The stunning 6-1 victory over the doomed Clarets was, in its own way, every bit as impressive as that 4-2 win at Chelsea in February.
And when time lends a little perspective, perhaps it will take its place on the list of great City displays.
In the meantime, M.E.N. Sport's MIKE WHALLEY has drawn up his own list of the Blues' 10 greatest performances of all time. Have a look and then have your say.
10. October 29, 1977: First Division: Liverpool (h) 3-1 (Kidd, Channon, Royle). A goal down at home to the European champions at half-time, City battered Liverpool in the second half.
Peter Barnes was in wonderful form, setting up Joe Royle to score City's third even though Alan Hansen fouled him in the build-up!
9. May 11, 1985: Second Division: Charlton Athletic (h) 5-1 (Phillips 2, May, Simpson, Melrose). City needed a win to clinch promotion, and did so in style on a gloriously sunny afternoon at a packed Maine Road. Andy May's towering header for the Blues' second was possibly topped by Paul Simpson's cheeky fourth – or David Phillips' 25-yard thunderbolt for the fifth.
8. October 22, 1994: Premier League: Tottenham (h) 5-2 (Walsh 2, Quinn, Lomas, Flitcroft). Brian Horton was an attack-minded manager, fielding two out-and-out wingers in Nicky Summerbee and Peter Beagrie. When it worked, it was glorious. A Tottenham side containing Jurgen Klinsmann and Teddy Sheringham were torn to shreds in a downpour. Paul Walsh and Niall Quinn had a feast.
7. May 5, 1956: FA Cup final: Birmingham (n) 3-1 (Hayes, Johnstone, Dyson). Don Revie was the star at Wembley, setting up goals for Joe Hayes and Jack Dyson. But the game has gone down in folklore for the heroics of Blues' keeper Bert Trautmann, who played the final 15 minutes with a broken neck after a collision with Birmingham's Peter Murphy.
6. April 24, 1937: First Division: Sheffield Wednesday (h) 4-1 (Brook 2, Tilson, Doherty). A significant moment in City history – as this was the victory which secured the first of their two league titles. All-time club leading scorer Eric Brook started the rout with a fierce drive from a tight angle, but Peter Doherty scored the goal of the game after a terrific interchange of passes with Fred Tilson.
5. May 11, 1968: First Division: Newcastle (a) 4-3 (Summerbee, Young 2, Lee). The pinnacle of the Joe Mercer-Malcolm Allison era, as City swept to the league title with a dramatic last-day win at St James' Park. Mike Summerbee, who scored City's first that day, reckoned there were 25,000 City fans in the crowd. He celebrated by having a night out with his close friend George Best, whose United side were pipped to the title by the Blues.
4. November 7, 1987: Second Division: Huddersfield (h) 10-1 (McNab, Stewart 3, Adcock 3, White 3). City's biggest victory of the 20th century – which came in front of the Granada TV cameras – had Paul Stewart, Tony Adcock and David White fighting over who got the match ball. Huddersfield's consolation was scored by former City player Andy May after John Gidman conceded a penalty. “I think John only did it to get on TV,” laughed Stewart afterwards.
3. February 3, 2004: FA Cup fourth round replay: Tottenham (a) 4-3 (Distin, Bosvelt, Wright-Phillips, Macken). Perhaps the ultimate example of Kevin Keegan's motivational powers and City's spirit in adversity. The Blues were 3-0 down at half-time, and had Joey Barton sent off as the players left the field at the interval, yet fought back to claim an improbable victory thanks to Jon Macken's last-minute header.
2. September 23, 1989: First Division: Manchester United (h) 5-1 (Oldfield 2, Morley, Bishop, Hinchcliffe). A home-grown derby-day thrashing, with six of City's 12 players on duty having graduated through the youth system. “We'd been conditioned for that day since 10 or 11 years of age,” Paul Lake said years later. Andy Hinchcliffe's bullet header from David White's cross remains one of City's greatest-ever goals.
1. December 9, 1967: First Division: Tottenham (h) 4-1 (Summerbee, Coleman, Young, Bell). Has there ever been a City performance to top the Ballet On Ice? That was how this display was dubbed after the Blues – who went on to be league champions – passed Spurs out of sight on a pitch resembling an ice rink. “Tottenham were one of those teams who allowed you to play,” said Colin Bell, reflecting on the victory. “And if anyone allowed us to play, we murdered them.”
What are your favourite all time City games? Have your say. Tweet
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Beating FA Cup holders Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge in 1970. They did get their own back on us in the ECWC semi-final but we won't talk about that.
Arthur Lee's Psychedelic Slacks, Ladbroke Grove
5/04/2010 at 11:14
I was at that game myself, we hammered Chelsea that day, and the score line flattered them not City.
CTID
Poor Huddersfield, i'm the only one who does not accept a Second Division game in our top10. Why not add Milan 3-0 or any other European game ?
1955 beating Utd 5-0 at the swamp must come into it!
I wasn't around to watch the game, but the 1956 FA Cup Final must be the greatest of these City games and surely a game that would make Bert Trautmann one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.
The neck brace he had to wear after that game to protect his neck demonstrates just how incredible a feat it was for Bert to even complete the game. Take a look at the link below:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/NpoTK9srRoiivsBBTFM-CA
However, typically of the man, he still went on to play until the age of 40.
But the "broken neck" incident was just another chapter in a truly amazing life story of a truly great man.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Trautmann
http://www.football-england.com/bert_trautmann.html
If ever a person's life story deserves to make it to Holloywood, this is it!
What an amazing guy!
If ever
another game to be savoured was at Blackburn when Brian Horton ,managed us, we were fighting to stave off relegation, they were going for the league, we won 3-1 if memory serves!
10th november 1994
I recall a game at Maine Road when in the Bell,Lee era where we stuffed Utd. I could'nt keep score in the second half as we ran riot .Was it 4-1 ?,5-1?...
No10, remember it well. I'd won tickets for that game having entered a competition in the Junior Blues News. Got 2 seats in the Main Stand, fantastic game of football and the atmosphere was electric. What a team we were, energetic, flair and pace to burn - quality.
One has to be coming back from 3-0 down at half time to Spurs in the FA cup to win 4-3
CITY FOR LIFE
In my time, the 3-3 draw at Maine Road was a classic even if the result wasn't. The 5-1 against Charlton was a great result but let's not forget that all Charlton's keepers were injured and they played a 16 years old youth team player in goal with inevitable consequences. In terms of pivotal games, the win at Wembley in 1998 was probably the most important in our history.
For me its the 1981 semi against Ipswich, can remember every single kick of that game and the emotion i went through,not long before them days are back.
My dad recalls a game that is never mentioned in books or stories but City battered Utd 8-0
You missed the 8 -2 v Sunthorpe when I recall Matt Gray and Jimmy Murray scored hat - tricks.We put another 4 past Scunthorpe that Christmas and 6 past Potherham until a knee injury to the classy Jimmy Murray put the breaks on all the free scoring.
Erm, Gillingham?!
Without doubt - 27th April 1974.
What about the Schalke game at Maine road in 1970 on the way to winning the CupWinners cup? City won 5-1 to overturn a 0-1 deficit from the first leg.
Then there was the final - certainly the wettest day in City's history. Saturday's rain at Burnley was a spring shower in comparison.
What about the 4-1 battering we gave manure at the swamp, in December 1970, Lee got three and Mike Doyle got the other.
CTID
When we won the league at Newcastle was a great day,they didnt bother about stewards so much in those days and we got on the pitch at the final whistle and I managed to get a small piece of the pitch and kept it for years in a match box till it turned to dust(bit like our dreams sometimes)but the Wembley final against Leicester was memorable for another reason apart from the pleasure of winning the cup,when Neil Young scored the guy next to me slumped forward ,we did all we could but he was dead as a duck,and the old wembley being the dump it was it took the medics 20 mins to get to the poor chap.All happy and not so happy memories of supporting the greatest club in the world.
May 1983, Raddy Antic's goal five minutes from time for the Luton home game at Maine Road. How we and David Pleat danced!.
There were a number of memorable games over the years for me. I agree your number one choice, the ballet on ice win over Spurs (not just a win over Spurs but a win over the conditions, & today's refs would have called off that game) It was also great because there were goals from 4 of the 5 forwards. Memo to Roberto: five forwards, an idea to consider. But how can you leave off your list the 4-3 win away at Newcastle to clinch the championship?
love the glazers and hate united,
what can i say to that,other than you are an absolute idiot to bring something like that up.i had huge respect for your fans the day they came to ot and were absolutely brilliant in observing the minute silence and all that led up to that on match day,this is something that not just affevted united but also man city and the city of manchester in general and for you to come and post something like that is disgusting,im sure the majority of your fans would agree with me on this.
December 9, 1967: First Division: Tottenham (h) 4-1
My recollection of the day is standing in the middle of a packed Kippax waiting for the game to start. The snow on pavements and roads on the way to the ground had largely gone or turned to slush. It was a shock to see the pitch white-over. There was a huge sense of anticipation in the crowd but concern about the conditions. I asked my Dad if the game would go ahead. When Spurs took the lead I was saying that the game should have been postponed. We then watched the magic unfold.
Andrew Shaw
5/04/2010 at 12:10
Surely not the 3 all draw vs Burnley?
May 1983, Raddy Antic's goal five minutes from time for the Luton home game at Maine Road. How we and David Pleat danced!.
Andy Mencil
5/04/2010 at 13:37 not as much as we danced when law backheeled it into the scummers net oh happy days