17 September
2016
Pep Guardiola tries to dampen the enthusiasm as City make it eight wins from eight in all competitions at the start of the 2016/17. The Catalan, making a superb start to life as manager in England, urges caution and insists there will be bumps in the road, but it’s hard for City fans not to be excited as Bournemouth are the latest team to be swept aside at the Etihad.
A clever Kevin De Bruyne free-kick and a Kelechi Iheanacho put City 2-0 up with just 25 minutes played before Raheem Sterling (48) and Ilkay Gundogan (66) complete the rout. Nolito is sent off with four minutes remaining and Nathan Ake was an unused sub for the Cherries.
1969
City and Atletico Bilbao play out a thrilling 3-3 draw in the first leg of the first round of the European Cup Winners’ Cup in Spain. This was beginning of the Blues’ victorious European campaign under Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison.
Goals from Neil Young and Tommy Booth as well as an own goal from the home side secured City an away draw which gave laid the foundations for a 3-0 victory in the second leg at Maine Road as City began their journey to the final in Vienna.
1983
A rampant City tear Blackburn Rovers apart at Maine Road with a stunning display. Derek Parlane grabs his first City hat-trick and further strikes from Andy May, Jim Tolmie and Graham Baker as Billy McNeill’s side turn on the style.
For Parlane it is a personal triumph having been released by Leeds United on a free transfer a few months earlier – it also means he has scored six times in his first six games for City – just four short of the ten he managed in 50 appearances for the Elland Road club.
Parlane continues top score that season, finishing with 19 goals and vindicating McNeill’s decision to give him one more chance to prove he could still produce the goods.
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