1999
If there’s one game that should remind everyone of how far City have come in a relatively short period of time, it’s surely from the 1998/99 campaign when the Blues’ local derby was against Macclesfield Town.
No disrespect whatsoever to the Silkmen or their supporters – in fact, it was a pleasure to host our Cheshire neighbours, but while City toiled in the third tier, our neighbours were on their way to winning the Champions League and things had to change.
In fact, this was an early win a run that would eventually see Joe Royle’s side make the play-offs, win promotion and then win promotion again the following season. In short, within 15 months, City were back where they belonged in the top flight.
Shaun Goater and Gareth Taylor’s goals secured a 2-0 win over Macclesfield in front of a packed Maine Road as the rollercoaster ride finally started to gather pace, completing a hard-fought league double over a side who now find themselves in the National League.
2011
City brush aside the challenge of Notts County to move a step nearer Wembley.
The Blues thrash the Magpies - some 59 places lower in the league ladder - 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a brace from Patrick Vieira followed by three goals in the last ten minutes from Carlos Tevez, Edin Dzeko and Micah Richards.
Richards had supplied the cross for Dzeko’s late equaliser in the first clash at Meadow Lane where City scraped a 1-1 draw and a replay - a result that set Roberto Mancini’s on the way to a first major trophy since 1976.
1988
A crowd of almost 30,000 see second-tier City beat Plymouth Argyle 3-1 in the FA Cup fifth round at Maine Road, earning a quarter-final clash with Liverpool.
Ian Scott, Paul Moulden and Paul Simpson score the goals for Mel Machin’s side who had also reached the last eight of the League Cup that season – also facing (and losing to) Merseyside opposition in the shape of Everton.
The Blues’ cup exploits arguably detract from the bid to win promotion, though the 1988/89 campaign achieves that goal…
