City and New Year's Day: Five memorable matches | OneFootball

Playing on New Year’s Day has been an English tradition stretching back more than 100 years.

In recent times, a game on January 1 has been less frequent for City, but here, we highlight five matches since the turn of the 21st Century that were memorable for one reason or another.

New Year’s Day 2005

City 2-1 Southampton

There are a couple of reasons this encounter is featured.

Our win over Southampton came towards the end of Kevin Keegan’s reign as manager.

The Blues were at their unpredictable best, and it was almost impossible to call the next result.

A rare Paul Bosvelt strike gave City the lead on 19 minutes, with the wind and rain battering the near-43,000 Etihad crowd.

But, as often was the case around this period, the game was lit up by Shaun Wright-Phillips whose 30-yard fizzer of a shot put the Blues 2-0 up five minutes before the break.

Kevin Phillips halved the deficit on 90 minutes, but it was too little, too late for the visitors.

New Year’s Day 2007

City 2-1 Everton

Stuart Pearce’s City were enduring a largely miserable season.

Indeed, the spectre of a relegation battle was beginning to loom large until a surprising 1-0 Boxing Day win at Sheffield United was followed with another 1-0 win on the road at West Ham.

Next up were David Moyes’ Everton at the Etihad.

A fairly low key first-half ended 0-0, but Pearce’s decision to bring on striker Georgios Samaras after the break proved a masterstroke.

The Greek star first converted a penalty on 49 minutes, and then added a second on 70 to make it 2-0.

Leon Osman pulled one back for the Toffees on 84 but City held out to make it maximum points over the festive period.

New Year’s Day 2013

City 3-0 Stoke City

Such was the red-hot form of Roberto Mancini’s City that nothing less than a victory was expected against Stoke.

And the Blues wouldn’t disappoint.

The first meeting had ended in a hard fought 1-1 draw in the Potteries, and for 43 minutes, Tony Pulis’ side kept the Premier League leaders at bay – until Pablo Zabaleta broke the deadlock.

Further strikes from Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero (penalty) wrapped up three points and the perfect start to 2013 for the  defending Premier League champions.

New Year’s Day 2014

Swansea 2-3 City

Manuel Pellegrini had replaced Mancini in the hotseat, and City were purring under the Chilean, though we still trailed Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Perhaps the date, the kick-off time and the quality of the opposition meant this was a more laboured three points on this occasion.

Fernandinho put the Blues ahead on 14 minutes, but a Swans leveller deep into first half by Wilfried Bony made it 1-1.

Yaya Touré's deflected shot restored City’s lead on 56 and a wonderful third from Aleks Kolarov eight minutes later gave Pellegrini’s side much-needed breathing space.

It would prove decisive, too, with Bony again scoring in added time as the Blues held out for a 3-2 win.

New Year’s Day 2022

Arsenal 1-2 City

There was much criticism of City’s 12:30 kick-off on New Year’s Day and a long Bank Holiday trip for our fans to North London.

But it would be a joyous game for the travelling Blues in a game that ebbed and flowed throughout.

Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead on 31 minutes, threatening to end our 10-match winning run  on the road.

City, however, were up for the challenge.

Bernardo won a penalty on 57 minutes – coolly converted by Riyad Mahrez – and a couple of minutes later, Gabriel was sent off for the hosts.

10-man Arsenal looked to have held on for a decent point until three minutes into added time when Rodri poked home a dramatic winner to make it 2-1.

The Spaniard set off to celebrate, but slid towards the home fans instead, much to their chagrin!

The victory left Pep Guardiola’s men 11 points clear of second-place Chelsea and was the ideal start to the new year.

WATCH: Arsenal 1-2 City: Extended highlights