Unbeaten Run Results in 3rd Place

MCFC Reserves 2 - 0 LFC Reserves

City's two nil Victory over Liverpool last night finished their four match unbeaten run taking ten points from twelve to secure a final league placing of third in the table which is not a bad result considering that the team has lost the services of quality players such as Onuoha, Richards, the two D'Laryea twins; Nathan due to injury and Jonathan being released to Mansfield and Mr sicknote himself Mikkel Bischoff never being available.

To balance these losses we have seen the emergence of Miller, Johnson and Etuhu; who all three I expect to see go out on loan at some stage next season to help them progress and get them used to league football as the step up to premiership from reserves is too much for most players; Richards quality showing the true exception to this rule.

I think the one plus we have seen from this season has to be the return of the mighty Nicky Weaver who is without doubt the best English keeper not to be playing regular premiership football at the moment. If I was David James at present, I would be very worried about my first team place for next season as Weaver just gets better and better with every game. I will go as far to say that I am sure that had it not been a World Cup year Nicky would have been given a run in the team at the end of the season, because on a personal judgement I rate Nicky as the better keeper and barring anymore injuries I expect him to be challenging Paul Robinson for a Euro 2008 place.

Back to the game, City started really well as they played with real purpose to their movement and attacking play. Their first significant move came from a great release from Weaver down the left to just over the halfway line to the feet of Lee Croft and his run down the flank resulted in the first corner in only the second minute. City continued to press with ball's coming across Liverpool's box on many occasion and City just not quite finding that finishing touch.

The first goal and lead was then handed to City on a plate as Ishmael Miller got the better of Danny O'Donnell and so he then illegally bundled him away inside the box to leave the referee, Mr Short, no option but to blow for a penalty. Miller stepped forward his thirteenth league goal of the season and convert the penalty to his left even though he had missed his last spot kick at Newcastle three weeks ago.

City Continued to dominate proceedings and finally got a second breakthrough in the forty first minute when good forward play by Jihai Sun led to him playing a great one-two with Kelvin Etuhu on the edge of Liverpool's D, and Jihai coolly stepped around the despairing dive of David Martin, the son of former West Ham great, Alvin Martin, and slotted the ball home. Weaver then pulled of a fine save from a direct free-kick twenty five yards out from Danish International Daniel Agger.

Liverpool made a tactical change at half time which seemed to make a difference to their play as City's attacks were a little less frequent than the first half and so along with all the team changes from both sides throughout the half the only meaningful action worth talking about came from a Liverpool attack down their left with three minutes to go when a lovely lofted ball into the box was met well by Besian Idrizaj, whose header looped over Weaver, but he was fortunate I think to get the slightest of touches to send it on to the bar and bounce in City's favour for them to clear the immediate danger.

So for most of the players that will be their last action of the season and the last time we will see a few players in a City shirt as a few of last night's players will be released and allowed to look for employment elsewhere, I wish them all the best and thank them for their service to the club throughout their years here.


City: Weaver(GK), Sun(Ward 60), Collins, D'Laryea(Capt.), M Mills, Johnson, Croft(Grimes 76), Laird, Wright-Phillips, Miller, Etuhu(Bennett 76).

Subs: Matthewson(GK).


Liverpool: Martin(GK), Barragan, Smith, Agger(Guthrie 46), O'Donnell, Hobbs(Capt.), Hammill, Peltier(Roque Farrero 67), Calliste(Anderson 59), Idrizaj, Foy.

Subs: Lancaster(GK), Antwi.


Att: 413

MotM: Weaver - it was a great team performance - but Weaves just edged it with a faultless display.