Match From The Past – Blues Stun Chelsea At The Bridge

20^th September 1988

At the start of the 1988/89 season, City and Chelsea were favourites to slug it out to be crowned league champions. The Londoners had been relegated the previous season after losing the play-offs to Middlesbrough. The match had resulted in rioting by Chelsea supporter, leading to a terrace ban for all supporters at Stamford Bridge for six matches.

But when the two met in September 1988, neither side looked like they’d be mounting a promotion push anytime soon. City had only just beaten Brighton 2-1 at Maine Road for the first win of the season in the fifth match, while Chelsea sat in 16^th, having failed to win any of their opening five matches.

And the home side looked to be on their way to victory when they took the lead in the 8^th minute. Former blue Clive Wilson’s corner was only half-punched away by Andy Dibble and Colin Pates hammered the ball home.

City almost went 2-0 down when Brian Gayle sliced a clearance and Jon Bumstead headed towards goal, only for Dibble to produce a world class save to deny him.

That woke City up and the blues were level before half time. David White skinned the left=back for pace and delivered a cross that was bundled home by Ian Brightwell to send City in level at the break.

Paul Moulden then scored the goal of the game as City put together a slick passing movement that ended with the ball in the Chelsea goal. Steve Redmond started a six pass movement that ended with Moulden hammering the ball over the keeper and into the goal with Chelsea appealing in vain for offside.

The blues sealed victory when White’s cutback was collected by Trevor Morley. His back-heel found Neil McNab and the combative Scot charged forward and squarer for Brightwell, who tapped home goal number three.

It was City’s second victory of the season and Chelsea’s third defeat. It wouldn’t matter though as these two sides did indeed slug it out for the title, with Chelsea taking it.

Final Score: Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City