City v Wolves

The rearranged game against Wolves on a freezing evening with fog lurking in the background was disappointing in many respects. With City in third place and Wolves in second we were hoping for a football fiesta. Some hopes ! Some of the Wolves players were more intend in kicking city off the 'park' than playing football and referee Riley had a busy time sending off Lescott just before half time for a dreadful foul on Benarbia who probably had his worse game for City since he arrived.

With rumors abound regarding the absence of Weaver from the bench Carlo Nash back from injury made a good save early on . Slightly against the run of play Horlock scored from a free kick well outside the penalty area given for a foul on Darren Huckerby who minutes earlier had been stupidly booked for dissent. Horlocks thunderbolt had hit the defender on the line and rocketed into the roof of the net (above).

Two near misses as Huckerby (above ) hits the side netting and Goater (right) narrowly misses an excellent cross from the ever improving Shawn Wright -Phillips

The City defence coped well with the aerial assaults and Nash was not afraid to come off his goal line to punch away when necessary. The extra defensive work needed when Benarbia and Berkovic are attacking is improving and in the second half Dunne made a wonderful late tackle to stop Camara from scoring.

After City scored the Wolves players lost the plot a bit and their increasing frustration ended with several bookings for fouls and dissent . Lescott was sent off ( above left ) for a bad foul on Benarbia.
The cold weather must have affected the City players as against the ten men of Wolves they failed to take advantage of the extra man and slowed the game down which gave the visitors a chance to equalize. Perhaps Keegan was happy to save something for the forthcoming game against Bradford .
Both Berkovic and Benarbia were substituted- as was Danny Tiatto and one can hope their injuries will be sorted by the next game. Any way City go to second in the League and by the New Year we shall know what their chances are of direct promotion.

City started the game in the same manner as their second half form against Wolves and Bradford were looking the sharper and it was no surprise that they took the lead (above ) following a free kick taken by Lee Sharp. Ward and Dunne jumped for the ball and Dunne's involuntary header shot into the net. It was a shame that the goal should be credited to Dunne as his display generally was excellent.

The wake-up call brought some life into the City side. City were missing Danny Tiatto on the left as Shawn Wright-Phillips looked out of position. On the plus side the return of Richard Edgehill as right wing back was welcome and shortly after the Bradford goal a break down the right gave Edghill a good chance which was saved brilliantly by Davison- above.

In the 38th minute City drew level. A free kick taken by Benarbia was headed home from close-range by the ever improving Mettomo- above.

In the second half City took control and took the lead through Kevin Horlock. A corner taken by Benarbia went to Horlock at the edge of the penalty area. His low first time shot went through a crowd of players into the corner.

Six minutes later Shawn Wright Phillips earned his keep with a cracking goal from the edge of the area. Controlling the ball well and volleying the ball into the roof of the net he brought the house down. 3-1 to City and with the Bradford goal under siege for long periods the chances were coming thick and fast and it could have ended five or six.

In a rare Bradford break in the second half Mettomo -what a good buy this player is - saved on the line with Carlo Nash beaten - above.
In the latter stages of the game City brought on Paulo Wanchope, Haaland and Ritchie -all recently recovered from injury.
City retained their second place and with matches against Burnley and West Brom at home soon the top spot is on the horizon providing chances are continuing to be made and taken. City have a strong squad and well placed with a big goal difference to last the pace of the grueling first division season.

Boxing Day 2001 was a special day for City mascot 'Moonchester' who met his true love in front of the City faithful at a jammed- to- capacity Maine Road.

The game alas proved frustrating for City supporters as West Brom came to get a point and it was battle between their well organised defence and the City attack .

Hoult in the West Brom goal saves from a Goater header following a cross from Danny Tiato.

City were playing nice football with some good passing movements but with West Brom defending in depth the final pass was not creating easy chances.

Below was one of the few moments when the Baggies ventured into the City area but Carlo Nash and the City defence were able to deal with the rare threat

Yet another save by the West Brom keeper (left ) as continuous pressure failed to give City any reward. I wondered on several occasions that over elaboration by Berkovic and Benarbia gave the visitors time to organise their defence and City were missing the speed of Huckerby (under suspension) to get round the back of the defence. Horlock in midfield was having a good game and sprayed passes round with more than his usual accuracy. The bottom line was that by half time it was still 0-0.

As snow storm clouds gathered from over the Platt Lane stand a storm was about to burst on the pitch early in the second half.
Edghill made a dash down the right wing and appeared to be brought down in the penalty area To the total disbelief of the City team and supporters referee Furnandiz not only turned down the City claims but sent off Edghill for 'diving'. He had earlier booked Edghill for

dissent so City were down to ten men after 48 minutes ! I have not seen the TV replays but it looked like a clear penalty to me but the referee had lost the plot and this was made abundantly clear when he booked Berkovic later for taking a free kick too quickly. The free kick was about ten yards in the West Brom half and the referee having made his point by the booking then paced out ten yards to the 'invisible' wall. Pathetic! Where do they get these referees from ? I am sure City would have given him as many marks as a Norwegian rendition in the European Song Contest -null point !

Despite being down to ten men City continued to attack and with Wright Phillips on for Goater Wanchope was left up front on his own .He missed a great chance five minutes from time- hitting the side netting - above.
I thought West Brom might have done a little attacking but they were quite happy to defend and City had to be content with a point. City remained in second position with the big game against Burnley next.

What a way to end the year. An incredible first half was full of incident from the very first minute.
A sweet move down the left involving Benarbia and Goater gave Paulo Wanchope the chance to flick the ball past Burnley's Greek keeper - above
Burnley came back strongly and the City goal came under siege at times

So it was no surprise when they won a penalty when Weikens brought down Moore when the Burnley forward was really going nowhere. However a great save -above - by Carlo Nash from Little changed the game. Nash and his defenders continued to frustrate Burnley to keep the lead.

A few minutes after the penalty save Kevan Horlock earned his keep by heading a blockbuster from Ball off the line with Nash beaten for once. Nash did make more good saves as Burnley threw everything at the City defence. Weikens was injured and replaced by Dunne.

After nearly half an hour a wonderful through ball found Wanchope clear of the Burnley defence and all he had to do is steer the ball past Michopoulos. Above he is veering away with a despairing Burnley defender chasing the goal bound ball. 2-0 and against the run of play to be honest.

Above he receives the plaudits of the Maine Road faithful , the winter sunshine casting long shadows on a perfect pitch.

Ten minutes later it was 3-0 and what a goal. A long ball from the half way line was nodded back by Wanchope to Goater who squared it to the on running Berkovic who smashed it into the the net - above with the Burnley keeper well beaten.

Almost just on half time Paulo Wanchope got a well deserved hat-trick. A great attacking run by Berkovic and inch perfect pass to Wanchope left the City striker with the chance to slot the ball past the keeper from a narrow angle. Four nil at the break was almost unbelievable as a shell shocked Burnley returned to the dressing room.

With City leading 4-0 the foot was taken off the pedal and above, Carlo Nash is making an wonderful save from ex- City striker Gareth Taylor who had already missed several good chances.
Nash was eventually beaten at his near post by Ian Moore following some good interpassing by the Burnley forwards - below

City came back into the game and missed several chances before Huckerby who had come on for Goater in the latter stages scored in the last minute following a through ball from Berkovic. So 5-1 against the league leaders - not a bad result at all really. This has now narrowed the gap to one point and the team are playing with confidence. Benarbia and Berkovic are providing the inspiration in midfield and with three strikers in scoring mode Kevan Keegan has now got a settled team with power on the bench. The defence is playing better with Nash a regular in goal though we will miss Mettomo when he plays in the African Cup .
Roll on the New Year and promotion !