It had all begun with bright promise, Joe Royle unveiling former World Player of the Year, George Weah in a laser Blue shirt and within weeks striker Paulo Wanchope was added to the strike force.
Sunderland were whipped 4-2 in City's first home game of the new campaign with Paulo Wanchope, the club's record signing at £3.6m, banging in a hat-trick.
Three days later the early signs of what was to come were perhaps there, but who noticed? City were defeated 2-1 by Coventry at Maine Road, an own goal from skipper Richard Edghill helping the Sky Blues to maximum points and condemning the defender to exile in the reserves.
A 2-1 win at Leeds United took City to 7th spot in the Premiership, it was to be their highest position all season, with goals from Gerard Wiekens and new signing Steve Howey.

Those two matches set the pattern for the season. City bright and determined as they re-acquainted themselves with the Premiership stadiums on their travels, but nervous and faltering at home.
Along the way there were some painful defeats, 5-0 at Arsenal and then, despite taking the lead and dominating at Upton Park in the first half of the game, succumbing to a 4-1 drubbing with all the Hammers goals coming in the second half.

George Weah had a public bust up with Joe Royle, as least the striker went public while the manager maintained a dignified silence. The Liberian left for France and Marseille but there were no tears around Moss Side. In his three month stay the striker had scored four goals. One against Liverpool in the League and three against First Division Gillingham in the Worthington Cup.

The teams only two back to back victories came at Southampton followed by the visit to Maine Road of Bradford in the second week in October. There were raised hopes as City took Everton apart 5-0 at Maine Road at the start of December with Shaun Goater scoring his first goal in the Premiership after fighting his way back from an injury which had sidelined him from the start of the season.

A 4-0 defeat by Charlton at Maine Road on the last day of the year saw City slip into the relegation zone for the first time. ut failure to win at home with 1-0 defeats at the hands of Spurs and Southampton opened the trap door. There was no escape. On the penultimate match of the season at Ipswich, City had to win to keep alive their hopes of taking the relegation issue to the last game of the season.

With sixteen minutes to go Shaun Goater scored a brave goal but, as so often during the season, City failed to protect their lead and Ipswich turned the tables with two late goals. It was a miserable journey back from Portman Road.

The final home game of the season against Chelsea saw City go down 3-1 and within two days Joe Royle was sacked by the City board who cited "fundamental differences" for the reasons behind Royle becoming the club's ninth managerial casualty in a decade.

On Thursday 24th May former England boss, Kevin Keegan was unveiled as the new manager who signed a six year contract at a reported £6m with the aim of restoring Premiership status to the club at within a season.

It was the culmination of a season of wonderful entertaining football, pure Keegan magic at times, providing rich memories of a hat-ful of quality goals. And from the opening day of the season it was what the fans had expected.

Against a much fancied Watford side new signing Eyal Berkovic took the game by the neck and paraded his skills with a typical arrogance. He capped his performance with a debut goal. It was one of two debut goals the other coming from Stuart Pearce. At thirty nine the former England international was to prove a rock in defence while his leadership qualities off the field were invaluable.

Shaun Goater was the other scorer that day as City ran out 3-0 winners that day. It was the first of a thirty two haul as he became the first City player since Francis Lee in 1971 to score thirty in a season.

But the bright opening and high expectations took a battering as City looked vulnerable on their travels being beaten by Norwich in the second game and then taking a 4-0 hammering by West Brom at the Hawthorns in early September. It was after that defeat that Kevin Keegan subsequently admitted he set about changing things in the squad.

In mid September an Algerian midfielder, Ali Benarbia called in for lunch with the coaching staff at City's Carrington training complex. The midfielder was on the look out for an English club and had just had a trial with Sunderland. Whatever was on the menu that day has not been revealed but whatever the price it was the cheapest lunch which Kevin Keegan will ever stand anyone. Ali Benarbia, a free transfer from Paris St Germain, became City's talisman for the club's march back to the elite.

The playmaker's skill, his vision, passing range and all round play lit up the First Division. Goal after goal was created by this most affable of players and often in tandem with Eyal Berkovic destroyed the opposition.

His influence off the pitch too was immense coaching and helping Shaun Wright-Phillips who, as the season progressed, made significant strides on the pitch knocking in 8 goals along the way and earning a call up to the England U21 squad.

By mid-December City were second in the Division and at the turn of the Year claimed top spot. Apart from a couple of weeks at the end of February as they concentrated on the FA Cup they remained in top spot.

It proved too to be a record breaking season for the Blues equalling the club's all time scoring record of 108 goals in a season. Amidst the celebrations on the final day of the season at Maine Road Kevin Keegan took the salute of the fans but was quick to remind everyone that all he has done in his first season was to take the club back to where it belonged, the Premiership.