The final game of the 2014-15 season, which saw a 2-0 win for City against Southampton, is likely to be better remembered for the departures and standing ovations than it will be for the result after what was a poor season for The Blues, although the end was topped off by a strong six-game winning run.
We saw an unchanged team from Manuel Pellegrini, although a change in captaincy with Joe Hart giving it up to Frank Lampard, who was given the chance to captain the side in what was almost certainly his last game in England before he makes the move to New York City this summer. He would later be substituted off by Pellegrini, to a standing ovation from both City and Southampton fans.
Despite Vincent Kompany saying prior to the game that The Blues would be fighting to win their final game of the season, the visitors appeared more eager to get a final-day win, targeting Martin Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala early on. However, Hart stood up to any challenge and City eventually took the lead on 31 minutes, with Lampard marking his final appearance with a goal. James Milner received the ball on the right-hand side of the box, and put in a low cross to the unmarked Lampard, who had little trouble in putting the ball into the back of the net, like he’s done so many times before. As expecting, chants of “Super Frankie Lampard” rang around Eastlands, with the midfielder having endeared himself to City fans in his spell with the club.
City tried to further their lead in the remainder of the first half, but other than a good effort from Aguero which forced a swift save from Kelvin Davis, there was little going and City went in at half-time 1-0 ahead.
The second half saw Aguero score a late goal and seal the Golden Boot ahead of Harry Kane, but the much more memorable parts of the half were the substitutions. Over the course of the 45 minutes, Lampard, James Milner and Yaya Toure all made their way off of the pitch, each receiving a standing ovation. It’s difficult to see them playing for City again, but their contributions to The Blues will not go forgotten. Each will be remembered, even if for slightly different reasons.
To top off the season, Sergio Aguero scored a simple header following a headed assist from Mangala, and has earned his place as the league’s top scorer, although many would have thought it unlikely following his injury and subsequent run of poor form. He’ll now be looking forward to the Copa America, and then next season; with fitness, we could see an even larger total from the Argentine next season.
This season probably won’t go down in the history books as one to remember, and rightly so, but it’s good to have ended it in the fashion that we have. Following the derby defeat in April, few would have expected us to be second by the end of the 38th game, but we’ve managed it, and we probably deserve it after these six games. Pellegrini now looks likely to stay, we’ve got a whole summer to improve our squad and hopefully we won’t be in this sort of situation again.
