CITY enjoyed the perfect start to 2023 with a pulsating 3-2 victory over Salford.

T&A chief sports writer SIMON PARKER was at Valley Parade to see another home win and provides the match stats and his player ratings.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Vadaine Oliver is claiming a brace but even if he’s only credited with one goal the centre forward led from the front for City. Tyreik Wright was also involved in most things with another excellent personal display.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

It was quite emotional to see Abo Eisa celebrating in front of the Kop as he put all that injury trouble behind him by scoring the winning goal.

MOAN OF THE MATCH

Referee Neil Hair was not a popular figure with the City fans and seemed to let more go with the visitors at times.

TACTICS

Mark Hughes was happy to stick with what he’d got after Thursday and named an unchanged line-up.

The only difference was Jamie Walker’s return on the bench in place of Dion Pereira.

REFEREE: Neil Hair (Peterborough)

BOOKINGS: Wright, Chapman, Platt, Walker (City); Nartey, Watt (Salford)

ATTENDANCE: 17,521

SHOTS ON TARGET: City 6 Salford 3

SHOTS OFF TARGET: City 8 Salford 8

CORNERS: City 4 Salford 6

FOULS: City 16 Salford 14

PLAYER RATINGS

CITY: Lewis 7, Halliday 7, Platt 6, Crichlow 7, Foulds 6, Smallwood 7, Gilliead 7, Sutton 6 (Eisa 67min), Chapman 7 (Walker 67min), Wright 8 (Songo’o 85min), Oliver 8 (Cook 67min). Subs (not used): East, Odusina, Doyle.

SALFORD: King 6, Bolton 6, Vassell 6, Nartey 6, Touray 7, Galbraith 6, Watt 6, Watson 6, Bailey 7, Smith 7, McAleny 8. Subs (not used): Leak, Tolaj, Lowe, Dackers, Eastham, Berkoe, Chapman.