The atmosphere for that game was just menacing. Spotted guys in football jackets from other cities who were out for trouble, and saw three or four scuffles break out inside OT and outside too.
Twelve months later, much much more pleasant an ambiance all round.
Costello's prior to the metro is an option.

We will be travelling in on club coach does anyone know of a pub near by...or may be a case of just killing time till kick off

Driving there and back, may have a few wine gums if things are going well

Seems like Northern Rail are living up to their reputation again with strikes and Eccles is out of the equation for people. So I'd imagine most Wire fans will be heading to the game via Oxford Road or Piccadilly train stations. If Oxford Road, there are a few decent options within a few minutes walk which give you easy access to the tram from St Peters Square or Deansgate.

If you want cheap and cheerful then you've got a choice of Wetherspoons, The Paramount, which is on the corner of Oxford Road and Portland Street or The Waterhouse (my preference) which is by the Town Hall on Princess Street. If you're after a Sports pub then The Courtyard is cheap and cheerful and a couple of minutes the opposite direction, just over the road from where the old BBC building used to be.

Quite a few real ale type pubs also in the vicinity of Oxford Road station, The Lass O'Gowrie, Peveril of the Peak, Briton's Protection and City Road Inn all within spitting distance. You're unlikely to get in Rain Bar though as they're a bit ar$ey about people wearing sports shirts.

If you're looking for a good bar near the ground I'd recommend The Dockyard. Slightly more expensive than your average boozer but it has some decent draft bevvies and the music is quality (plenty of Indie and no Taylor Swift/1D etc) and not the sort of e you'll have to put up with in some of the city centre bars!

PS. As a thank you for this helpful advice can we have BMM back please?