Toothless, Passionless, Useless, Out.
By Nathan Jackson
November 16 2005
City's FA Cup campaign is over for another season after a half-hearted display against MK Dons at the National Hockey Arena. Half the players looked like they couldn't be bothered to be there and despite only losing by 1 goal, City should really have been well beaten in 5 wins in 22 games say it all
McCombe made a return to the side due to the absence of Gareth McAuley, who was on international duty. City started brightly and should have realistically took the lead with a minute on the clock when Beevers put a ball into the box and it went through several people and was heading towards Birch. The former
MK started to dominate the game after that and won the game’s first corner however, thankfully the ball Imps, Marriott easily caught the floated cross. However, Marriott was soon to find himself looking on his defence attempting to let as many MK Dons players through as possible. Dons won another corner soon after but the returning McCombe headed the ball commandingly away from the box.
With 14 minutes gone and not for the first time this season, City stood like statues and allowed an attacker to have a free shot at goal. McClenahan won the ball in midfielder and provided a cross forward into the box where all the City defenders were acting like they’d just looked into Medusa’s eyes and ex
Typically, it was only then that City actually started trying. Asamoah won City’s first corner just after the 20 minute mark. The corner, as usual was wasted, however, a few minutes later and Kerr would provide the opportunity for City to equalise. His centre went across the box and underneath the ball, Marvin Robinson was fouled by Craig Morgan and City were given their first penalty since the 3-2 home defeat to Wycombe nearly 9 months ago. Paul Mayo stepped up and confidently put away the penalty for his first goal in his 2nd spell at the club.
Chances were proving few and fair between, however, the tie wasn’t full of fouls as Jamie McCombe became the first player to be booked for persistent fouling. McCombe was lucky not to be shown the red card a minute later when his tackle from behind on the edge of the box went unpunished by the ref.
MK Dons’ Dean Lewington had a great opportunity to restore the lead with just over 10 minutes to got when the ball fell to him on the edge of the area, however, he rushed his shot and it went flying over the bar. However, it didn’t stay even for long. MK broke again down the wing and McClenahan against centred the ball and again, Platt managed to connect with the ball, it went looping over Marriott and into the net.
Kerr had the final effort of the half but just like Lewington 10 minutes before, he hit the ball way too early and it was easily held by Baker.
The half time interval seemed to extend into the second half as the first 10 minutes of the restarted was filled only by a midfield battle and a booking for Lee Beevers, who will now miss the
MK should have extended their lead in the 57th minute when McLeod was fed the ball in the centre of the edge of the box but his poor control allowed Morgan to be the only defender to react as he hit the ball into the empty North Stand.
Mayo, having easily his best game since returning to the Imps won the Imps a free kick on the hour mark which also saw Wade Small booked. Kerr’s free kick however could only be headed wide by Birch. Birch was quickly replaced by Green.
Asamoah won a corner for City after his goalbound sound was deflected and the ball fell to Mayo 30 yards out, the defender sent a thunderbolt goalwards, however, it went just over the corner of the goal. Robinson was then replaced by Molango.
Although the game seemed to be heading for a predictable end, Molango almost embarrassed Baker. He sent in a cross from wide out on the right but the wind changed the course of the ball and it hit the bar and went out for a goalkick. It would surely have been the most bizarre goal City have scored this season. However it would be the last attempt from either side and City are yet again defeated with a toothless display.