One moment in time: Goalscorer to goalkeeper!

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Manchester City F.C.

·11. Mai 2026

One moment in time: Goalscorer to goalkeeper!

Ahead of the visit of Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, we go back into the archives for a memorable encounter with the Eagles.

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City welcome Oliver Glasner’s side to the Etihad Stadium on 13 May for a 20:00 (UK) kick-off as we aim to maintain the pressure at the top of the Premier League.

Back in May 1989, Palace were the visitors to Maine Road for a huge match as both sides chased promotion to the top-flight.

And it’s a day that will be remembered for an extraordinary performance from City’s Nigel Gleghorn as we secured a point that would ultimately prove crucial.

Mel Machin’s City were second in the table fighting off the challenge from the London side for the final promotion spot.

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And it was a strong side that arrived at Moss Side with the deadly striking duo of Ian Wright and Mark Bright leading their attacking line.

A packed Maine Road erupted in the eighth minute when Gleghorn steered in the opening goal.

But there was a stunned silence when the teams reappeared for the second half with Gleghorn now wearing the goalkeeper’s jersey.

Andy Dibble had suffered a re-emergence of an injury picked up earlier in the season at Walsall and with no substitute goalkeeper, Gleghorn had taken the gloves.

And he was required to do so again against Palace, this time against a formidable frontline with potential promotion on the line.

Gleghorn rose to the task and made a number of good saves and collected crosses to ease the pressure on the defence.

He was eventually beaten by a fierce Wright strike with 15 minutes remaining but City held on for a crucial 1-1 draw that kept Palace at arm’s length in the promotion race.

“It was an experience I have to say,” Gleghorn said later. “To play in front of that sort of crowd in that big a game was just mind-blowing.

“I don’t think you can describe how you feel. You feel comfortable enough when you’re in your own position in a game that size when you’re really looking forward to it.

“But when you’re thrust into a position where mistakes are so unforgiving, you realise what goalkeepers have to go through.”