The Oldest V The Richest

The Pies V Man City : FA Cup 4th Round, 30th January 2011

For the second year running, Notts had some good success in the FA Cup and once again beat Premiership opposition - Sunderland, knocking them out on their own ground in the 3rd round. This set up a fourth round tie against the moneybags of Manchester City in a game that was selected for broadcasting live on ITV. Notts, so often disappointing in the league came out with real enthusiasm and took the lead against the run of play through Bishop. The mercurial City used their superior power and pace to force an equaliser although it didn't come until inside the last ten minutes. A lucrative replay followed (also televised) and the Pies were well-beaten at Eastlands. Man City went on to collect the pot so there was no disgrace but let no one forget just how close Notts came to settling their hash. Here's the day in pictures.

Long derided, ITV's cup coverage included Andy Townsend's comments that he believed Notts were good enough to take the lead but not necessarily to keep it. Prophetic words indeed...

Who'd have thought ?

Mind you, the two teams had met twice in cup competitions in recent times. The Pies lost 4-2 in 2001 but triumphed 1-0 on that most memorable day ten years before that.

TV and a big team and everyone goes mad !

Let's face it, whoever wins here will go on and lift the cup

The Kop - as always, a formidable ally when full and singing !

The ritual shaking hands but that was as friendly as it got !

Paul Ince and Alex Rae pit themselves against the man who, Munto permitting, could have stood in their dug-out instead.

Mancini was a known-target of the consortium that never was.

Let's just leave it here - with a scoreline to do justice to the new scoreboard.

We were so nearly there.....

...maybe next time.