On this day (27th January) in 1973 the Sky Blues had a managerial duo in chargeJoe Mercer and (now CCFPA member) Gordon Milne. City were just below the top half of the table but their illustrious opponents Manchester United were struggling this season and the the Sky Blues were looking to take both points from this afternoon’s duel.
The Sky Blues had actually beaten the Red Devils at Old Trafford in early September thanks to the only goal of the game notched in the 55th minute by (now CCFPA member) Willie Carr. Tommy Docherty had taken over the managerial reins at United from Frank O’Farrell in December.
Gordon Joe & Eddie Plumley signing Tommy Hutchison 1972
Mercer and Milne’s men were perhaps a little rusty now after playing their last Division One game on the 6th (a 3-2 home win over Leicester City) and, last time out, a fortnight ago, beating Orient 4-1 at Brisbane Road in the F.A.Cup Third Round.
The final result today was a 1-1 stalemate at Highfield Road in front of a big crowd of 42,911 which proved the best of the season (and the best for three years)!
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It was a tough contest!
Brian Alderson in the Sky Blue
The visitors did not win many plaudits for their skill in this grim display but they knuckled down to grinding out a point against the Sky Blues. The City forwards were stifled by a niggly United defence ruggedly led by future Sky Blue central defender Jim Holton. In fact it was ‘Big Jim’ who opened the scoring in the 34th minute heading home past home custodian Bill Glazier after meeting a Willie Morgan free kick. Thankfully it only took a couple of minutes for the Sky Blues to fashion a reply, the equaliser contributed by Brian Alderson with a fierce shot past United ‘keeper Alex Stepney following a Tommy Hutchison free kick.
Sadly both scorers died tragically young after hanging up their boots, Brian in the USA and ‘Big Jim’ in Coventry where he had become a publican. There was no further scoring or much positive action in the remainder of the game. The United defender George Graham was lucky to stay on the pitch after numerous over robust challenges on City players.
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Match action