Heroic City deliver magic FA Cup result

3:00pm Sunday 9th November 2008

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MK Dons 1, City 2

So that’s what they mean by the magic of the FA Cup.

Down the years, City have had as much joy in the famous competition as John McCain in an American election.

When the first-round draw sent them to stadiummk, the odds of an upset victory were about the same.

That probably explained the small turn-out who bothered to make the journey down the M1 – but it was smiles all the way back home!

Roberto di Matteo did not seem quite so amused. His name is etched in cup folklore after scoring the quickest-ever goal in a final 11 years ago.

Ironically that season was also the last time City won away at a side from a higher division, when Chris Waddle’s chip stunned Everton.

Graeme Lee’s free-kick ten minutes from time may not stir quite so many memories down the line but for those who were there it was the moment that capped one of the grittiest displays under Stuart McCall.

Di Matteo’s Dons could have no complaints. This was no smash-and-grab affair from plucky minnows but a richly-earned result borne on sweat, toil and no little skill.

At times it didn’t feel like a cup tie. There is something a bit different about the Milton Keynes atmosphere.

With such a young fanbase, still evolving from their flit out of London, the voices are shrill and there is less bile in the criticism when things go wrong. Loose home passes tend to be greeted with an “ooh” rather than blunter phrases beginning with F.

It felt like the set from Britannia High – but that didn’t soften the challenge facing City against a side that are eyeing double promotion after romping League Two last season.

Top scorer Peter Thorne had been left at home to give his troublesome back the weekend off and youngster Leon Osborne was promoted to solve McCall’s midfield dilemma.

A year ago, City had piled everyone behind the ball in an ultimately unsuccessful ploy to nick a point. This time around, with the pressure of the league off for 90 minutes, McCall sent out his troops to have a real go.

It took less than two minutes for Omar Daley to throw down the gauntlet. The Jamaican, whose absence had been keenly felt against Barnet, was engaged in a fascinating tussle with the equally nippy right back Shaun Cummings all afternoon.

But Daley emphatically won their opening skirmish, taking on and beating the defender before cutting back inside and delivering a trademark right-foot drive into the far corner.

It was as stunning a start as Di Matteo’s blast for Chelsea against Middlesbrough beneath the Twin Towers – and the Italian’s charges were suitably destabilised.

As confidence flowed, City continued to threaten on the break. Daley crackled with electricity every time he got the ball, while Paul McLaren and Nicky Law – looking far more at home in the centre – prompted from midfield.

Defensively, it was chalk and cheese compared with the circus antics of the previous week. Matt Clarke was back in after namesake Tom was prevented from playing and his partnership alongside Lee looked much more like the formidable pairing of the opening weeks.

Lee blocked Jude Stirling’s header in front of the line but otherwise the Dons got little change from their fired-up opponents. Di Matteo’s frustration was clear when he threw on Kevin Gallen after half an hour and switched formations to two up front.

Lewis Price flung himself full length to prevent Daley notching an identical second goal, while McLaren’s teasing cross to the back post just eluded Barry Conlon.

So it was cruel to see City’s advantage, comfortable up to that point, snatched away two minutes before half-time.

There seemed little danger when Jemal Johnson picked up the ball ten yards over the halfway line. Tracked by the excellent Luke O’Brien, the winger drifted inside before letting fly from 25 yards.

It was not that well struck but the placement was perfect to find the bottom corner, though Rhys Evans may feel he could have done better.

City certainly deserved better than to go in at the interval only level and feeling that maybe they’d had their shot at pulling off an upset.

The home side came out with more zip about them and started to push forward in numbers. Peter Leven, briefly a pre-season trialist at Valley Parade last year, tried to get beyond the front two in the way that Keith Andrews managed to do to such devastating effect during their title triumph.

City bent at times but refused to snap. Somebody somewhere would always get something in the way of the ball.

Evans smothered bravely at the feet of Canada international Ali Gerba and Clarke denied Gerba, Leven and Mark Wright all in the space of a frantic couple of minutes.

But City were not happy to just hang on for a replay. Their counter-attacks carried more threat than the extended spells of home pressure.

Law’s fierce effort was turned away and then Daley picked out Osborne for his moment of glory. The right winger’s first start had been a quiet one, with few touches to make an impact, but as Daley squared an inviting pass along the edge of the box, the headlines beckoned. Unfortunately Osborne snatched at the chance and it flew harmlessly wide.

But City’s tails were up and Michael Boulding was sent scampering clear towards the penalty area. He looked favourite to nick the ball away from the advancing Price but substitute Miguel Llera made sure his keeper would get there first by sending the striker tumbling over.

It was as obvious a professional foul as you will see all season. Unbelievably referee Mick Russell’s card was yellow and not red.

City were incensed and McCall, on the touchline, seemed ready to pop. The Spaniard could not have looked more guilty if he had been standing over a dead body with a bloodied knife in his hands.

But instead of getting bitter, City got even. Up stepped Lee for the free-kick, which he drilled through the wall and past a motionless Price.

Lee, whose thunderbolt had set up Conlon’s winner against Bury, laughed: “I keep telling the lads about my free-kicks but nobody has been listening! I’m always asking Macca (Paul McLaren) to let me take one, so I was delighted to see it go in.

“If the ref looks at the incident again, he’ll see the lad had to go. The ref said the ball was going through to the keeper but that was only because Micky had been brought down.”

Justice had been done, with no thanks to the ref, though there was still time for a heart-stopping finale as Llera, inevitably, glanced a header just over. But nothing was going to spoil a performance and result to savour.

Attendance: 5,542