 During Barnes ' first full season in the first team Manchester City enjoyed a successful run in the FA Cup . As a top @-@ flight team Manchester City entered the competition in the third round , facing Derby County . Barnes scored the opening goal in a 3 – 1 win , his first goal in professional football . A derby victory against Manchester United and a win against Luton Town followed , setting up a quarter @-@ final against his boyhood heroes Birmingham City . Single goal victories against Birmingham and Sunderland gave City a place in the final , where they faced Newcastle United . However , hampered by the loss of Jimmy Meadows to injury after 18 minutes , City were beaten 3 – 1 . 
