CITY 0 MAN UTD 3
Report by Eddie Blount
The unthinkable moved a step closer today as the game against Manchester United finished at the par score of 0-3 but could easily have been worse. City never looked like scoring but United turned the second half into a training session and mercifully contented themselves with the three goals they had in the bag before the second half had been going for more than a few minutes.
On a cold day this was a cross to bear and the muted response of the fans told the players that they had no belief in their ability to turn the match round. City were simply uncompetitive. The good sides are finding us easy meat and the less good sides dominate us physically so it's hard to see any other way that this can end other than in tears. Given that the other relegation sides have emerged from the transfer window re-enervated and are picking up points we are facing not only relegation but the wooden spoon.
For thirty minutes hope sprang almost eternal but the second that Rashford thumped an easy chance from a right-wing cross into the crowd rather than the net we were on the back foot. This was the warning shot across our bows preceding the broadside which effectively sank us just prior to the interval when United scored two goals in next to no time.
The opening goal epitomised all that has gone wrong this season. A quick ball down the inside right channel found Huth lacking for pace against Mkhitaryan whose eventual shot deflected off keeper Schmeichel into the corner of the net. City’s dismay was tangible and they were still reeling when Mata’s right wing cross found Ibrahimovic unmarked on the penalty spot to drive home. City had numerous defenders in the box, all ball-watching, so a top striker had enough space to develop a garden for the Chelsea Flower show and he took full advantage of the gift. A serious case of one goal produces another!
Ranieri made two changes at half time replacing the ineffective Musa and the typically industrious Okazaki, who had effectively man-marked the play-maker Pogba, with crowd favourite Gray and the long serving King.
Within a few minutes it was all over as any chance of a fight-back ended with an action replay of Pedro’s third goal for Chelsea a short time ago – just slot the ball between Huth and Fuchs and you are in on goal. Mata duly scored!
The crowd were subdued, unbloody but bowed. Derisive chants from United supporters went unanswered. The spirit of the crowd as well as that of the team had been broken. We feared, almost expected that it would get worse but somehow it didn’t. A team that could not score at home against Hull a few days ago had scored three in no time against a by now pitiful City but thankfully their appetite was sated.
A fourth would have been scored by most of the crowd but somehow United managed to walk the ball into Schmeichel’s arms when virtually everyone had given up and accepted the seemingly inevitable. Oh for a chance like that! In fact City had one shot on target in the whole game and that was from Ndidi who along with Morgan, Schmeichel and Gray can take some credit for the way they played. As for the rest……
Is there any hope? I had previously consoled myself with the prospect that there were worse teams than City and that this would save us but on present form we are doomed. Swansea will eat us alive next Sunday unless Ranieri, World Manager of the Year 2016, can work a miracle – and soon! I have heard the bookies are offering 5000-1 against City winning the Champions League and FA Cup whilst being relegated. Don’t waste your money, you’ll never win a bet like that!
City: Schmeichel, Simpson, Morgan, Huth, Fuchs, Ndidi, Drinkwater, Mahrez, Okazaki (King 45), Musa (Gray 45), Vardy
United: De Gea, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Rojo (Blind 45), Mata (Fellaini 77), Herrera, Pogba, Mkhitaryan, Rashford (Young 83), Ibrahimovic
The views expressed in this report are the opinions of the Trust member nominated to file the report only and do not represent the views of the Foxes Trust organisation