MAN CITY INFO VIA THE ALPS "McVittee!" #268

DATE Thursday 30th January 1997

Frank Clark extended his unbeaten run to 4 games; I would have settled for a draw before the game but on the basis of the performance we really should have had all three. The latest transfer target is Kevin Horlock and it seems highly likely that he will sign before the weekend. Rumours also connect Sunderland with Rösler; maybe there's more truth there now Clark is openly admitting talking to Kitson? The biggest news surrounds Barlow who has stepped down and is to be replaced by the ex-Commercial Manager at Anfield.

We have a match report and a couple of match views, news on the new Icelandic Supporters' Club, opinion and another good Why Blue.

Other news is that City will launch an official WWW site at the Portsmouth game and this will include a Cybershop - no doubt a welcome development as far as many overseas MCIVTAers are concerned. I'll include more on this later.

MCIVTA 270 & 271

Jeremy Poynton will be guest editor for Issues 270 and 271. These issues will go out on Monday and Thursday as usual but the deadline for articles will be mid-afternoon (please take note if you're writing a match report). All articles after MCIVTA 269 (Monday 3rd February) should be directed to Jeremy Poynton:

jp@deadhead.geac.co.uk

I'll send out Issue 269 as usual next Monday; all articles should come to me until then.

MATCH REPORT 'LIVE'

MANCHESTER CITY vs. SHEFFIELD UNITED, Wednesday 29th January 1997

Another good crowd (26,000) turned up in optimistic mood for what promised to be a difficult game. There were two surprises as far as the Blues were concerned: firstly, Beagrie was on the bench and secondly, we just had the solitary Rösler up front.

Sheffield started off brightly, constantly attacking us and penning us in our own half for fully ten minutes. Their main ploy consisted of pumping high balls into our box - this would have given me apoplexy a couple of games ago but Symons and Kernaghan dealt with everything without any trouble. When City finally broke out, they put the Sheffield goal under sustained pressure for 10 minutes but with the same result as Sheffield had had at our end. The only real danger came from Kinkladze who raced away from the halfway line, dribbled into the box but let the ball run away from himself. He was to be found in the box later in the half and somehow managed to dribble round 4 players in their area without being dropped - amazing!

Tommy Wright looked little better than anyone else we've seen in a goalie's shirt this season; he made a major error when running out of his box to clear which nearly cost us dearly. He somehow mis-kicked and was dispossessed by a United striker who perversely managed to fall over and mis-strike the ball 4 feet outside the upright. The biggest revelation was again Summerbee who consistently beat his man and put some wicked crosses in, all of which went begging.

The second half was fought out in similar style with neither side looking like scoring though City did create a couple of good openings. The best was when Kinkladze was released goalward but was forced into a right-footed shot which went right of the upright. I could be wrong but I'd swear that this was the first time that I've seen him shoot with his right.

The most memorable event was the return of Beagrie - on for Heaney - he was given a standing ovation by the fans but failed to be given the ball by his teammates for what seemed an eternity! He eventually 'did' a couple of players but still looked a little slow, something that should change.

On the way home I was annoyed to hear the game described as "dire" and "dull". I can honestly say that there was a great deal in this performance to encourage us. There was a lot of one-touch passing, something totally absent for about the last 2 years. Players were running into space and creating openings. Summerbee was very good once again and so was Lomas who constantly looked for the ball and moved purposely forward as soon as he got it. McGoldrick sprayed the ball around well but why oh why does he always look like he's going to get caught in possession, and why does he beat his man but fail to stay goalside of him? The centre back partnership was solid; the tall Sheffield strikers hardly won anything in the air. Ingram also played well but Brightwell is not a right back and his distribution from this position is atrocious.

I'm looking forward to Sunday.

MATCH VIEW

This should have been quite a good game, with Sheff. Utd. riding high in the League and City beginning to grind out a few results and gain some confidence. The line up seemed okay including Beagrie on the bench; we shaped as follows:

               Wright
Brightwell     Symons         Kernaghan Ingram
Summerbee McGoldrick     Lomas          Heaney
               Kinkladze
               Rösler

The result was probably a fair one, neither team created many clear cut chances although City had far more possession.

Wright made two cock ups:

1. With a mis-kicked clearance going to one of their players and the resulting shot going just wide, and
2. A shot which he fumbled and was cleared.

These two mistakes aside I felt quite confident with him in goal.

Brightwell had limited defending to do. I felt that he could have pushed forward a bit more and linked up with Buzzer further up the pitch, although once in their half he tried on most occasions to cross the ball from about 40 yards out and the result was nothing.

Ingram had a solid game, pushed forward more than Brightwell but could have linked up better with Heaney.

Symons had another solid performance.

Kernaghan played well in the air, clearing any threat well.

Summerbee had another good game. He seems to be a different player since Clark came in; he takes on players and crosses some great balls in. It's a shame there isn't a striker trying to put them away.

Heaney never really tried to beat his man; his overall performance was poor and I don't think that he will be keeping Beagrie out of the team now that he is fit.

McGoldrick played OK, nothing to shout about, got stuck in on occasions.

Lomas got stuck into the tackles, played a bit further forward than Eddie and should be trying to get into the box more or at least support his attackers more.

Kinkladze played far too deep to support Rösler and is not involved in the game enough; he may be a great player but if he never gets the ball he is never going to show his true genius. He had a chance of a goal but blazed it wide; to be fair it was on his wrong foot. He had two other dribbles in the area but apart from that nothing.

Then there was a German called Rösler... how this man is still playing for us is beyond belief; he showed no commitment to the team, he never looked like scoring and he should be sold while is he still worth about 5p.

The team seems to be finding more confidence under Clark but needs to start scoring goals. I feel that Rösler and Kinkladze must be sold; as good as he is, I don't think that Gio will fit into a team where two wingers are being played - we need to invest in a new attacking midfielder and a striker.

We should play the back four as it is and keep Buzzer and Beagrie on the wings, move Lomas into the midfield position in front of the back four and drop Eddie, buy Lee Clark and play him in the attacking midfielder's position. Up front we should give Kave or Creaney a go and buy Kitson.

Also, did anybody watch Granada Soccer Night and think that they were watching a totally different game to the live one?

Congratulations also to Stockport. I hope they stuff Middlesbrough and keep them on the downward spiral to the 1st Division.

Rumours also at Maine Road last night were that the Southend game was being moved to Friday night for Sky; does anybody know anything about this?

MATCH RAMBLINGS

Still unbeaten under Frank Clark eh? Perhaps there is a God after all.

Here are a few ramblings after the Sheffield United match:

Was I the only one who was totally bored for most of last night's game? It was such a raggedy, mishmash of a game and it never really seemed to get going. There were signs of encouragement there: we actually seemed to be able to pass the ball better on occasions and I didn't recoil in terror every time Sheffield United made a slight run because we did look strong at the back for a change; and Summerbee didn't infuriate me as much as usual and is beginning to look like a decent player. But where the hell are the goals going to come from? We never once really looked like scoring and we never will if we have 8 men back all the time. Having said that, at least FC seems to have done something about our shaky defence. It's a shame we can't have a couple of extra players on the field - a couple more up front and we'd be laughing!

Was this Tommy Wright the same Tommy Wright who had such rave reviews from the Huddersfield game? I had Dibble déjà vu-s for a few moments! It's nice to know we're keeping up the tradition of comedy goalkeepers. I sincerely hope it was first night nerves last night and he was trying too hard to impress the home crowd. I hope.

And did you see the picture of 'the band' in the programme? Cheeky gits, they didn't mention the stick we all got from the stewards. You may be interested to know that my brother is writing a piece about it for next month's City Mag. He's also doing a 'warts and all' review of it for King of the Kippax where he can really dish the dirt (hopefully!). Eagle eyed readers will be able to spot my good self on the photo, at the back next to the trumpet player! Publicity mad!

And finally, I got a shiver up my spine at the reception Peter Beagrie got when he came on. Shame no one bothered to pass the ball to him for about half an hour but there you are.

NEWS - KITSON/CLARK/SMITH LINK

City are reported to be interested in signing Paul Kitson and Lee Clark from Newcastle plus Gary Smith from Rennes. The total payout for the three players would use around half of the £10.8 million recently made available for transfers by the rights issue. Frank Clark commented: "Paul is a player we are certainly interested in and we are waiting for Newcastle's reaction to our enquiry. The position with Lee Clark is different in that Newcastle do not want to release him while they are still in Europe, so we face a wait on that one. We have been given a figure for Gary Smith and we are having at look at him in training with us this week. His club, Rennes, and his former club, Aberdeen, must agree on how the fee is to be split between them, but that is only when we have agreed that the price being asked is a fair one." City face competition for Lee Clark; Sunderland and QPR are both thought to have had offers of around £2.5 million turned down.

Mikhail Kavelashvili and Lee Crooks were on the scoresheet for the reserves in their 2-0 win at Mansfield on Monday night.

NEWS - BARLOW MOVES ASIDE

Mike Turner, currently commercial manager at Liverpool, is to become City's chief executive on March 3rd, with Colin Barlow stepping down as managing director though remaining on the board "with responsibilities for special projects." Francis Lee said: "Mike Turner has an excellent record of achievement in the sports industry. We believe he will greatly influence our commercial team." Regarding Colin Barlow, he went on: "I would like to thank him for his valuable contributions over the last three years and feel sure that he will continue to be of great benefit to the club." Barlow commented: "I am sure that with the infrastructure the club has put in place, the club is really ready to take off commercially. I have been three years away from my companies and would like to devote more of my time to them." He remains on the board and as a shareholder in the club, and one of his responsibilities will be City's involvement in the Millenium Stadium and the future of Maine Road.

NEWS - RÖSLER BID?

GMR reports that Sunderland are believed to be ready with a £2.5 million bid for City striker Uwe Rösler. It's unclear whether City will be prepared to let him go now though.

NEWS - HORLOCK TO SIGN

City are set to sign Swindon defender Kevin Horlock for a fee of £1.2 million, rising to £1.5 million depending on appearances. The clubs have agreed the fee and he is expected to sign tomorrow (Friday) if personal terms can be agreed.

City are also giving a trial to Millwall's Australian-born defender Jason Van Blerk. The London club paid £400,000 for him when they signed him from the Dutch outfit Go Ahead Eagles.

NEWS - HORLOCK

Apparently Kevin Horlock has been having talks with City today regarding a possible move from Swindon. Horlock is reported to be a left-sided utility player and has been on the Swindon transfer list for a few weeks. City are apparently prepared to pay £1.5 million for him but Swindon have previously stated that they would want £2 million for him. As I know very little about Horlock, I can't comment on whether this would be a good buy. Anybody else know of him?

On a different point, could somebody stuff a sock in Ball's mouth (or drop him on his head?)? I watched Granada's football coverage last night to hear Ball criticising the game last night. Yes it was boring but I saw more positive things against the Blades than I did in Ball's entire career. Is the producer of this programme a Rag with a sense of humour, as Ball's career record hardly qualifies him to be a football critic!

OFFICIAL CLUB NEWS

I've just got home to a fax from the club. It reads:

Manchesrer City PLC announce the appointment of Michael Turner as Chief Executive with effect from 3rd March 1997. Mr Turner, who has considerable experience in the sports and leisure industry, is presently Commercial Manager at Liverpool F.C. Colin Barlow will continue on the board with responsibility for special project development.

Francis Lee, Chairman, commented "we are delighted that Michael is joining us. He has an excellent record of achievement in the sports industry and we believe he will greatly strengthen our commercial team. Colin Barlow, who has wanted to spend more time on his other interests will continue on the board with specific responsibility for special project development. I would like to thank him for his valuable contribution over the last three years and feel sure that his new rôle will continue to be of great benefit to the club."

Colin Barlow commented "I have been three years away from my companies and would like to devote more of my time to them. I remain committed to this wonderful club as a Main Board Director and as a substantial shareholder and am sure that now that the infrastructure of the club has been put into place it is ready to really take off commercially. I would like to thank all the personnel at Manchester City, who are a first class team and look forward to working with them in the future."

OXFORD PUB I

With regard to the Oxford game on Sunday and the pub situation: Steve Hinchcliffe mentioned the Temple bar in Cowley Road - do not go here - it has changed hands and is now crap. A much better bet is the Elm Tree or Bullingdon Arms (also on the Cowley Road) or even the pub on the corner of Cowley Road and Headington Road (the Oxford pitch is on the Headington Road). Anyway, I'll be in the White Horse (which is also s**t) but it's near the ground! Here's to a win.

OXFORD PUB II

In reply to Steve Hinchliffe: The Temple pub is still here in Oxford. Or at least it was last Saturday. Oxford suffers from pub renaming syndrome and I am usually two or three name changes behind. Not even regulars know what their pub is called anymore. But the Temple is definitely the Temple.

I do not know if I will make it down there because I am going to the match with a mate and my godson (I think I have an important rôle to play here).

I will be in the Oxford family stand as I share use of a season ticket with a friend. I will be wearing my City shirt under my jacket. It may even get an outing. The Oxford lot are generally OK especially in the family stand. Oxford is full of exiles and there are often people who live locally in there taking their children to see their own team. The other week I was in front of a bloke who obviously had not been to a match in years trying to explain to his four year old kid why Bolton were the team he had to support for the rest of his life.

About the match: Oxford have just sold their extremely effective centre half, Matt Elliott. They are now playing with two centre backs alongside each other. Darren Purse is inexperienced but I have seen him play a couple of very good games. Joey Beauchamp took Tranmere to pieces down the wing the other Saturday. Watch out for a team that works hard, a team that works for each other, a team that knows its limitations. They have settled well in this division which is more than can be said for us. They play the long ball game well which is how they got out of the Second. This season they have adapted brilliantly to keeping the ball on the ground and passing it around.

Two points for concern. First in two seasons of going, I have never seen Oxford lose. Second, in three other matches attended I have seen City lose two nil three times.

P.S. If Paul Moody comes on for the last ten minutes we are finished, he is a god up here. He always scores.

GARY SMITH

Just thought I'd mention that Gary Smith is a defender (left side, full back or central), not a striker as mentioned in Paul Howarth's report.

ICELANDIC SUPPORTERS' CLUB

I don't know if there are any other City fans from Iceland on this list. Next Tuesday in Glaumbar, Reykjavik at 21:00 the first Icelandic Manchester City Supporters' Club will be founded. If there are any City supporters residing in Iceland reading this, be there!

I think this is typical of Blue supporters; we are in our worst position ever and supporters are getting together to found a Supporters' Club. Somehow I doubt that this would happen with many other teams (goes to show how perverse we are!).

Now for a small true story. As mentioned before I live in Iceland (a small volcanic rock up in the Northern Atlantic Ocean). Up here we don't have that many City supporters (loads of Rags of course!) and getting a kit is a bit difficult. However, last Summer I contacted the authorized Umbro dealer in Iceland and they placed an order for me, promising that I would receive a kit late Summer or early Fall. Well the Fall came and they never called so I called on them to check if my sky blue had arrived. A sky blue had arrived alright but only in small and double extra small! The Umbro dealer promised to do what they could to get me a kit but around Christmas I gave up hope. Well, in the new year I got myself a new girlfriend and when she told me she was going to England in mid-January I told her I loved her and asked her to get me a Manchester City kit while she was over there. She was going to Bournemouth but I thought they must have at least one Manchester kit there. Well, actually they had loads of kits from Manchester, they had a whole bloody store of Rag kits, mugs and souvenirs. I mean, you could buy memorabilia from Old Trafford in Bournemouth but not one City kit! And I thought I had it made! So now I'm stuck with the girl and without the kit and I can't help wondering. Is there anybody out there with an extra kit and a mind for a swap?

MANAGER RECORD

About two McVittes ago someone was wondering if Paul Dickov had some kind of record because of all the managers he's had this season. Well look no further than Eddie McGoldrick. He came while Bally was still here so beats Dickov by about 1. The list is Bruce Rioch, Stewart Houston, Pat Rice, Arsene Wenger, Alan Ball, Asa Hartford, Stevie Coppell, Phil Neal, Frank Clark.

A mate of mine is a QPR fan and was wondering if they've got a similar mailing thing like this. If anyone knows please send info. Keep up the great service,

JERSEY ENTERTAINMENT

The City fans in Jersey have asked me to try to arrange for another City man to come to Jersey to entertain us one evening. In the last couple of years we have asked Mike Summerbee and Alan Ball over and they really provided an enjoyable evening for us. They gave us a summary of their life in football, with a lot of witty anecdotes, followed by a question and answer session.

I don't know of any other City man that can do this type of evening. Can anyone recommend anybody to me. Bernard Manning would be too expensive!

CHERRIES' PLIGHT

I run the AFC Bournemouth mailing list and website. Please take a look at the following campaign web site:

http://www.maths.soton.ac.uk/rpb/afcb/save.html

We have a couple of days to raise the £300,000 necessary to keep the club going to the end of the season. At the moment Saturday's game at home to Blackpool is in doubt. If we go can others be far behind? Can the 7 clubs with home matches against AFCB still left to play survive the loss of a home gate?

I'm not asking for your money (although we wouldn't turn it down ;) ) just some extra publicity.

Thank you.

OPINION - GIO

It seems to me, on so many occasions, Gio is described as having been quieter than usual. People go to watch the games hoping to see his flair, and if they don't, they are disappointed, and some complain. As far as I know, he is still top scorer - goals that mean that we are not in bottom position. He also takes up the time of up to 3 of the opposition's defenders in some games - this should allow others to find space. So in a way, he is working hard off the ball even when he is doing sod all.

OPINION - CUP WEEKEND

So the vast majority of Cup matches returned last weekend after all the postponements. Some points (yup some Blue bitterness comes to a head).

City for starters managed a win, thanks to a Buzzer Jnr goal, so the Pools Panel were right. The game also saw the return of Big Al and from the comments I've read in this list it seems he made an almighty difference at the back! Next is Watford and then if City win, M'boro, not as hard as it could have been! Who knows, maybe the F.A. Cup might provide a long term diversion so we can forget about our appalling League position? At least we're still in the Cup, even if only for another game.

Some of the other Cup games provided us with a couple of the best goals I've ever seen. First we had Trevor Sinclair's overhead bicycle kick from the edge of the box against Barnsley and then Waddle's 35-yard chip against Everton, classic goals.

On Sunday I watched the Chelsea vs. L'pool game. Now if that wasn't an advert for the English game then nothing is. That game was an absolute cracker, real passion, aggression and typical Cup atmosphere. Yeah, OK, I know that a lot of the players were foreigners (especially the Chelsea side) but I doubt if that was an overseas game the result would have been the same. I really enjoyed the game, it just goes to show what a bit of pride and commitment can bring!

The Bitter Blue bits:

Funniest crowd song, the Rags at the Swamp singing "We're going to Wembley" just as Robbie Earle pops up in the last minute to snatch an equaliser, sheer poetry!

Also, Grandstand's match report after the final whistle at OT; the look on the Rags' faces, the ground staff at the Swamp must have found thousands of dummies on the floor, they all looked like they wanted to cry! Even my dad commented on how they looked like spoilt brats! Yes.

OPINION - WHAT'S GOING ON

I read in a recent newspaper article that Brian Horton reckons that City could still make the play-offs, It's nice to see that somebody has faith in us (I still can't see why we got rid of the old boy) but to reach the big time again it's no good signing players half of us have never heard of (does the name Gary Smith ring a bell?).

I see we have Dalian Atkinson on trial, now that's a bit closer to the talent we need to gain promotion, There have been promises made by Lee and the rest of the board that there is money available (Neal was told somewhere in the region of £10 million). If this is true why are we looking at second rate players?

Lee Clark, Paul Kitson and Paul Warhurst are just a few of the top players who have been linked with a move to City (it's beginning to look slightly better isn't it?).

QUESTION - BUZZER'S GOAL

Everyone's saying Buzzer's goal was the first for 14 months - didn't he score against Tranmere?

WHY BLUE?

Why should a boy born in Swansea, who spent the first 10 years of his life in London, spend the next 28 supporting The Only Team In Manchester? I could claim a subconscious link as my mum was a regular at the Vetch Field in the late 40s and one of her favourites was Roy Paul, one of the men immortalised in plastic on the Corgi Fingland's coach. And the Swansea left back in the first Football League game I ever saw, home to Wrexham, was Vic Gomersall, signed from MCFC. But it really comes down to instinct: like so many other Why Blue? contributors, I was taken to The Swamp (versus Arsenal) and didn't like it one bit. Maine Road, however, felt like home.

We moved from London to Cheadle Hulme in late 1968. I'd been to the odd game in London (including seeing Allan Clarke play for Fulham) but since there was no dominant team at our school in Morden (the southern end of the Northern Line), I arrived in Cheshire unscathed and ready to choose between the European and English champions. Both next-door neighbours supported the Rags, so my choice of City seemed all the wiser when we beat Leicester to win the F.A. Cup several months later: they didn't want to come out and play football that day!

My earliest live memory is FHL heading the winner against Southampton, seen from the Kippax on a sunny day, reinforced by the mad Stuart Hall's radio description of "Lee leaping like a salmon at the far post" - more like Harold The Helicopter as I recall. Another neighbour had previously treated us to a seat in the Platt Lane end but it must have been a rare boredraw: my memory is blank. The 70's were magic, apart from not winning the League. Not much luck getting to finals: had to wait until the Thursday night - unthinkable in the Sky age - to see the Cup-Winners' Cup Final highlights; working for the Sunday Mirror the day we won the League Cup vs. Newcastle.

Favourite 70's memories: Dave Watson powering a header in from the edge of the box to win the game (vs. Ipswich?) just as I was about to leg it for the bus; Dennis Tueart at the start of countless matches, waving to the Kippax as we sang "King of All Geordies"; Colin Bell's comeback against Newcastle, the most atmospheric football match I've ever attended; Tueart getting a hat-trick against Hartlepool in the F.A. Cup then getting sent off for head-butting his alleged best mate from school (BM was sent off on a stretcher for hacking DT down!); Mickey Doyle "professionally" elbowing Tony Woodcock off the ball; losing to Liverpool nearly every season 4 or 5-1 - no wonder Dalglish could wave happily to us in reply to the Kippax chant of "... you're a w**ker"!

I "returned" to London in '76 and followed the Blues to most away games in the area, usually finishing with a miserable trip back to Lewisham from Selhurst Park or Highbury. 78-79 was spent in Hamburg, watching Keegan lead HSV to the championship, following City's last European campaign (we went down in Mönchengladbach, Nicky Reid's first senior game I think) on the medium wave.

On moving to Cheltenham in 1980 I fell in with yet more Blues in exile, prime mover being a Glasgow Rangers fan whose girlfriend was in Manchester - at the F.A. Cup 6th Round replay in '81, passions were high, so when Gow (or was it Bobby MacDonald or Tommy Hutchison?) was fouled by an Evertonian, my mate yelled something about "dirty English bastards", to be reminded that "there's 30,000 of us in here, pal!" The first 80-odd minutes of my only Cup Final were great: we were well and truly robbed that day, and in the replay - why no breathalyser for Ricky Villa? Clearly drunk in charge of a football when he scored the winner!

Maybe it was the 250-mile round trips but I have particularly fond memories of the League Cup run in the late 80's when we were in the old 2nd Division: home wins against Watford and Forest (a 3-0 crusher), then going out away to Everton. That team had so many promising young players (Hinchcliffe, White, Redmond, Lake, Brightwell) that I really felt we were on the verge of great things again. Little did I know that Whitey would blow his one chance for England, Hinchcliffe would have to wait many years for an England cap and then get it with Everton, and Paul Lake, the best of the lot, would have his career ended by a seemingly innocuous fall.

Since then I've agonised as we've habitually turned victory into defeat (second half against Bournemouth, 3-0 up to 3-3 in 45 minutes, must be an obligatory lesson in how not to play football) and occasionally rejoiced at some improbable victories (4-2 away to Oxford that same promotion season, 3-2 away to Blackburn in '95, Whitey's 4 in the 5-1 at Villa). As someone said on Saturday when Ndah's header hit the net, "Why do we let them do it to us every week?" I don't have a logical answer: it must be the same reason that made one of my university mates hitch from Workington to Old Trafford for every home game in the early 70's, when they were winning nothing - you didn't choose the team, it chose you.

It's different now, with TV supporters who buy the shirts but not the match tickets. My son is 4 and will doubtless be under pressure at school in Cheltenham to be a Rag or a Mag or a (insert Premier League Champions 96-97, 97-98 etc.). But: he's been a Junior Blue since he was a couple of days old (thanks, Cliff!), can spell Kinkladze, and knows that Rösler used to wear 28. And I'm sure that in a few years time a couple of trips to The Academy will either make him a true believer or provide conclusive evidence that his dad really knows nothing about decent football but can at least buy him a decent bag of chips!

BLUE HUMOUR

Why are there more Manchester Un***d supporters than Manchester City?

When you were a kid, your mum always said "... and keep away from that Maine Road!"

RESULTS

Full-time scores and scorers for Wednesday, January 29 1997

MANCHESTER CITY         0-0    SHEFFIELD UNITED          26,551

QUEENS PARK RANGERS     1-1    BIRMINGHAM CITY           12,138
Spencer (59)                   Devlin (36)

STOKE CITY              1-2    BOLTON WANDERERS          15,645
Macari (84)                    Per Frandsen (28)
                               McGinlay (54)

WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 1-0    SWINDON TOWN              23,003
Bull (35)

Full-time scores and scorers for Tuesday, January 28 1997

BRADFORD CITY           1-0    PORT VALE                 15,186
Watson (20)

GRIMSBY TOWN            2-3    BARNSLEY                   6,323
Oster (3)                      Hendrie (31, 38, 77)
Appleton (75)

PORTSMOUTH              2-1    OXFORD UNITED              7,301
Hall (37)                      Angel (28)
Svennson (67)

READING                 4-1    HUDDERSFIELD TOWN          5,710
Morley (13)                    Payton (9)
McPherson (15)
Hunter (30)
Lovell (82)

SOUTHEND UNITED         2-1    CRYSTAL PALACE             5,061
Thompson (6)                   Freedman (68)
Boere (86)

TRANMERE ROVERS         3-1    NORWICH CITY               5,891
Cook (9, 65)                   Eadie (2)
Moore (45)

Full-time scores and scorers for Saturday, January 25 1997

IPSWICH TOWN            5-0    WEST BROMWICH ALBION       9,381
Holmes (og 7)
Scowcroft (32)
Stockwell (36)
Naylor (45)
Mason (69)

OLDHAM ATHLETIC         1-2    HUDDERSFIELD TOWN          8,566
Richardson (77)                Payton (71, 83)

PORT VALE               2-1    SOUTHEND UNITED            5,588
Guppy (56)                     Thomson (37)
McCarthy (84)

SWINDON TOWN            3-3    GRIMSBY TOWN               9,127
Horlock (52)                   Gallimore (5)
Allison (63)                   Appleton (44)
Walters (69)                   Mendonca (87)

Full-time score and scorers for Friday, January 24 1997

SHEFFIELD UNITED        2-3    WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS   17,490
White (24, 80)                 Atkins (19)
                               Osborn (25)
                               Bull (88)

Up to and including Wednesday, January 29 1997

Team                  Played   Won Drawn Lost  For  Against   Points
Bolton Wanderers        30     17   10    3     63    38        61
Sheffield United        29     14    8    7     49    31        50
Barnsley                28     14    8    6     49    34        50
Wolverhampton Wanderers 29     14    7    8     40    28        49
Norwich City            29     13    6   10     40    41        45
Stoke City              28     12    7    9     37    38        43
Queens Park Rangers     29     11    9    9     43    41        42
Tranmere Rovers         29     12    6   11     40    37        42
Port Vale               30     10   12    8     36    33        42
Crystal Palace          28     10   10    8     52    32        40
Ipswich Town            29     10   10    9     41    39        40
Oxford United           29     11    7   11     40    34        40
Huddersfield Town       30     10    9   11     36    41        39
Portsmouth              30     11    6   13     34    37        39
Birmingham City         26      9   10    7     29    25        37
Swindon Town            29     10    5   14     40    39        35
Charlton Athletic       28     10    5   13     30    38        35
West Bromwich Albion    29      7   13    9     44    50        34
Reading                 29      8    9   12     35    44        33
Bradford City           30      7    9   14     28    45        30
MANCHESTER CITY         28      8    5   15     29    42        29
Oldham Athletic         27      6   10   11     30    34        28
Southend United         29      6   10   13     28    52        28
Grimsby Town            28      5    9   14     33    53        24