City have it all to do

Man City 3 Lokeren 2

Robbie Fowler found his goalscoring boots at just the right time to spare David Seaman a UEFA Cup embarrassment.

Manchester City looked to be heading for a shock home defeat to Belgian League basement dwellers Lokeren tonight until Fowler’s third goal for the club inspired a late rally which saw Nicolas Anelka rasp home the winner from the penalty spot.

After a series of recent blunders, Seaman was involved in a 14th minute mix-up with Sun Jihai which gifted Patrick Zoundi an equaliser and saw the veteran keeper subjected to ironic applause from his own supporters for the remainder of the contest.

With Runar Kristinsson grabbing another before the interval to turn the match on its head after Antoine Sibierski’s had netted an early free-kick City seemed set to face an onerous task to turn the game round in three weeks time.

But Fowler’s instinctive reaction to Sibierski’s nod down pulled the Blues level and Anelka put the Blues in front two minutes later to set up a siege on the Lokeren goal which failed to bring further reward.

If the ending was pulsating, the start had been predictable.

City seized the initiative in midfield, Steve McManaman dazzled, Anelka wandered and even Fowler looked in the mood for goals.

They took the lead when Sibierski curled home his 20-yard effort after Anelka had been fouled and would have had a second had Sylvain Distin’s glancing header not been cleared off the line by Arnar Gretarsson.

Yet, from their position of total dominance, City had the rug pulled from under their feet and Seaman, whose error count has been growing in recent weeks, was again at fault.

True, Jihai should have done more with a routine punt forward than merely send it looping into the air with a mis-timed header. But, with all the pitch in front of him, Seaman held up his hand to signal his control of the situation, the City full-back eased up and in nipped Zoundi to send the ball bouncing into the net.

For a team who have gathered just two points from six games and are anchored to the foot of the Belgian League, it was a present they could scarcely have expected. But, having enjoyed it, they proceeded to utilise it to maximum effect and increased their effort by another notch.

A general nervousness swept through the City ranks which not even McManaman’s spirited effort and Reyna’s industry could ease.

McManaman did skim the post with a dipping volley but the venom seemed to have gone out of the Blues and Lokeren sensed blood.

Seaman fumbled another Zoundi effort round his own post to bring the first signs of irritation from the home support, which grew as the evening went on.

However, even in his prime, there was little the former England keeper could have done to keep out Kristinsson’s stunning goal which put the visitors in front.

Having failed to close down Zoundi on the right, the City defence seemed static as his low cross arrowed into the area.

Distin should have intercepted but failed to make any contact and Kristinsson, unmarked in a central position 12 yards out, swept a first-time shot into the corner.

Having already stated how disappointed he would be if his side did not advance to the second round, it was a fair bet that Keegan did not pull any punches with his half-time team talk.

It certainly appeared that way as City returned with conviction.

Anelka’s snap-shot was deflected over and from the corner, Distin’s header ricocheted off a couple of Lokeren defenders, straight to McManaman who, inside the six yard box with the goal gaping, missed the ball completely.

The introduction of Shaun Wright-Phillips helped lift the crowd and the sparky England Under-21 star created City’s next chance when he threaded a pass through to Anelka, whose square ball was hoofed away by Lezou Doba with Fowler breathing down his neck.

At that stage, it looked as bleak as a dank Manchester night for the Blues.

But salvation was on hand as Fowler toed City level before Jihai was sent flying inside the penalty area, giving Anelka the chance to seal victory with his seventh goal of a productive campaign.