Despite outplaying Joe Royle's Manchester City side for most of the game Town fell to a 1-0 defeat. Kevin Horlock's 58th winner after good work down the right from Paul Dickov consigned Town to an unfortunate loss.
The Blues, wearing orange, were unchanged from Saturday with Jim Magilton able to take his place in midfield after fears of a serious knee injury had been quashed. Town were dominant in the first half and only failed to turn this domination into a goal due to Nicky Weaver's excellence in goal and our own profligacy. Particularly of note was David Johnson's open goal miss from four yards after Weaver had parried a Mickey Stockwell effort. It was not a happy evening for the striker who left the field just before half-time with a thigh injury after a clash with the Manchester City goalkeeper. Richard Naylor replaced him admirably and arguably was Town's best player on the night.
Town continued to be the better team, but Manchester City looked a better side in the second half, although they would probably count themselves lucky to have gone ahead so soon after the break.
Town kept Nicky Weaver busy with great saves from Scowcroft, Naylor and Axeldal. Town's full backs were keeping the City wingers quiet, with Fabian Wilnis notably back to the form of last season.
Burley's men continued pressing to the end and it was a relieved Manchester crowd who greeted the whistle, knowing that they had been thoroughly outplayed and that 'keeper Nicky Weaver had probably played the game of his life in contrast to the rather hesitant performance he game at Portman Road recently.
Not the result required by Town then, but still a heartening performance and one that sets us up nicely to break the Grimsby hoodoo on Saturday. The only other downside being the injury to Johnson which I'm sure more details will become available on later.
R Wright 6 Poor kicking
Wilnis 7 Excellent first half, possibly injured? (Croft 75)
Clapham 7 Got forward well
McGreal 6 Unsteady
Mowbray 7 Good organisation as ever
Venus 6 Fell over for goal
Stockwell 7 Usual self (Axeldal 69)
Magilton 6 Quiet
Holland 7 Usual Matty performance
Johnson 6 Missed sitter (Naylor 44, 8 Looked very dangerous)
Scowcroft 7 Some good efforts
Wanstead