Shaun Goater was given a chance to impress Manchester City boss Kevin Keegan last night - but was unable to take it.

The Bermudian striker started for the first time this season in Premiership City's League Cup clash against Second Division Crewe at Maine Road.

Paired up front with Nicolas Anelka, he was preferred to the Frenchman's usual strike partner Darren Huckerby.

But Goater and City got off to the worst possible start, conceding a goal to Rodney Jack after just 20 seconds.

Despite intense pressure City could not find an equaliser, Goater's best chance coming when the `keeper saved his header from six yards out.

With the Blues looking as if they might be about to exit the competition, Keegan took off Goater and Lucien Mettomo, throwing on Huckerby and Shaun Wright-Phillips in their places.

The double substitution worked wonders with Eyal Berkovic equalising after 69 minutes.

Richard Walker helped turn the tide when he put through his own net to put City 2-1 up after 84 minutes and although Rob Hulse equalised a minute later, Huckerby was on hand to net the City winner another 60 seconds later.

"Huckerby and Shaun (Wright-Phillips) definitely gave us an injection of pace and livened us up," said Keegan afterwards. "A few of us before then were running out of ideas, which is unlike us, and I think we got away with it tonight."

Meanwhile, yesterday's