FA Premiership/Manchester City 3 Charlton Atletic 2: With Stuart Pearce admitting yesterday that he would not mind talking to the English FA about its impending vacancy after all, his tactical duel with Alan Curbishley was imbued with added significance.
Charlton's manager has, albeit discreetly, always let it be known that he would not be averse to succeeding Sven-Goran Eriksson and he will be disappointed to have lost this match to a leading rival.
Even so, neither man auditioned badly, with both displaying a commendable commitment to attack. Yet if Curbishley's late triple substitution and formational rearrangement very nearly earned Charlton a scarcely deserved equaliser, Pearce emphasised his man-management and talent-identification skills.
Many managers might have responded to Joey Barton's recent transfer request by having a major fall-out with the midfielder. Instead Pearce kept his cool, calmly explained why he felt let-down and challenged Barton to apologise on the pitch.
This policy has worked a treat, the Liverpudlian not only dominating midfield but creating two goals and scoring the other on an afternoon when Georgios Samaras, Pearce's inexperienced £6 million Greek signing from Heerenveen, stepped off the bench to begin his City goals tally with a fine header.
Yet if the day belonged to Barton and Samaras it was quickly eclipsed by England talk. "I don't know if we're on the list but it's like a fictitious horse race in which Stuart, Sam Allardyce and I are all stuck on different animals," Curbishley said.
Pearce seemed rather more relaxed. "It's quite nice to have your name associated with such a prestigious job," he said.
His side took the lead midway through the first half. Barton whipped in a cross that was helped on its journey by a defensive flick, the ball fell to Richard Dunne on the edge of the area and Thomas Myhre was powerless to prevent the centre-half's tremendous half-volley finding the bottom corner.
Although dominant, City's play lacked a necessary element of surprise, something Pearce introduced when he replaced Trevor Sinclair with Samaras at the interval. Pearce's 4-4-2 formation necessitated Darius Vassell transferring his pace to Sinclair's right-wing berth.
Yet six minutes into the half Charlton were level, Talal El Karkouri's long through-pass having undone the defence and picked out an onside Darren Bent who nipped between Dunne and Sylvain Distin before directing a shot past James.
No matter, though, as Samaras held off and then out-jumped Hermann Hreidarsson to plant a header beyond Myhre's reach after connecting with Barton's swerving right-wing cross. "Samaras needs coaching but you saw glimpses of the player he's going to become," enthused Pearce.
Barton then further redeemed himself by availing of Musampa's flick to unleash an unstoppable long-range shot with his right foot which crashed in off a post.
As City relaxed, Kishishev advanced down the right and his cross found Marcus Bent who beat David James with a firm header as Curbishley's triple substitution set up a thrilling finale.
The FA could always make them England's joint managers.
