24 March
1971
31, 950 headed to Maine Road as Malcolm Allison’s City bid to overturn a two-goal deficit against Gornik Zabrze in the second leg of a European Cup Winners Cup quarter-final.
City had beaten the Polish outfit 2-1 in the final of the same competition 11 months earlier, when Neil Young and Francis Lee were on target on a proud night in the Club’s history.
This time around Gornik had dominated the first leg and came to Manchester leading 2-0 on aggregate, but City came roaring back on a saturated Maine Road pitch.
Ian Mellor headed home Willie Donnachie’s cross and then turned provider for Mike Doyle, who followed up on a shot saved to nod in an equaliser.
With no penalties to settle the tie, a fourth meeting of the teams in 11 months was arranged for a neutral venue.
2012
Yaya Toure’s superb 35-yard drive rescued a point for Roberto Mancini’s side against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.
The hosts led thanks to Peter Crouch’s sensational 25-yard volley, a moment of brilliance in a largely uninspiring game, but Toure’s powerful strike 16 minutes from time was too hot for Asmir Begovic to handle.
Despite the Ivorian’s heroics, the draw handed Manchester United an advantage in the title race, as their win against Fulham two days later sent them three points clear at the top of the league.
However, that would be reversed in spectacular fashion on the final day of the season…
Birthdays
Ken Whitfield was born on 24 March 1930. A forward, he joined City from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1952 and scored three goals in 13 appearances over the following two seasons.
Geoff Hammond, a defender who arrived at City from Ipswich Town in 1974, was born on 24 March 1950.
He turned out 36 times and scored twice in his two-season spell.
