Football; Manchester City run up record victory

MANCHESTER CITY proved a class above their Second Division rivals Notts County, running up a record 7-1 victory at Maine Road in the Worthington Cup last night for a 9-1 margin on aggregate and a place in the second round.

City, relegated to an all-time low point in the League last season, went ahead through Gary Mason in the sixth minute, and an avalanche of goals followed. Paul Dickov (16 and 58), Shaun Goater (38 and 90), Lee Bradbury (21) and Jim Whitley (69) claimed City's other goals, while Steve Torpey scored County's sole reply four minutes from time.

Joe Royle, the City manager, dedicated the victory to the club's long- suffering fans. "I'd have rather had three points at Fulham last week, but this result was really for the fans," he said. "They have not seen too many results like this in recent years, so it was something for them to savour and enjoy. City's fans really deserved something like that after all the problems they have had to witness. "

A goal from Birmingham's Dele Adebola was enough to earn them a 1-1 draw at Millwall, which took them through to the second round, 3-1 on aggregate. The former Crewe forward struck in the 45th minute to equalise Paul Shaw's 26th-minute opener for Millwall.

Carl Heggs put Northampton through at the expense of Brighton at the Third Division side's new Withdean Stadium. Heggs' extra-time equaliser ensured a 3-2 aggregate victory for the Second Division club, after Richard Barker had scored in the 48th minute.

In Sarajevo, Elvir Baljic scored Bosnia's first goal in international competition to help them to a 1-0 Group Nine victory over the Faroe Islands in the country's first European Championship qualifying game.

The World Cup holders, Frances, were held 2-2 by Austria in a friendly match, their first outing since the World Cup final defeat of Brazil. Alain Boghossian scored a French equaliser six minutes before the end after Mario Haas and Ivica Vastic's penalty had wiped out an early strike by Lilian Laslandes.