What a difference a goal makes. What a difference a late goal makes. What a difference a late, late penalty makes. Make no mistake, I’d have settled for a draw at kick-off, and when they decided that the amount of money in their pockets outweighed their need to score in the first half, I was grateful for a 0-0 at the break.

Mignolet
Ferdy Bramble Turner Rico
Almo Hendo Catts Steed
Campbell Bent

So that was eight Englishmen in our starting line-up, and City with eleven multi-millionaires, who showed that money can’t buy you love when they put an easy-peasy chance over the bar with a man to spare, then repeated the trick. Mign the merciful produced a brave save at the feet of an advancing City forward, and the game sort of pinged about from one end to the other. For a match with no goals, it was quite entertaining stuff, and both sides looked like they could produce something. City fashioned chances, which they managed to thankfully put wide of the target, and we didn't quite get the shots in. Turner managed to get himself hurt right on the break, and only just got back onto the field before the whistle went, then Campbell left the field on a stretcher. After the break, Wellbeck and Bardsley came on for Campbell and Turner, and we decided that we'd have a bit more of a go. Benty almost turned through the defence, then Bardsley had a shot from distance saved.

In the middle of the half we were the side with the upper hand, and although we didn't create that many direct chances, you could sense that there might just be something in the pipeline. City looked patient – too patient, and if there's a slower professional than Gareth Barry I've yet to see him – and with the likes of Tevez, there was always a chance that they' d do something naughty. They even brought on Adebayor for Lescott with 15 to go, by which time we were all thinking of a point . Wellbeck decided that he'd show what all the fuss is about and produced several impressive runs down the left, almost opening the door for Bent. Down at the other end, Mign brought off a great save that had Joe Hart applauding, then they brought on David Villa. Thankfully, our defence treated him with the same deference as they had the other City forwards, and the lad didn't get a sniff. Bramble and Ferdy tackled, headed, and cleared as if their lives depended on it, while Rico bombed forward at every opportunity. Wellbeck had a shot blocked, then just as we were patting ourselves on the back and being happy with a point, the ball was slung in from the right, there was a bit of a tussle, and the ref pointed to the spot. Benty banged it away to the delight of us nervous, negative buggers who always fear the worst, and that was about that. Every player on the field did themselves proud today, and there was never a more hard-working eleven. For a 0-0, it had been an entertaining game. For 1-0, it was brilliant. And the ref kept his cards in his pocket until the last minute or so.

Man of the Match: Steeeeeeeeeeed. Insert as many e's as you want, the lad was great today, burrowing through the visiting defence and midfield to great effect.

Keep The Faith

Sobs' Book click here...