitely have found themselves sitting on a four goal advantage
moments later however as Darren Williams dissected the reds' international
backline for Barnes to smash the ball past Pilkington but linesman, Mr Haxby,
who had not put a foot wrong all night (despite the opinions of a handful of
United fans - obviously oblivious to football), ruled that Barnes had strayed
offside although video evidence later proved that Barnes' third should have
been allowed to stand and City's victory should've been even more emphatic.
to get better still as City fans were left pinching themselves as moments later
City scored a third as Pallister fouled Peverell 40 yards out and Pepper's free
kick was met with a firm header from Tony Barras who beat dozey keeper
Pilkington to the ball and send City fans into dreamland as they taunted the
shocked United fans with chants of "what's it like to be outclassed?"
and the ultimate insult - 'are you Scarborough in disguise?'
when both seemed certain to score and even with ten men, after Paul Baker had
received two highly debatable bookings after coming on as sub, City held out
and even had one further chance to increase their lead as Pilkington once
again hesitated and Williams' almost nipped in to head a fourth but was denied
by the young 'keeper. Afterwards, club officials declared the win was the
greatest achievement in the club's 74-year history, as City had not only
beaten one of, if not the best club in football, but comprehensively thrashed
them.