City say goodbye to Goat and Maine Road

This was the day – Manchester City’s last at Maine Road after 80 years and 1,700 games – when the match took second place to the history and the tears.

City, who move to the City of Manchester Stadium next season, rolled out the heroes of the past – Denis Law, John Bond, Malcolm Allison, Colin Bell and Francis Lee among them – – in the pre-match pageant.

Shaun Goater captained the side on his last appearance and got the greatest reception after his 103 priceless goals in five years dragged City back from despair to their best season in a decade.

Peter Schmeichel too ends his wonderful career today.

Goater came into the side for Robbie Fowler while FA Cup finalists Southampton rested Paul Williams, Fabrice Fernandes and Jo Tessem from the side that lost 6-1 at Highbury in midweek.