MANCHESTER CITY found the tag of pre season promotion favourites a burden as first night nerves threatened to ruin their first League game of the season, with Ipswich at Maine Road.

Alan Ball's City, installed at 3 to 1 to make an instant return to the Premiership following last season's relegation, were thankful for Steve Lomas's first half goal as the expectation of a near 30,000 crowd took its toll. They were on tenterhooks for the last 25 minutes when German defender Michael Frontzeck was sent oft for a professional foul.

Not surprisingly, Georhi Kinkladze was the architect of City's goal. Drifting past two defenders, he glided over an inch perfect far post cross that allowed Lomas to simply head home.