Before
There's definitely been a bit of a spring in my step after Tuesday evening's events and results yesterday were generally favourable, though two draws in the relegation clashes would probably have suited us better. As I listened to Radio 5 I was rooting for the Gooners to get a late winner and they duly obliged. Burnley look like the sick note's out for them and I can't see them staying up, while we've still got to play them at home of course. As for this afternoon, I'd be happy to get a draw and then hopefully get a win against Birmingham next week. It's well known that City have always beaten us for years and we've looked extremely leaky against them in two of the latest encounters when Nos had a couple of nightmares, and not just him. Their defence is nothing to shout about either and I think we can get a goal or two but I can't see us keeping Tevez and Bellamy out. Still, our confidence must be higher than usual and if we can get another early goal, anything could happen. I'm hoping Henderson will at least be on the bench and it looks like Richardson will be in there somewhere with Cana taking one of his sabbaticals. A win would be out of this world for us but I think it's going to be a draw, probably 2-2.

The Match
Like you, I'm feeling disappointed now but when this mood wears off, I'm going to look back and feel pleased with our performance today. When the starting line-ups were announced, my heart sank to hear that Catts hadn't recovered after all and that Meyler was in for Cana, and it sank a bit further to see Wright-Phillips starting for them. At least Henderson was on the bench. I got down to the Pavilion at the end of my road and finding the main room full of families celebrating Mothers Day, I adjourned to the bar and virtually had the place to myself. I thought we were great in the first-half with Kenwyne powering through the City defence like a slinky monster and Steed carrying on where he left off on Tuesday. After nine minutes we went ahead with one of the best goals I've seen us score for ages when Steed turned two City defenders inside out on the left side of the box before pausing to see where Kenwyne was and crossing it for him to head strongly into the net. Throughout the half we were well on top and City posed little threat as we never stopped pressurizing them. Campbell was buzzing around like crazy all over the pitch and this was great to see, though his finishing left a good deal to be desired at times. Mensah, apart from an occasional Nos-like moment, had Tevez well-marshalled and they didn't have a shot worthy of the name. City picked up three yellow-cards before the break and as we went in 1-0 up, things were looking good but I remembered how crap City had been at Chelsea in the first-half before they went on to hammer them in the second.

The second-half was a very different story with our attacking threat much reduced by the absence of Jones (I haven't been able to say that much this season) and City having realized they'd better start some serious attacking. Gordon was the hero for us as he made at least five crucial saves, with three coming in as many minutes just after the break from Santa Cruz, Wright-Phillips and Bellamy. The pitch, which even before the game began looked like a cow-pasture, was by now looking like Passchendaele on a bad day as the rain heaved it down. We managed the occasional decent attack but never seriously threatened but as regards action at the other end I was counting the seconds down till that whistle blew as City always looked like scoring, though their long-distance efforts were well wide. That was until local boy Adam Johnson came on with about fifteen minutes left and in stoppage time equalized with an excellent shot from beyond the right angle of the box which not even the leaping Henderson could quite reach with the top of his head.

Well, it shows how well we played overall that in the end I was disappointed that we only got the result I'd have been happy with before the game started. There were many positives from our performance and all in all it was a distinct improvement on what we'd endured during the winter. There was even a nifty back-heel in there somewhere. It was great to see Henderson back in the side and young Meyler also did well. Kenwyne is back to his superb form of a couple of years back and what greater sight is there than him back-flipping across the sacred, albeit very muddy, turf? Bring on Brum.

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