Manchester City have stepped in to help out some supporters who came unstuck in Lisbon. Pep Guardiola's side thrashed Sporting 5-0 last month in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, but while the 2500 Blues in the stadium loved the game some had flags stolen on their way to the ground by opposition fans.
The club spoke to Kevin Parker and the Official Supporters' Club to try to see what they could do about the lost flags and, having worked with any supporters who came forward, replacements were sourced and printed in time for the return fixture with Sporting on Wednesday evening. As an added bonus, two fans who were able to attend the game were handed their new flags by club ambassador Paul Dickov ahead of kick-off.
Russ Cowper, 56, from Cheadle, has been following the team home and away for as long as he can remember and counts the Jose Alvalade Stadium as one of more than 100 he has visited watching the Blues. He was sitting outside a bar when he got his new flag out to show a friend and saw it swiftly pinched by a group of lads in balaclavas who ran past and swiped it before singing Sporting songs and disappearing.
