The Blues are back on track with a well-deserved 2-0 win over Everton. A stunning Danny Mills goal put City into the lead on 72 minutes, and Darius Vassell sealed the win in stoppage time from close range.
The Match
Team news - Ben Thatcher dropped out with a groin injury, Stephen Jordan taking his place at left back while at right back Danny Mills returned in place of Onuoha. Claudio Reyna had a neck strain so Joey Barton, not fully fit, had to start. Stephen Ireland started his first Premiership match, and Andrew Cole returned up front with Sibierski moving to midfield in place of Jihai Sun.
It was a cool and overcast morning in Manchester, but despite the early start both sets of fans were in good voice, with Phil Neville in particular receiving a warm welcome back to the city.
And the former Old Trafford resident supplied the pass for the day’s first shot on target, finding Cahill on the edge of the area, but the Australian’s left-footed shot went straight at James who had no worries collecting the ball.
City began to press straight after, and debutant Ireland swung in a teasing cross after 10 minutes that only just eluded the diving Musampa. Less than a minute later Vassell headed to Cole, who’s curling shot from the left of the area was well over the corner of post and cross-bar.
Joey Barton changed into a new shirt after 15 minutes, following an innocuous-looking clash with Yobo resulted in the City midfielder getting a bloody nose.
After 20 minutes City had their first free-kick in a threatening position, but Mills’ firmly hit drive rebounded off the wall. However, a minute later Sibierski had a good chance on the edge of the box after a Barton cross evaded the Toffees’ defence, but the Frenchman’s first-time shot flew a long way over the bar.
Five minutes later, Everton’s Osman headed over from a Ferrari cross without realising he was in a good deal of space inside the City area.
Cahill had his fans cheering just before the half-hour when he planted the ball past James from a flicked-on header, but with the rest of the ground seeing the offside flag their efforts were in vain.
Just a minute later City had a free-kick on the right touchline near Everton’s area, but Vassell could not make full contact and Martyn watched the ball go wide.
With 41 minutes on the clock, Vassell found himself in acres of space on the right, and his cross looked to be finding Cole before Yobo flung himself in the way to concede the corner. However the Blues could not make anything from Ireland’s ball in, and Everton cleared.
Half time
A pale sun began to break through just as the second half kicked off, with neither side having made any changes.
With seven minutes of the half gone, Barton deceived the Everton defence with a neat flick from the edge of the area, but the ball went just behind Vassell and the striker was unable to threaten Martyn.
Three minutes later Ireland found Barton in the area, but his right-footed shot was well over the bar. Within a minute, City were pressing again and Musampa found himself in a lot of space in the left-hand part of the area, but his shot was also a long way over.
Barton received a yellow card for a high challenge on Neville on 58 minutes, and with Ireland being hauled down a minute later the game looked to be coming to life with the whole crowd responding.
Kiki Musampa hit the side-netting with a left-footed shot on 62 minutes, after which he was replaced by Lee Croft. David Moyes also made a change at this point, bringing on James Beattie for Marcus Bent.
Barton found Sibierski inside the area on 67 minutes, but his cross back to Barton went behind him much to the crowd’s dismay. However, only seconds later Cole was homing in on goal from the right, but his shot went into Martyn’s side netting.
Ferguson replaced McFadden for the visitors with 21 minutes to go.
But with 72 minutes gone, Danny Mills lit up the stadium with a stunning goal! Collecting the ball on the right, Mills cut in towards the area and from over 25 yards out lashed an unstoppable shot past the flailing Martyn into the top corner, sending the home fans wild.
Everyone was wide awake now, and Everton threw Simon Davies on for Osman two minutes later in search of the equaliser. Goalscorer Mills’ every touch was now being cheered to the rafters by the City fans.
With eight minutes left, Cole released Sibierski but from only a few yards out and from a tight angle his shot was blocked by Martyn.
Distin was the saviour on 88 minutes, when with Ferguson threatening the City skipper somehow threw a leg out on the line to clear when a goal looked on the cards. Ireland then bore down on Everton’s goal, but could not cap his Premiership debut with a goal, the ball curling round the left hand post.
And in stoppage time Vassell sealed the win! Barton side-footed a lovely short pass into the area, and running in from the left, the striker slotted home from just a few yards out.
Mark Halsey blew for time straight away, and the Blues were back on track with a win!
