City 4 Birmingham City 1
December 17th 2005 att 41,343
After the last poor away performance against West Brom the City players earned a Christmas day off with a spirited win against a poor Birmingham City. Having just returned from the Far East suffering from temperatures in the 90's (old money) to visit the City of Manchester Stadium on a freezing December evening to suit a television audience I wished the person who decides these winter late kickoffs would have to suffer an evening out in the cold too!
On this display Birmingham are heading with Sunderland for relegation. The intense City pressure from the first whistle was just too much for them and ease of City's win despite the absence of Cole and Dunne was an excellent start to the Christmas programme.
December 2005
City made two changes with both Dunne and Cole suspended -in came Onuoha and Sibierski. Fowler made a rare bench appearance.
In the first few seconds City almost scored. Sibierski passed to Vassell whose shot was saved by Vaesen for a corner
From the corner taken by Jihai Sun a loose ball following a header by Sibby was pushed by Vassell into the path of David Sommeil who lashed it into the net from close range. One minute gone and City were one up.
David Sommeil was thrilled to bits with his goal as were the City faithful. We could not have wished for a better start to warm us on this bitterly cold night.
A minute or so later and City almost made it two nil. Sibierski strode through a non existent Birmingham defence and his shot beat the keeper but hit the far post and the ball was eventually cleared.
On 13 minutes Vassell's speed took him past defenders only to be brought down by the keeper. A penalty for City and a yellow card for Vaesen.
Joey Barton was entrusted with the kick and with the keeper diving the wrong way his well placed penalty put City two goals up
Jihai Sun was having lots of room to play on the left and he linked well with Sibby.
After 18 minutes a Sibieski header almost beat Vaesen - only an acrobatic save stopping City from taking a three goal lead.
City continued to press and though Steve Bruce had made early changes the visitors attack rarely put James under pressure.
Five minutes before the break City went further ahead. A Barton free-kick found the head of Sibierski who headed home.
The Birmingham defence was in tatters and Antoine Sibierski was having easily his best game since joining City.
Only 600 or so visiting supporters had turned up and several were already leaving for a cold journey back down the M6. I bet many of the others wished they had stayed at home.
James had little to do in the first half -the occasional long range shot or centre to deal with.
Vassell should have made in four ten minutes into the second half. A Barton cross caused havoc and Vassal's header went wide.
With twenty minutes to go BWP came on for Vassell and City scored their fourth, Sinclair burst down the right wing and crossed.
A beautiful cushioned header by Sibierski laid the ball for Bradley Wright-Phillips who with his first touch of the ball lashed it into the Birmingham net. Four nil and virtually game set and match.
Birmingham did get the ball into the net but the ball had gone over the goal line as the linesman pointed out.
There was late appearance for Robbie Fowler who replaced Reyna but he had little time to make his presence felt.
Bradley Wright Phillips had livened things up and City always looked likely to score more goals.
But it was Birmingham who scored a consolation goal. Jarosik who had come on after 70 minutes had plenty of time to pick his spot and beat David James from outside the box. Where was the marking?
With seconds to go Bradley Wright Phillips chased a long ball and keeper Vaesen handled the ball outside the box
The keeper got his second yellow card and was sent off. Fowler took the free-kick but his poor shot hit the defender and City ended with a well deserved comprehensive 4-1 win.
There were no weak spots in the City display. Onuoha fitted in well in the centre of defence. Sommeil continued his improving form as deputy for the injured Mills. Jihai Sun worked his socks off though some of the timing of his tackling is a little dubious. Reyna gave his quiet workmanlike display in midfield and Joey Barton was impressive too. Upfront Vassell's speed causes problems for defences and with luck he might have scored twice. Sinclair continues to sparkle on the right wing though he tired at the end. Sibierski was excellent today and a revelation at times.

Team:
James 6: Sommeil 7, Onuoha 6, Distin 7, Thatcher 6: Sinclair 7, Reyna 6 (Fowler 6), Barton 7.5, Sun 7: Sibierski 9, Vassell 7 ( Bradley Wright-Phillips 7)

Return to City 2005-2006

Wigan Athletic 4 City 3
December 26th 2005 att. 25,017
One of my few away games took me to Wigan and my first visit to the new JJB Stadium . A record attendance for the Lancashire club meant that it took for ever having left the M6 to get to the ground and only by luck did I find the car park. I easily could have ended up shopping at Tesco! Considering the result maybe that would have been better as the City defence decided that Wigan needed some late Christmas presents in a thrilling open game. My position at the back of the stand was not ideal but the Stadium is a good viewing ground and the full City contingent gave the game great atmosphere.
Though their programme was overpriced at £3 compared to the City one Wigan put on some pre match entertainment with singers and dancers. The latter not been too put off by the appearance of Moonchester anxious to get in on the act.
With Dunne and Cole returning to the squad after suspension it was somewhat surprising to see an unchanged City side with Sibierski and Onuoha keeping their place. Perhaps they were being rested for the Chelsea game!
I would have liked to show you the first goal but alas after an initial sortie into the City penalty area by Wigan a great cross from Sommeil was headed in by Sibierski just as a latecomer passed infront of me! So Sibby's header pic is someone's back! Never mind City were one up and Sibby had deserved his managers vote of confidence.
Play continued from end to end but we had early concerns with the pace of Roberts and Camara but Wigan equalised following this catch by Pollitt He threw the ball out and..........
Disaster struck just before half time . A poor defensive header by Thatcher let in Roberts whose pace and strength was too much for Distin and Wigan were in front 3-1.
Despite the defensive errors City were unchanged at half time but Pollitt was called into action several times early on.
The Wigan keeper made two great saves to keep City at bay when he first saved from Sinclair and then when the rebound ran loose he managed to block Vassells effort.
After 76 minutes a cross by Sinclair was cleared but it dropped to Barton who volleyed it into the net to make it 2-4.
Wigan 4 City 3
Distin missed kicked a through ball and let in Jason Roberts who beat James in the 11th minute.
Roberts was proving a handful. Why West Brom let him go is a mystery.
After 22 minutes Wigan were ahead. a cross from the right wing found McCullouch unmarked ( where was Sommeil) and his well placed header beat James.
Distin was having great trouble in the City defence and James had to be smart to save and moments later Distin almost gave a penalty away but referee Dermot Gallacher waved away the Wigan appeals.
Joey Barton who was proving City's best player had bad luck when his shot hit the inside of the post and came out. It was not going to be City's day
City had a hand ball turned down but their efforts came to naught.
City continued to press but Pollitt saved the day for Wigan on several occasions
In the 70th minute Dunne who had come on for Sommeil was nutmegged by Camara who went on to score and make it 4-1. Unbelievable!
City made it 3-4 after 97 minutes. Sinclair burst through and when the ball rebounded Cole ( on for Reyna) turned on the ball and shot it home. Wigan were beginning to panic now.
Sibierski had a chance from corner but headed wide and time was running out for City as the three minutes extra time was announced.
With only seconds to go City won yet another corner and David James came up to join his City colleagues but his efforts failed to get a goal and an exciting game ended with a win for Wigan 4-3 . It was a poor defensive display by City and I can never remember Distin playing so poorly. I wondered whether in retrospect City played too far up the park leaving gaps for the Wigan strikers to use. Maybe a third defender acting as a sweeper would have helped but then who would have expected Distin to have been so poor. What did he do Christmas Day! It is always easy after the event. At least City fought back after being 4-1 down.
Team
James 6: Sommeil 5 (Dunne 5), Onuoha 5, Distin 4, Thatcher 5: Sinclair 7, Reyna 5 ( Cole 7) Barton 8, Sun 5; Sibierski 6, Vassell 5

City 0 Chelsea 1
City 0 Chelsea 1
December 28th 2005 att. 46,587
I had to miss last seasons win against Chelsea so I was looking forward to this battle against the league champions. A battle it was and an improved defensive display restricted Chelsea to a single fortunate goal. I thought a goalless draw would have been a fitting result. The non appearance of SWP in the Chelsea squad was a talking point. The absence of Frank Lampard to end his run of consecutive league games was a last minute change.
The return of Cole and Dunne was expected with Reyna (injured) and Sommeil dropped out.
An impeccable minutes silence was held for those who died during the year
An early long range effort by Barton saved easily by Cech
A Duff effort goes well wide as Sun goes in to tackle
Damien Duff tried his best to break the City defence without success
The Chelsea goal had a lucky escape n the 17th minute when Bartons shot was blocked by Cech's legs
Though they tried neither Vassell or Sinclair on the flanks could make much headway against the experienced Chelsea defence
City defend a corner
A long ball evades Distin and the ball drops to Drogba who loses control and appears to be brought down by James
Drogba writhes around in agony whilst Dunne tells the ref he is putting it on, Cole and Duff try to convince the referee its a penalty but it looks like some medical advice is called for!
The joint forces of Holby City and Casualty send on a stretcher but the magic of the sponge has Drogba back on his feet apparently none the worse for wear. Yet another miracle at Christmas!
A minute later and Drogba is still explaining his miracle recovery to Mr Rennie
This time its Joey Barton's turn to be injured but he's soon up and at them
John Terry heads clear
Cech clears a loose ball to foil a City attack
Both defences were playing well and neither keeper had much to do as the first half progressed.
David James just manages to grab the ball at full stretch to foil Drogba
The half time entertainment
Joe Cole was giving Ben Thatcher plenty to think about down the right wing
Sun Jihai manages to block a centre from Cole
Terry leaps over Barton
After 58 minutes Crespo and Robben came on for Drogba and Duff - what a bench!
Barton and Thatcher keep out Gudjohnsen
Cole and Vassell had little chance to show their ability to play together
Manager Mourinho passes on some tips he got from Bobby Robson
Robben takes on the City defence
A Chelsea free kick flashes past the City goal
Robben foiled at the last minute by a save by James
With just 11 minutes to go Chelsea broke the deadlock. Gudjohnsens shot was half saved ..........
..... but the ball ran kindly for Joe Cole at the far post who scored easily.
Despite a late City effort Chelsea hung on to the final whistle and thus got their revenge for the defeat last season. The City defence played better than at Wigan but the forwards could not really make much headway against the experienced Chelsea defence. Plenty of effort but misplaced passes at vital moments let City down.
Team
James 7: Onuoha 6, Distin 7, Dunne 6, Thatcher 5: Sinclair 7 (Croft 6), Barton 8, Sun 6, Sibierski 7(Wright Phillips 6) Vassell 6 Cole 6