City’s keeper brought the house down when he brilliantly saved Frank Lampard’s spot kick late in the game, preserving a 2-1 lead that City hung on to for a memorable win over the league leaders.
The acclaim for the save even included a kiss from a grateful Nigel de Jong, but the inspirational Irishman preferred to pass the credit over to his goalkeeping coach, saying:
“Kevin Hitchcock should take a lot of credit, he did his homework on Lampard and had me well grilled before the game. I was delighted to keep it out, and then the lads cleared their lines when it came off me so all in all, I’m pretty happy!”
The gravity of the win, City’s first over Chelsea in five years, was not lost on the keeper, who was unlucky to concede an Adebayor own goal after two saves in quick succession early on.
“It was tricky conditions for goalkeepers with all the rain, but we are delighted with the victory. Chelsea were looking very strong this year, top of the league and rightly so it’s a big three points for us.
“We were unlucky with the goal, it came off me and hit the back of Ade, and I don’t think he knew too much about it! A clean sheet would have been nicer and we were pretty solid, so I think we deserved it.”
Kevin Hitchcock should take a lot of credit, he did his homework on Lampard and had me well grilled before the game. I was delighted to keep it out, and then the lads cleared their lines when it came off me so all in all, I’m pretty happy!
...Shay Given...
A busy week ends with City in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup and only beaten once this season, but Shay is relieved to have broken the run of draws in the league and was full of praise for the back four, adding :
“There’s belief and confidence again now. Football’s amazing, you get a victory and it gives the whole place a lift. The place was buzzing on Thursday, and we brought that with us tonight. Every single player worked their socks off and we deserved the win.
“It takes time when there is a whole new back four. In the last two games the centre-halves have been first class and we will look to build on that in the coming weeks. It does take time to gel and people need to be patient, but Kolo and Joleon were brilliant today.”
Reflecting on the mood around the camp after such a good performance and result, Shay concluded:
“It’s a great result, they have been very strong and you look at their result against Arsenal, when they won convincingly, we knew this was a big game for us. It was tough, but it’s a brilliant feeling to have beaten them.”
