Matchday Memories: On This Day 2007 – See Sky Blues ‘Maltese Messi’ Mifsud Miff Man.Utd. In L.C.

Iain Dowie

On this memorable night (26th September) in 2007 Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ Ian Dowie’s took his team to Old Trafford, the so-called ‘Theatre of Dreams’, to take on the reigning Premier League Champions Manchester United in the Carling Cup 3rd Round.

In the Championship, City had started 2007-08 with a bang winning three out of their first four league games and had only received their second defeat in seven games at Ipswich Town the previous Saturday. In this Cup we had disposed of Notts. County 3-0 at the Ricoh in Round One and Carlisle United 2-0 at Brunton Park to set up this juicy tie.

 

 

Michael in the Sky Blue

Over 11,400 members of the Sky Blue Army travelled up to Manchester for the game and prepared in anticipation of a great game with a big pre-match party in Salford Quays, neighbouring Old Trafford. The magnificent ground was then packed to the rafters with 74,055 fans (nearly 70,000 more than the Carlisle gate)!

United’s famous ‘gaffer’ Sir Alex Ferguson had obviously not taken the Sky Blues challenge too seriously (fielding a team of many reserve players and the likes of Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs missing. Comforted by a run of seven straight wins in the Premier League prior to the game Sir Alex asked the media to savour the performance of the club’s ‘future talent’. Sky Blue fans were delighted when their team handed out a big 2-0 surprise to the Red Devils and Sir Alex was reportedly ‘flabbergasted‘.

Michael Doyle in the Sky Blue

Both the Sky Blues goals came from our diminutive Maltese forward (and recent CCFPA recruit) Michael Mifsud. Ian Dowie‘s 4-5-1 formation worked splendidly against a novice home defence as the Sky Blues ‘Maltese Messi’ made his name famous in the the UK media with two stunning finishes, one in each half (27 & 71 minutes). Michael’s first came from chasing a cross into the box from (now fellow Association member) Michael Doyle.

Jay in Sky Blue action

His second came after he beat a United defender on the left, took a return from Jay Tabb and thumped the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak.    Sir Alex tried to bolster his team’s fortunes by introducing Michael Carrick off the bench but the Mancunians continued to look laboured as the Sky Blues got a deserved win and fans gave their fans a stunning away day and a night to remember!

Thanks to Dean Nelson you can watch fifteen minutes of the game from MUTV by clicking on the picture below:-

The Sky Blues fielded the following team (CCFPA members underlined -every man!):-

Andy Marshall, Isaac Osbourne (sub. David MacNamee -88), Michael Doyle, Elliott Ward, Ben Turner, Robbie Simpson, Stephen Hughes, Leon Best (‘Dele Adebola -90), Michael Mifsud and Jay Tabb.

Unused subs:- Arjan De Zeeuw, Kevin Thornton and Dimi Konstantopoulos (gk)

The Red Devils put out the following XI:-

Tomasz Kuszczak, Phil Bardsley (sub. Wes Brown -46), Danny Simpson, John O’Shea, Jonny Evans (sub. Michael Carrick -56), Gerard Pique, Lee Martin (sub. Fraizer Campbell -46), ‘Anderson’, Chris Eagles, Dong Fangzhuo and ‘Nani’  Unused subs:- Adam Eckersley           Referee: Mark Halsey (Lancs).

City Manager- Chris Coleman

After the euphoria of this win the following month things were less positive and West Ham United put us out of the Fourth Round of the League Cup by 2-1 at the Ricoh after taking a 68th minute lead from Jay Tabb only to concede an own goal from ‘Cov Kid’ (now CCFPA member) Marcus Hall two minutes later and a killer goal from future Sky Blue Joe Cole deep into injury time!  The season, of course, developed in a much less promising way with takeover plans stuttering and the resignation of City MD Paul Fletcher in October (to be replaced by Ray Ranson before Xmas as the threat of Administration was lifted.

Results and player morale suffered and Chris Coleman was placed in the CCFC hot seat after Iain Dowie‘s shock sacking in February.

Coventry City 2007-08

In the event, the Sky Blues escaped relegation in 21st position in the Championship, a point an a place above the drop. Leicester City were the somewhat unlucky fall guys (going down with Scunthorpe United and Colchester United), even after the Sky Blues had succumbed to a woeful last day of the season drubbing losing 4-1  at Charlton Athletic. 

At the other end of the table the promoted trio were champions West Bromwich Albion, runners up Stoke City and third placed Hull City (winning the play-offs).

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1992 – See CCFC & Canaries Stalemate (Including Nuddy’s Corker)!

Gould R the ‘gaffer’

On this day (26th September) in 1992 the Sky Blues were well into their 1992-93 season in the newly titled Premier League under ‘Cov Kid’ former player turned manager Bobby Gould (now a CCFPA member). The Sky Blues had only lost two and won six of their first nine league games and were looking to keep the great start going today at Highfield Road in second place. The team standing in their way happened to be top-of-the-table side Norwich City and the Canaries also featured one former Sky Blue 1987 F.A.Cup winning hero and a future ‘gaffer’ in their starting XI.

Nuddy in the Sky Blue

Match Of The Day cameras were there along with a 16,425 crowd to watch proceedings and, in truth, the battle between the Premier League top two failed to live up to expectations apart from the quality of the Sky Blue goal scored in the 37th minute to equalise the opener which came after thirteen minutes from Norwich’s Ian Crook (a decent strike capitalising on loose defending by City).

David Phillips

The Sky Blues’ ‘Goal Of The Month‘ contender came from our ‘Bulawayo Bullet’, Zimbabwean Peter Ndlovu. Nuddy brought the house down with a mazy dribble, bamboozling three defenders, before dummying Canaries’ ‘keeper Bryan Gunn to net. The side from East Anglia boasted in wide attack ex Sky Blue (now CCFPA member) David Phillips and heading up their forward line was current Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins. Both sides had their chances to break the deadlock but the Canaries were a decent side whose slick passing unnerved the Sky Blues defence at times. A draw was probably a fair result and left the away team as table toppers and the Sky Blues slipped to third.

 https://youtu.be/85XXkx5Mau8

The Sky Blues’ team this day  was (all team members apart from Phil later became CCFPA members):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Kenny Sansom (sub. Phil Babb), Peter Atherton, Andy Pearce, Peter Ndlovu, Lloyd McGrath, Lee Hurst, Robert Rosario, Kevin Gallacher and John Williams.

Phil Neal, the Gouldfather’s Assistant (who would go on to take over the gaffer’s chair from Bobby the following season) became part of the England set up this season.

Mark Robins in Canaries kit

Mike Walker‘s Norwich City lined up:-

Bryan Gunn, Ian Culverhouse, Mark Bowen, John Polston, Chris Sutton, Darryl Sutch, Ian Crook, Rob Newman, Mark Robins, Jeremy Goss and David Phillips.   Referee: Alf Buksh

CCFC connections with the Canaries today, apart from (now CCFPA member) David Phillips and Mark Robins, Norwich City‘s club captain this season (though not playing today) Ian Butterworth was an exciting Sky Blue talent from 1981-85 and is now an Association member.

The score between the two sides in the return at Carrow Road in mid January was exactly the same (1-1) with a goal from Sky Blue ‘Sumo’ Mick Quinn (another Association member today) cancelling one out from Chris Sutton.

CCFC 1992-93

Both sides slipped from their high spots in September, CCFC much more than the Canaries who finished third. The Sky Blues eventually completed the Premier League season in fifteenth spot three points clear of the drop zone which contained the relegated Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and bottom club Nottingham Forest.

Manchester United took the title fully ten points clear of runners up, Aston Villa.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1990 – See Snoz’s Sky Blues Turf Trotters Out Of League Cup

John Sillett- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’

On this day (26th September) in 1990 the Sky Blues were facing Bolton Wanderers in a League Cup second round first leg match at Highfield Road. Former Sky Blue full back (and CCFPA member)the late John Sillett was still the manager at this point (Terry Butcher took over in November) and under Snoz’s leadership the Sky Blues had only won one Division One league match so far. The League (Rumbelow’s) Cup tie proved a welcome distraction. Coincidentally, future Sky Blue gaffer Phil Neal was the Trotters ‘gaffer’ at this time and future Sky Blue (a fairly recent Association recruit) Julian Darby (1993-95) was in their forward line.

Micky in the Sky Blue

The Wanderers ‘gave it a good go’ and led twice thanks to a brace from Tony Philliskirk (on 31 and 54 minutes). Young Sky Blues defender  (and now CCFPA member) David Titterton making his debut was injured and had to be substituted after only fourteen minutes. His replacement (and now fellow CCFPA member) Kevin MacDonald struggled against Bolton’s speedy No.7 Stuart Storer. The Sky Blues were therefore relieved when (another CCFPA member now) Micky Gynn slotted home after 36 minutes to equalise to send the teams in at half-time all square.

Kevin in his playing days

Philliskirk’s second was neutralised by a Sky Blue goal from CCFPA member Kevin Gallacher after 65 minutes. The game was finely balanced until the Wanderers’ centre-half Dean Crombie was red carded for a professional foul after 77 minutes. This proved to be the turning point as CCFPA member Steve Livingstone took a hand and exploited the hole left by the sending off with two goals.

Steve in the Sky Blue

Steve’s first was only two minutes after Bolton went down to ten men and the coup-de-grace was applied in the 92nd minute to produce a final score of 4-2 to the City.

The second round victory was confirmed by a second leg Sky Blue 3-2 victory at Bolton on the 9th October. Tony Philliskirk got another brace (a goal at the end of each half) but so did Cyrille Regis and Big Cyrille’s fellow CCFPA member Kevin Gallacher got a solo. 

The goals from this day’s game, courtesy of former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson can be seen by clicking on the link or the image below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zopIAKOXcLY

The Sky Blues team that day was (CCFPA members underlined):-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, David Titterton (sub. Kevin MacDonald -14), Jose Perdomo, Brian Kilcline, Trevor Peake, Kevin Gallacher, Micky Gynn, the late Cyrille Regis, Steve Livingstone and David Smith.

The Trotters Team lined up:-

David Felgate, Phil Brown, David Burke, Scott Green, Dean Crombie, Mark Seagraves, Stuart Storer (later manager of Bedworth United), Steve Thompson, David Reeves, Tony Philliskirk and Julian Darby    Referee:- J.Deakin

CCFC 1990-91 under John Sillett

CCFC got to the quarter finals of this Cup in 1990-91 eventually being knocked out by Sheffield Wednesday by the only goal of the game at Highfield Road. This had followed removing both Hull City (3-0) and, in an exciting ding-dong, Nottingham Forest (5-4) both at home in the previous rounds.

In the league Terry Butcher‘s men finished that Division One season well clear (ten points) off relegation in sixteenth spot. Sunderland and bottom club Derby County were the fall-guys. Despite having a point deducted Arsenal still took the Division One title by seven points from Liverpool.  The Trotters finished fourth in Division Three and made the play off final at Wembley but lost 1-0 to Tranmere Rovers.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1987 – Sillett’s Sky Blues Take Toffees Great Goodison Record

On this day (26th September) in 1987 Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ John Sillett‘s side was having a patchy start to the Division One season. Having kicked off with an impressive 2-1 home win over David Pleat‘s ‘Spurs’ side (only a matter of months after that stupendous and memorable 3-2 extra time win over Tottenham Hotspur) the Sky Blues then also won their first away game at Luton Town thanks to a 66th minute penalty from our huge central defender and skipper Brian Kilcline.

The next two games involved defeats (3-1 at Norwich City and a devastating 4-1 Highfield Road mauling by Liverpool). An encouraging 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday was followed by a goalless draw at home to Manchester United and a 3-0 reverse at home to Nottingham Forest.

Today’s trip to Goodison to meet the current Division One Champions Everton looked a tough call. City well remembered their last game with the Toffees on August 1st when they lost 1-0 to the Merseysiders at Wembley in the Charity Shield. However, on this day, amazingly the Sky Blues came back with  2-1 win inflicting the Toffees first home defeat for over a year!

Match action

Cyrille in the Sky Blue

David in the Sky Blue

All the scoring was completed late in the first half with the Sky Blues getting their noses in front in the 37th minute with a superb goal from the deeply missed Cyrille Regis. This was followed up by an equally stunning Sky Blues second from David Phillips only a minute from the break (both later joined CCFPA). However, there was still time for the Toffees to come back just before the half-time whistle with a goal from the home team’s Wayne Clarke.

The second half was a battle with the Sky Blues keeping Everton at bay with wave after wave of attack. City’s defender (and now Association member) Lloyd McGrath was magnificent frequently putting his body on the line in last ditch defending and heroically, in the dying minutes, heading the ball off the toe of future Sky Blue caretaker manager Adrian Heath. The win was City’s first at Goodison in a dozen seasons and ensured the Sky Blues’ third away win out of four!

John Sillett CCFC gaffer

Every member of the management and team that day went on to join CCFPA! The late John Sillett‘s men were:-

Steve Ogrizovic, Brian Borrows, Nick Pickering, Lloyd McGrath, Steve Sedgley, Trevor Peake, Dave Bennett, David Phillips, the late Cyrille Regis  David Speedie (sub. Keith Houchen) and Micky Gynn

The Toffees XI, managed by Colin Harvey, lined up:-

Neville Southall, Pat van den Hauwe (sub. Adrian Heath), Neil Pointon, Kevin Ratcliffe, Dave Watson, Alan Harper (sub. Derek Mountfield), Trevor Steven, Wayne Clark, Graeme Sharp, Glyn Snodin and Ian Wilson      Referee:- J.Lloyd

CCFC 1987-88

The following April Everton got full revenge beating the Sky Blues at Highfield Road by the odd goal in three (Cyrille scored again for the Sky Blues). The Evertonians finished in fourth spot in Division One presumably miffed that their city rivals Liverpool had ended as Champs a full eleven points ahead of runners up the Arsenal. Sillett’s men finished in a very creditable tenth place. 

Portsmouth, Oxford United and Watford were the trio of clubs that took the drop in 1987-88.

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.