Matchday Memories: On This Day 2009 – Coleman’s CCFC Claim Blades Win In Cracking Five Goal Contest
Leon in the Sky Blue
On this day (15th September) in 2009 the Sky Blues, under ‘gaffer’ Chris Coleman, edged a five goal thriller at the Ricoh against Sheffield United. The 3-2 Championship success was a welcome one as it was City’s first win in five.
Clinton in the Sky Blue
It was another Sky Blue who is a CCFPA member now Clinton Morrison who restored City’s lead five minutes into the second period capitalising on a rebound after a Michael McIndoe cross.
Martin Cranie in the Sky Blue
On the hour City’s Martin Crainie (briefly back as a Sky Blue trialist pre 2021-22 season) was able to make it 3-1 with his first ever Sky Blue goal with a header from a McIndoe corner. There was still time for another Blades goal to make the last quarter of the game interesting when James Harper netted from close range.
Chris Coleman‘s CCFC lined up 4-4-2 (CCFPA members underlined):-
Chris Coleman 2009
Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, Marcus Hall (sub. Jordan Clarke -84), Sammy Clingan, Ben Turner, Martin Crainie, Isaac Osbourne, Jack Cork, Leon Best, Clinton Morrison (sub. Aron Gunnarsson -85) and Michael McIndoe Unused subs.: Elliott Ward, Freddy Eastwood, Ashley Cain, Jermaine Grandison and Dimi Konstantopoulos (gk)
Darius in the Sky Blue
Kevin Blackwell’s Blades turned out with the following players (4-5-1):-
Kyel in the Sky Blue
Ian Bennett in the Sky Blue
Darius Henderson played a handful of games in the Sky Blue shirt in 2016. Two Blades players on their bench also had CCFC links. Wide player Kyel Reid would later (2016-18) wear the Sky Blue and Ian Bennett had a short loan spell with the Sky Blues in 2005.
The Sky Blues season steadily lost momentum as they drifted down the table. Apart from a couple of purple patches wins became a rarity. City’s last eleven games saw six defeats and five draws.
They lost their last game of the season by the crushing margin of 4-0 at home to Watford and Chris Coleman, perhaps inevitably, departed in May with City grateful to survive in nineteenth spot in the Championship, albeit seven points and three spots clear of the drop. Aidy Boothroyd was the next man to try to find Sky Blue success in the CCFC hot seat.
CCFC 2009-10
The relegated trio this season was Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle and, a long way off at the foot of the table, Peterborough United.
At the other end Newcastle United walked the Championship title beaten only four times and with 102 points, eleven clear of runners up (and also promoted) West Bromwich Albion. It was a two horse race as third place Nottingham Forest were a further dozen points behind them! The side that took the final play-off promotion place were Blackpool in sixth a full 32 points behind the Magpies!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
