- Johnson, M (43)
- Date:2007-08-15
- Kick-off:19:45
- Venue:City of Manchester Stadium
- Attendance:43620
- Referee:Mason, L
Live Commentary
91mins
Man City edge a 1-0 win against newcomers Derby as Sven-Goran Eriksson's revolution continues. A game of few real chances was lit up when youngster Michael Johnson let fly with an unstoppable 25 yard screamer
88mins
A big cheer goes up for Elano from the home fans as he leaves the field to be replaced by Emile Mpenza
87mins
Elano breaks for City as Derby push on for an equaliser but his cross is cut out by Oakley
85mins
City are closing the game out by slowing the pace as they look for their second win in a week
83mins
Howard shows his frustration by throwing the ball away at a City freekick
81mins
Earnshaw and Howard both offside as Derby look to break for an equaliser
79mins
Mears makes a brilliant clearance from Bojinov's cross for a City corner
78mins
Goalscorer Johnson is booked for a rash challenge on Earnshaw
77mins
City striker Valeri Bojinov comes on for the tired looking Bianchi
77mins
Jay McEveley on for Todd as Derby go for a 4-4-2 formation
76mins
Geovanni outruns Griffin and his pinpoint cross is cleared by the Derby defence
75mins
Geovanni thunders a freekick at one of his own players
74mins
Great bit of skill by the impressive Elano results in Todd bringing him down
72mins
Eriksson brings on Deiberson Geovanni for Petrov
71mins
Davis, recovered from his injury, volleys clear for Derby as Elano dinks a pass into the box
69mins
Davis is in trouble after Bianchi accidently leaves his studs in
67mins
It's a straight swap as Earnshaw replaces Fagan for Derby
66mins
Both set of players are showing signs of tiredness as the game lacks quality
64mins
Hamann is booked for a foul on Mears
63mins
The game becomes scrappy as Earnshaw warms up on the touchline for Derby
62mins
Elano finds space on the left of the Derby box but his cross goes straight into the hands of Bywater
60mins
Good build-up play from Pearson but his cross is disappointing and sails out for a goalkick to City
59mins
Ireland hits a 30 yard fizzer that Bywater does well to hold
57mins
Fagan fends of Richards with a great turn of pace and drills a shot across goal but Schmeichel does well to tip clear of the advancing Howard
56mins
Brazilian Elano strikes a sweet shot for City that Bywater collects at the second attempt.
53mins
Petrov tries to thread a ball through to Elano on the edge of the Derby box but Davis does well to cut the pass out
51mins
Bianchi races clear from Davis' sliced clearance but the Derby centreback recovers well and clears the danger
49mins
Corner to Derby as captain Oakley centres for Howard but the big striker heads over the bar.
48mins
Good move by City as Corluka's cross finds Bianchi but the Italian places the ball straight at Bywater
47mins
Teale's first touch puts Derby in trouble and Mears is forced to clear for a throw
45mins
Jones is replaced by Gary Teale as Derby look for a more attacking formation
45mins
City kick off the second half having scored their first home goal since New Year's Day in the first 45
45mins
In an even and sometimes drab contest, one moment of magic from Johnson gives City a 1-0 halftime lead
44mins
Petrov booked for a late challenge on Fagan as Derby advance
43mins
Goal for City: Johnson wriggles free on the edge of the box and a one two with Elano results in the youngster hitting a 25 yard shot into the top corner with the outside of his boot. Bywater had no chance.
41mins
Elano swings a cross-field pass to Petrov but the impressive Mears heads it back to Bywater
39mins
Best chance of the game as a poor defensive header from Dunne leaves Pearson through on goal but he decides to take the ball around Schmeichel and the rookie keeper is able to make the save
37mins
Great skill from Elano as twists the Derby midfield inside and out and then nutmegs Todd
35mins
City fans scream for a penalty as Mears appears to handle the ball in the area but the ref waves away the appeal.
33mins
Elano swings a freekick to the back post for City but keeper Bywater takes the ball unchallenged
32mins
Ireland advances with the ball and tries a cheeky chip over Bywater but the ball is hit too hard
31mins
Jones' shot is charged down by the City wall but the away fans think the wall advanced too quickly
30mins
Griffin's low cross is cleared by City but Jones is hacked down on the edge of the box for a dangerous Derby freekick
29mins
It's 766 minutes since City scored a home goal...and it looks like home fans could be waiting even longer at this rate
28mins
Oakley concedes a freekick after a foul on Johnson but Elano's chip into the box goes straight to Bywater in the Derby goal
26mins
Jones lets rip with a great left foot shot that hits the City post - but the ref blows up for handball
25mins
Dunne gets himself in trouble as he tries to flick a ball over Fagan's head and concedes a freekick
24mins
Pearson scuffs a freekick straight into the City wall from a good position
22mins
Derby are playing some nice one touch football but Fagan's flicked pass to Oakley is too strong
21mins
Johnson skips pass two Derby challenges and unleashes the best shot of the match but his 25 yarder goes inches over the bar
19mins
Petrov takes advantage of Mears being out of position but his cross to Johnson is headed weakly at Bywater
18mins
Bywater collects an inswinging corner from Petrov
17mins
Ireland's pass is cut out by Todd for a corner to City
16mins
City break with Johnson but his pass to Elano is intercepted by the impressive Mears
14mins
Both sides are trying to create chances but quality in the final third is missing
13mins
Derby's custard coloured away kit is the only thing catching the eye in a quiet start to the game
10mins
Petrov makes a darting run through the Derby midfield but Davis expertly cuts out his through ball for Elano
9mins
Petrov's shot is cleared by Davis for City's first corner of the game
8mins
Vedran Corluka is nudged off the ball by Griffin to win a freekick for City in a dangerous position
7mins
Richard Dunne hacks away a Mears cross for Derby's first corner of the evening.
6mins
Derby begin to pass the ball well down the flanks and good work by Tyrone Mears sees a dangerous cross cleared by Javier Garrido
4mins
Blumer Elano shows his class as he cuts into the box for City and drills the ball acorss the Derby goalmouth but Andy Todd clears at the back post
3mins
A dangerous ball into the box by Andy Griffin is completely missed by the Man City defence but Steve Howard can only head wide.
1mins
Fagan is up ended by Johnson. Dangerous free kick to Derby
1mins
Micah Richards is in commanding form at centre back as he heads clear an early lofted ball into the box to the cheers of the City faithful
0mins
The passionate City crowd welcome their side onto the pitch for the first home game of the season.
0mins
Sven-Goran Eriksson sticks with the same starting eleven that beat West Ham on the opening day, with Kasper Schmeichel continuing in goal for City
0mins
For Derby, David Jones comes in for Robert Earnshaw who drops to the bench in an otherwise unchanged line up from the draw with Portsmouth at Pride Park on Saturday
Match Preview
Sven-Goran Eriksson's Manchester City side have the perfect opportunity to build on Saturday's impressive 2-0 victory at West Ham United when they take on Derby County at Eastlands on Wednesday.
The Rams are overwhelming favourites to make an immediate return to the Championship following their promotion via the play-offs in May, although Billy Davies' side showed plenty of battling qualities in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Portsmouth.
However, it was Eriksson's side that took most of the weekend plaudits after the Swede had been criticised in the build-up to the game at Upton Park.
He was rebuked for signing no English players and then ridiculed for saying that he had made most of his purchases after seeing them only on video.
The former England boss wasted no time in hitting back at his critics, saying after his side's success in east London: "It can only be stupid people who say I would sign players I did not know anything about.
"Okay, I haven't seen all of them play nine or ten times, but I have big scouting staff at the club and I have as many videos as I need to watch."
Eriksson is likely to start with Kasper Schmeichel in goal after the youngster's clean sheet at Upton Park. First-choice shot-stopper Andreas Isaksson continues to be sidelined with a fractured thumb.
Derby boss Billy Davies will be able to take his place on the touchline after serving his one-match ban against Pompey.
He will once again be without the services of Giles Barnes though as the youngster is likely to be out of action for another month with a fractured metatarsal.
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Match Report
Teenager Michael Johnson finally ended Manchester City's 227-day scoring drought at Eastlands with what proved to be their match-winning goal against Derby.
It earned City their second successive win as new manager Sven-Goran Eriksson maintained his 100 per cent record in the Premier League.
And what a difference Eriksson's arrival has made with a buzz of excitement and expectancy replacing last season's more sombre and subdued mood.
While Eriksson has spent £40million in pursuit of silverware, ironically it was the home produced Johnson who eclipsed many of City's more established players.
After an uninspiring opening, Johnson broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute with a move which he initiated and ultimately executed.
Johnson made a decisive burst through the centre of midfield before taking a return pass from Brazilian Elano and then curling an exquisite shot with the outside of his boot into the top corner from well outside the penalty area.
It was the only meaningful action of the dull opening period as Derby failed to create a clear-cut chance, having dropped striker Robert Earnshaw - their £3.5million record buy - and choosing to play a stifling 4-5-1 formation.
City remained the livelier in the second half but rarely threatened to increase their lead, although Elano and Stephen Ireland both had decent attempts at goal.
Derby showed plenty of enterprise but lacked firepower in the final third of the pitch until manager Billy Davies finally threw caution to the wind by bringing on Earnshaw for the final 20 minutes in a last-ditch bid for his side to claw their way back into the match.
But it was too late for Earnshaw to make any impact and it was City's substitutes, Geovanni and Valeri Bojinov, who were by far the more dangerous of the replacements.
Brazilian Geovanni made several dangerous raids down the right wing but nobody was able to get on the end of his dangerous crosses.
And in the dying minutes, jubilant fans started chanting the name of Eriksson who has quickly become a favourite.
City have every cause to feel confident as they will go into Sunday's local derby ahead of rivals Manchester United in the table - something of a rarity in recent years.
Manchester City Team
Derby County Team
Manchester City | Derby County |
Corners
| 4 | 4 |
Fouls
| 12 | 13 |
Goal attempts
| 9 | 5 |
Shots off target
| 3 | 2 |
Offsides
| 1 | 9 |



89mins
The fourth official indicates 3 mins of added time