It was good to be back.

Not necessarily at Crewe, but in a small stand with a rainswept pitch and a view blocked by a thick steel post. Just like the old days.

However one thing has changed, and that is City are capable of beating sides like Crewe and that's what happened. We didn't outplay them but we won, and in the cup that's all that matters. I am sure all 1600 of us would have settled for that in the pub beforehand.

City lined up in a conventional 4-4-2 formation, with 'Guinness' on the right and Beags on the left. For the first 20 minutes we looked like a Premier league outfit, bossing the midfield and looking scrooge-like in defence. Unfortunately the goal didn't come and Crewe battled back. As the half wore on Crewe came more into the game and the half ended goalless and fairly even. Time to go and queue for the toilet. Thankfully half time is nearly 20 minutes these days so just about enough time.

City started brightly again and were rewarded by a Robbie Blake goal, a beautiful finish from all of two yards from Beagrie's cross. That should have been that but Crewe are a spirited side and threw a bit of caution to the wind. A great double save from Clarke should have been sufficient warning, but a wonderful cross from Smith on the left was headed home.

City were under the cosh, and two substitutes proved crucial. Sharpe for Beagrie was followed by Saunders for Halle. Jagger clearly going for it. Two minutes later Saunders sent the travelled masses wild.

So through to the fourth round for the second year in a row. When did that last happen, I wonder?

Richard Gudgeon

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.