CITY'S UEFA Cup draw has brought back a few memories, as I spent a season playing in Nicosia in the late 1980s.

APOEL, the team I played for, were Omonia's big rivals at that time - and they were the two biggest teams in Cyprus.

Both teams have since been overtaken by Anorthosis Famagusta as the main force in Cyprus, but City can still expect a challenge when they take on Omonia next month.

I'm just glad we were in yesterday's first-round draw, though. From the 46th minute to the 90th against Midtjylland on Thursday, I thought we were going out.

Nobody was more surprised than me when we got the own goal equaliser which took us to extra time, and then penalties.

Midtjylland deserved to win the game, but it's better to be lucky than good.

With the exceptions of Joe Hart, Richard Dunne and maybe Michael Ball, we were under par.

Politics

Michael Johnson's miss in the penalty shoot-out summed up his night. He didn't have one of his better games, and nothing would go for him.

But we got through. People say a week is a long time in politics - it certainly is in football.

A convincing win over West Ham, a victory in the UEFA Cup, and suddenly we're going to Sunderland in a much better frame of mind.

On a separate note, I'd like to pass on my best wishes to Mick Channon, who is in hospital following a horrific car accident on Wednesday afternoon, in which his good friend and fellow racehorse owner Tim Corby was killed.

Micky had an operation on his injuries on Thursday night, and I hear that was a success.

I was Micky's first room-mate when he came to City. Even then, you could tell that horse racing was his first love.

Along with all of his former team-mates and City's fans, I wish Micky a speedy recovery.

He is a true character, and they are very rare - both in football, and in life.

GARY Owen is at gtcmanagement.co.uk - for business energy savings. Tweet