Saturday, January 24, 2004

CITY fans have had to wait a long time to see a really convincing display at home in the league.

On Saturday their prayers were finally answered as they put on a stunning show to outclass title-chasing Nuneaton Borough.

Everyone played their part as John Barton's side turned on the style against a high-flying side at last -- and exacted ample revenge for two early-season defeats at Manor Park in the league and FA Cup.

Victory lifted City up two places to seventh in the Dr Martens Premier Division, only three points behind third-placed Stafford, and a few more displays of this calibre could still yet see them in the shake-up at the end of the season.

It was winger Adam Wilde who deservedly took most of the plaudits for City.

His displays have lacked lustre in recent times and earned him plenty of criticism from the terraces, but here he showed just why Barton had paid so much money for him last season.

He was a constant threat on the left, scored a great goal and set up two others with high-quality dead-ball deliveries.

Left-back Carty linked up very well with Wilde on the left and was rewarded with a goal himself against one of his former clubs -- albeit with a big helping hand from Nuneaton 'keeper Darren Acton.

Delighted Carty said afterwards: "It was a very good team performance. The lads worked really hard under some tricky conditions.

"The lads have taken some stick about the way we have performed at home. Sometimes we haven't had the rub of the green but today we played well and got goals as well.

"We were determined to have a go at playing football and we played some nice stuff and got our rewards.

"Adam has taken some criticism but he tries really hard for the team and today he worked really hard, scored a cracking goal and could have had a couple more."

Jon Holloway's return in the centre of defence for the first time in a league game since the 2-1 reverse at Nuneaton in October was also a key factor.

He and Carl Heeley took care of a dangerous Nuneaton attack, while goalkeeper Danny McDonnell made a crucial save early on, without which the game could have gone in a completely different direction.

John Snape looks to be back to near his best in central midfield, while up front Mark Owen netted again and his strike partner Leon Kelly may not have scored but his mere presence and pace frightened the life out of the visitors' defence.

Nuneaton, who were considered title favourites when they scored those two early-season victories but have since lost their way, were not without chances.

Their best opportunity came with the scores still level when Gez Murphy found himself in the clear with City looking in vain for an offside flag, but McDonnell raced out of his goal to block superbly.

Squirmed

But defensively they looked rocky and the experienced Acton had a game he would rather forget.

It started when Carty cut in from the left and hit a shot that slipped from his grasp and squirmed slowly over the line -- much to the delight of the City fans who'd been baiting him all afternoon.

Two minutes later Snape flicked on a Wilde corner for Owen to double the lead with a fierce shot at the far post that took a slight deflection on its way in.

Acton partially redeemed himself with a fine block soon after as Owen raced through, while just before the break McDonnell again rescued City by keeping out Gary Fitzpatrick's effort.

But in the second-half City stepped up another gear and poor Acton was caught out again as he brought down the rampaging Kelly outside the area following a tangle and was lucky to escape with only a yellow card.

Nuneaton were still punished, though, as Wilde's resulting free-kick was met by Heeley who headed home powerfully via the crossbar.

Wilde capped his fine afternoon by firing a fierce shot into the roof of the net after being picked out by a great cross from young midfielder Liam McDonald, who continues to impress the more he plays.