We’re back. Not that we really went away, of course, and a slew of mitigating circumstances jostled for supremacy to explain away our recent trio of defeats. And while a 2-2 draw at home doesn’t represent the most stunning afternoon of the season, those assembled in support of City left with a warm glow of satisfaction. This was yet another good day to follow the Tigers.

 

Phil Brown had opted to retain faith with his preferred 4-3-3 formation, despite some voices counselling him in favour of a switch to 4-4-2. A single change of personnel was forced upon the City boss, with Andy Dawson’s absence through injury prompting a recall for Sam Ricketts. It meant that on a chilly East Yorkshire afternoon the Tigers lined up: Myhill; McShane, Turner, Zayatte, Ricketts; Marney, Ashbee (c), Boateng; Geovanni, Cousin, King.

 

Stelios made his first appearance in a City squad as a substitute, and he received warm applause from a sold-out Circle – so too had Geovanni, feted by all four sides of the ground. Manchester City fans reportedly regret his departure; he was to show them just what they’re missing.

 

Mark Hughes has been under pressure lately, with the difficulties of managing the World’s Richest Club apparently affecting him. Rumours swirl about the extent of his involvement with the signing of Robinho for £32,500,000 – however, he showed faith in the Brazilian international by naming him as the Mancs’ captain in the absence of suspended skipper Richard Dunne.

 

Also missing was Gelson Fernandes, sent off in their stormy home defeat to Spurs last week. Elana and Jo started on the bench; former Chelsea defender Tal Ben Haim slotted in at centre-half.

 

Attacking the South Stand, the visitors had the first effort on goal, but Robinho swished an effort well wide from outside the area. It was an open and attractive start to the game with both teams enthusiastically committing men forward when in possession. City’s first chance of the game came in the tenth minute when Marney teed up Ian Ashbee twenty yards from goal, however the Tigers’ captain looked unusually tentative when faced with onrushing adversaries and he badly mis-kicked his shot.

 

Much of City’s best work was coming through the industrious Geovanni, displaying a wondrous first touch and pleasing propensity for advancing forward as soon as he received the ball. A piercing run from within his own half drew the leaden-footed Tal Ben Haim into an ugly foul that we must reluctantly report was slightly exaggerated by Geo – however, there was little disputing the caution that Phil Dowd gave to the Israeli defender.

 

He was pivotal in the game’s first goal a few minutes later, when City’s forwards applied pressure to the Blues’ defenders, provoking a horrible backpass from Ben Haim which fell well short of Joe Hart, allowing Daniel Cousin to nip in and poke the ball into the goal. The City fans rejoiced feverishly – it was a goal from nothing, and it was not necessarily a deserved lead, for the game had been even to date, but it was a critical breakthrough.

 

Hart had been injured while vainly challenging Cousin, and he required several minutes of treatment. The City fans used the time to create a fearsome din, ignoring the silent Mancunian sorts gathered in one half of the north stand to engage in some inter-stand banter. The break in play seemed to benefit us, denying the away side of the chance to quickly retaliate.

 

Play was held up for about four minutes, and the first time the ball went to the Man C keeper he immediately crumpled to the turf, slung the ball into touch and signalled his inability to continue. Kasper Schmeichel replaced him.

 

McShane was shown a yellow card for a troublingly industrial challenge on Garrido, a somewhat reckless and needless foul. This was a rare outbreak of ugliness in an enthralling match, however – both sides’ commitment to playing eminently watchable football had, if anything, increased since the goal. Chances were few, but flashes of craft, skill and thunderous work-rate shone from both teams.

 

Half-time loomed, and as we began to look forward to the interval beverages being in celebration of a hard-fought lead, disaster struck. Twice. First, a harmless ball forward by Robinho saw Myhill scamper from his goal-line to collect it – however, Zayatte coolly intervened, only to inexplicably miscontrol the ball straight into the path of Stephen Ireland, who calmly slid the ball into the open goal. The visiting Mancs celebrated with a species of delighted disbelief akin to our own twenty-five minutes earlier.

 

This galvanised the visitors, on and off the field. Previously subdued, the away fans broke into loud and impressive song, while their expensive side suddenly began to look more like one that was assembled at great cost. City were holding on for the break, but failed when a darting raid down our left saw the ball swept inside for Ireland, who controlled the ball instantly and sent a brilliant curling shot past the helpless Myhill. 1-0 had become 1-2 with sickening suddenness, and we stumbled, punch-drunk, into the interval.

 

I concede, I doubted there was a way back for City. We’d played well, but a moment of madness and a moment of excellence seemed to have taken the game firmly beyond us. And when the visitors strode positively into the second half, the omens looked bad. However, despite Manchester created little with it, and the first effort of the half was a flamboyant overhead kick by Geovanni which zipped a yard over.

 

City were getting into the game more and more, and on the hour we levelled. It was, predictably, Geovanni who was the source of the Tigers’ equaliser. A free-kick some twenty yards from goal created the inevitable hum of excitement, and his kick was curled towards the right of Schmeichel’s goal, only to take a deflection and bobble beyond him in the middle. A moment of luck, arguably merited for the way we’d fought back, and with thirty minutes left, the game was there for either side to win.

 

King and Geovanni both had further efforts, while the comically inept Darius Vassell should have done better with a low shot that was blocked. On we went, chances appearing sparsely but the football no less absorbing for this.

 

With fifteen minutes remaining, Phil Brown made the first of his two changes, withdrawing the tiring and limping Cousin in favour of Nick Barmby, while Jo came on for Benjani for Mark Hughes’ men.

 

On 82 minutes came one of the game’s most farcical episodes when City were awarded a free-kick twenty yards from goal, perfectly situated for Geovanni. His run-up was of Malcolm Marshall proportions, and he blasted the ball goalwards into Shaun Wright-Phillips…who was cautioned by Mr Dowd for being all of four yards away. Geovanni then took an even longer run-up, starting somewhere near Cottingham Road and flayed the ball into Ireland…who was also cautioned for encroaching. The exasperated Hughes threw his arms in disgust, although Mr Dowd was entirely correct in his application of a fairly easy-to-follow law.

 

Geovanni decided against blootering his final effort, instead attempting to curl it over the wall; this time it took a deflection and spun out for a corner, which was easily dealt with. With Boateng looking exhausted and increasing out of the game, he was withdrawn in favour of Peter Halmosi as both sides hunted a winner. Marney was booked for a foul on Robinho before the Tigers nearly lost the game in injury time when the ever-excellent Ireland sent Vassell into space, however Myhill stood up superbly and parried his shot. A relief, and the final action of a compelling game that saw rich applause awarded to the team at full-time.

 

A great game, and a very useful point. Manchester City may lie well behind us in the table, but one can be certain than when the transfer window opens, Middle Eastern petro-dollars will be sprayed across the planet as they aim for European football. That gap will narrow – but even if it does not, this was a point gained. We take from it more than that, however. We remain sixth, now on 21 points, and absolutely secure in the knowledge that we belong at this level. What more could we really want for? (AD)