Forthcoming Fixtures

After disappointing last week at West Brom the academy lads clearly wanted to  show the form that brought them such a long run of unbeaten games. However their latest opponents Everton have always been a very competitive academy set up and are riding high in City's league group this season and so the home game at Platt lane was always going to be a strong test for the boy blues. The game however was decided by a cool finish by Albert Rusnak in the eighty ninth minute.

Academy games between City and the likes of Everton and Blackburn Rovers always seem to have a real niggle about them and this latest match did not disappoint as the referee failed to get a real grip of the needless little fouls that Everton instigated and which City started to follow.

City should have been awarded a penalty right before the end of the first half when Harry Bunn ran clean through  the defender clipped Harry's leg but he managed to stay on his feet and his shot was taken whilst he was off balance and falling over. Clearly the referee should have played the ball back for the penalty as there was no advantage.

The first half saw the Everton number eight booked for a heavy challenge on Luke Coulson. He then clattered Rusnak off the ball in the second half and should have received his second yellow and have been sent off and so there was a strong case for Everton being down to nine men with the earlier penalty incident being a possible red card as it was a clear goal scoring opportunity.

Anyway City had the last laugh in the eighty ninth minute when Harry Bunn ran into the right side of the area and he had a shot that was parried away but was headed back into the danger area by substitute George King and Rusnak who was having a really good second half had a great touch and coolly finished into the corner of the far post of the goal.

The result means that City move into fourth place and within three points of new leaders Manchester United who beat Stoke four nil at the weekend and Bolton Wanderers lost one nil at Crewe Alexandra. Next up for City is an away trip to Wolves this Saturday.

Team:

Wood, Coulson, T Skosgrud, Kennedy (K Skosgrud), Meppen-Walters, Clowes, Robinson, Rusnak, Bunn, Roman-Angel (Evans), Henshall(King)

Subs: Morrisey

The U16's beat Everton 3-0 with goals coming from George Glendon, Jordi Hiwula and Devante Cole