LIVE Previews: Manchester City vs Ipswich Town” Match From The Past when City was Ipswich backyard boys” Kieran McKenna set to continue legacy…
Twenty-four years have passed since City last played Ipswich Town in a league match in Manchester; the meeting ended in defeat as Town prevailed 3-2 and City plummeted into relegation. But our contest from the Past will ignore that contest and focus on a more positive outcome.
In 1994, Manchester City saw a lot of upheaval as a result of a fierce power battle between Peter Swales and Francis Lee, which ended with Lee winning and Swales being fired. The Blues played Ipswich Town in Lee’s inaugural game as chairman. Due to a flooded pitch, a prior game that saw City ahead 2-0 had to be canceled at the start of January. A month later, Lee witnessed the rescheduled match from the Director’s Box for the first time.
Brian Horton’s men were third from bottom in the Premier League with just four wins from 25 matches. Ipswich were 11 points and six places above City when the two met at Maine Road and City needed the points to close the gap on the teams above them, Sheffield United, Southampton, Chelsea and Everton.
City had recorded just one win in 14 matches in the Premier League and their last match had seen the Blues dumped out of the FA Cup thanks to a 1-0 defeat at Cardiff City. With the new chairman watching on, defeat wasn’t an option.
Lee was given a rousing reception by the Faithful on entering the Director’s Box. After more than 20 years of Swales, the supporters were desperate for change and optimism spread around the stands as Lee took his seat.
And it took just 16 minutes for Lee to see the first goal scored under his era. Garry Flitcroft’s perfect pass set up the opener, however, it was a backpass directly into the path of Ipswich’s Ian Marshall, who slotted the ball past Tony Coton to give the visitors the lead.
16 minutes later, City drew themselves level and it was a goal made from pure brilliance by David Rocastle. Surrounded by two Ipswich players, Rocastle showed quick footwork on the ball before tricking his way past both before crossing into the area. Carl Griffiths showed great awareness to flick the ball into the bottom corner giving Lee, and the Faithful, finally something to cheer.
The match looked like it was heading for a stalemate when a free kick on the City left was headed back across goal by Michel Vonk and Flitcroft made up for his earlier error by scrambling the ball home and giving City the lead.
As the final whistle went, Lee celebrated with the Faithful as a new era finally began at Maine Road. Unfortunately, the joy wasn’t to last.
