1991
We return to Division 1 action with City looking to notch their third win in a row at a blustery Maine Road.
The opponents Chelsea were looking to catch up with City, sitting two positions below them in ninth. The game was lucky to go forward with only four league games surviving the winter weather that weekend and by the end of the game, the visitors probably wished it hadn’t.
The match started well for City with Gary Megson smashing a right footed drive low into the bottom left corner. Things got even better for the hosts with David White scoring a sumptuous lob over the despairing Chelsea goalkeeper to double the lead.
Chelsea managed to pull one back with Dennis Wise scoring late in the second half but there was to be no comeback. It is worth mentioning this win was our first against Chelsea at home stretching back 14 years (six losses and one draw).
2003
Derby day in Manchester and both teams were, as ever, looking to take the bragging rights. City had won the first meeting – the last ever derby at Maine Road –with Shaun Goater scoring twice in a 3-1 win at Maine Road. A crowd of 67,646 watched on as the home side took a 1-0 lead in to half time, but a resurgent City fought back.
Still trailing with less than five minutes remaining, a final throw of the dice by manager Kevin Keegan saw Ali Benarbia and Goater climb off the bench. Amazingly both substitutes combined within a minute to level the scores as Benarbia rolled a free-kick on the edge of the box to Shaun Wright-Phillips who chipped the ball to Goater who nodded home into the corner of the net, ensuring pandemonium for the away fans. City had the ball in the net again but Nicolas Anelka was harsh penalised for handball to deny the Blues a famous double over the Reds.
2010
Premier League action continued as City looked to keep in the race for Champions League football. Bolton Wanderers on the other hand were in a relegation battle, fighting for Premier League survival.
There were home debuts given to Adam Johnson and Patrick Vieira while defender Gary Cahill was a big miss for the Trotters.
A first half penalty from Carlos Tevez calmed the nerves and the Blues were able to push forward and secure the win in the 73rd minute with Emmanuel Adebayor who turned and volleyed past a helpless Jussi Jaaskelainen after a superb 35-yard pass from Vieira split the Wanderers defence.
