NOVPUB
Chapter 139: Miracle April
April Fixtures:
Wigan
Hull City
Peterborough United
Stockport County
Notts County
City had five games left in April and were sitting just eight points behind Birmingham, who were currently at the top of the table.
After their stunning victory over Birmingham, the team’s morale soared, fueling O’Neill’s determination to push City toward automatic promotion.
O’Neill tapped the table repeatedly. "Eight points, guys, just eight points. We’re so close to first place! We’ve come this far, and now we need to finish strong. Every match counts. We can do this!"
The situation was now truly precarious for the top teams in the second division. One slip-up, and everything could fall apart.
Everyone knew the margin for error was razor-thin. But knowing wasn’t enough. They had to prove it on the pitch.
"All right, everybody! Get dressed, we’re going out for training!"
When everyone else had gotten up and gone out, Jamie Pollock was still sitting on the bench, not having changed his clothes.
Ronaldo, the kind and social guy, naturally noticed this. He wanted to go up, grab Pollock, and push him out, but Campbell stopped him with a shake of his head.
As the captain, Campbell noticed it too. He took responsibility and clapped his hands, saying loudly, repeating the coach’s command, "Get dressed, we’re going out for training!"
However, he didn’t approach Pollock or remind him personally.
Keith Gillespie, the recently promoted youngster, still on the bench, walked over to Pollock. He tapped his shoulder and whispered his name, "Jamie, Jamie."
"Huh?" Pollock snapped out of it, looking at Gillespie, somewhat confused.
"Everyone’s already at the pitch. You took so long to change. If the boss finds out, he’ll certainly be angry."
"Oh, right. Yeah, he hates being late for training and things like that," Pollock nodded, muttering to himself.
It was drizzling under the gloomy sky. The rain was not heavy, but it was cold enough.
O’Neill and Walker stood in the corridor leading to the training ground, drenched by the cold rain. It was now 8:59 AM. They weren’t carrying umbrellas, nor were they wearing raincoats or pullovers. They just stood there, letting the rain soak through their hair and clothes, trickling down their necks and into their bodies.
They waited, but still, no one came running out.
Robertson, who had already started counting the players and marking their names, glanced over and said to O’Neill, "Jamie Pollock, Keith Gillespie, Graham Fenton, and Shaun Goater still aren’t out there."
O’Neill nodded, his gaze fixed on the empty field. "I understand. I don’t expect a player who was coached by Alan Ball—someone who preferred chatting with his wife during training—to suddenly lead a disciplined group who respects time. But it’s a bit surprising that after all this time under me, they still hasn’t changed."
He glanced at his watch—it was now exactly 9 o’clock.
"Let’s start counting the time,"
Robertson nodded and started the stopwatch.
After 47 seconds, Keith Gillespie finally came running out.
"Boss! Good morning!"
O’Neill smiled and nodded. "Morning. What about the others?" he asked.
"They’re still inside," Gillespie answered. "I’ve already rushed them along." He paused, suddenly remembering how much O’Neill hated tardiness, and quickly fell silent.
O’Neill looked at him. "Keith, you’re forty-seven seconds late. You know what to do?"
"Uh, I’ll run the laps," he replied, turning to head off, but O’Neill stopped him.
"Don’t worry, you’re not the only one today. Go to the field and wait."
Gillespie swallowed nervously. He knew everyone would be in for a tough day. As more players emerged, most of them greeted O’Neill with smiles, unaware of the impending punishment. He responded with a smile but said nothing about laps for being late.
"John," O’Neill began, "how many fixtures have we played so far this season, including the FA and League Cups?"
"Uhm, over fifty, probably?"
"Exactly fifty-six fixtures, including preseason," O’Neill confirmed.
"..."
"You know, my expectation was to be able to integrate the newcomers with the players left over from Alan Ball’s time, hoping that some discipline would rub off on them and change them for the better. How many times have I allowed this to happen? Did this happen at Wycombe?" he cursed under his breath before adding, "I think I’ll drop them now."
Robertson shook his head, however. "It could go either way, depending on the situation."
O’Neill turned to him. "Why do you say that?"
Robertson replied, "As you said, we’ve shifted our goal from just making the play-offs to pushing for promotion. With only ten games left in the league, dropping players now might set an example—but it could also increase pressure and make the squad more tense."
O’Neill gave a slow nod. "So, what’s your advice?"
"It’s better to avoid making a scene right now," Robertson said. "Keep things steady."
"Goddammit," O’Neill muttered.
"That doesn’t mean we stay silent," Robertson continued. "You can still hand out discipline where it’s due. But if you’re planning a full cleanup, it’s better to wait until next season. That would be the smarter move."
"Is that so?" no𝚟𝚙u𝚋.c𝚘m
Robertson nodded. That was his honest view.
He had been by O’Neill’s side since their early days at Wycombe. Naturally, O’Neill trusted his judgment.
Fixture 37 – vs. Wigan (Away)
The first half began with Wigan dominating possession right from the start. Their midfield trio moved the ball smoothly, forcing City to chase shadows.
The waterlogged pitch made it difficult for City’s players to play their usual game. For the first 15 minutes, they struggled to keep up.
Roberto Carlos even mistimed a tackle early on, earning a warning from the referee. Given was then forced into an early save after a dangerous free kick.
O’Neill didn’t flinch. He turned toward his assistant, Robertson.
"They’re cutting through us too easily," he muttered.
"Better adjust the defensive midfield line. Drop Gallas deeper to cover the gaps," Robertson suggested.
O’Neill nodded. "William! Sit deeper! Stop the runners from getting in behind!"
Gallas, who had already adapted well to his temporary role, adjusted his positioning. He stayed closer to the center-backs, cutting off Wigan’s easy passing lanes through the middle.
The change started to work.
City’s midfield tightened up, forcing Wigan to play out wide instead of slicing through the middle.
But out wide, the opponent is not easy—Roberto Carlos and Cafu.
Finally, in the 72nd minute, Cafu managed to steal the ball, sprinted down the right flank, and whipped in a perfect cross into the box.
Young Emile Heskey met it with a diving header.
GOAL!
0–1.
Fixture 38 – vs. Hull City (Home)
The Blues dispatched Hull City 2-0 at Maine Road, and fortunately, the fixture coincidentally had Birmingham City facing Brentford, which ended in a draw. This result put City just five points away from an automatic promotion spot."
League Table:
Birmingham City – 68 Points
Brentford – 67 Points
Manchester City – 62 Points
Blackpool – 61 Points
Bristol Rovers – 60 Points
Wycombe Wanderers – 58 Points
Fixture 39 – vs. Peterborough United (Home)
It was supposed to be an easy match for City, who were facing Peterborough United — a team currently battling relegation in the second division.
Eventually, the goals came flowing for City as they triumphed 4–0, with the Alien scoring a hat-trick for the fourth time this season. He’s now the top scorer, with an impressive 27 goals, a staggering 8 goals ahead of the second-place player!
Solskjær sits in third place with 16 goals, tied with Birmingham’s striker, Steve Claridge.
However, Birmingham and Brentford also secured victories, so the gap to second place remains unchanged at 5 points.
Fixture 40 – vs. Stockport County (Away)
After being postponed due to bad weather at Stockport’s Hardcastle Road, it was the fourth consecutive victory for City in April.
The challenging pitch conditions made it difficult for City throughout the match, but thankfully, the team delivered a stellar performance in the final minutes.
The only goal of the game came from a fantastic 30-yard free-kick by Cafu.
Stockport County 0 - 1 Manchester City.
Fixture 41 – vs. Notts County (Away)
Richard, unable to attend the match in person, decided to follow it on the radio while working in his office.
The commentators mentioned that City’s play today felt unusual, with a style completely different from their typical approach. This caught Richard by surprise, and the fact that no goals had been scored yet made him worry something was wrong with the team.
Suddenly, sharp shouting broke through the radio.
"Ronaldo! Ronaldo again! And Goooal!!! It’s 0-1! Manchester City takes the lead!"
Richard leaped out of his chair, shouting and waving his arms as the excitement from the radio filled the room. He felt just like one of the fans in the stands, jumping and cheering wildly, all wearing blue jerseys.
After calming down from his own celebration, he was about to sit back and continue listening. Then, even more enthusiastic shouting came through the radio. "It’s a... It’s a goal! Ronaldo again, making it 2-0!"
"This is incredible! City’s performance was a bit off for the first 29 minutes, but in just three minutes, they’ve scored twice! Ronaldo has truly made the difference! He’s the new City hero! Who needs Georgi ’Predator’ Kinkladze when we’ve got Ronaldo the ’Alien’?! He’s been phenomenal!"
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Suddenly, there was an urgent knock on the door of his office, and Miss Heysen rushed in. "Richard! Birmingham drew, and Brentford lost!"
Richard’s eyes widened in shock.
"F*CK!!!"
The Second Division table flashed through his mind, and the impact of those results was clear—City’s chances were looking even brighter now.
Birmingham City – 74 Points
Brentford – 74 Points
Manchester City – 71 Points
Bristol Rovers – 69 Points
Blackpool – 68 Points
Wycombe Wanderers – 67 Points
