Matchday Memories: On This Day 2001 – See Sky Blues Stall After Jairo Jars The Tykes
Sky Blue’s next gaffer Nilsson
By this day (25th September) in 2001 the Sky Blues immaculate Swedish international full back Roland Nilsson had taken over the managerial reins from (the Swede’s now fellow CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan and the Sky Blues were seemingly fighting their way out of a troubled start to the Division One season.
David in the Sky Blue
A new manager bounce produced a welcome rally with a League Cup win at Peterborough United (on penalties) and then a pair of league wins, namely, 1-0 at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United and in mid week an exciting 4-3 defeat of Manchester City at Highfield Road won at the death by a strike from (now CCFPA member) David Thompson. The Sky Blues then made it a win quartet at home to Portsmouth who were sent packing by two clear goals. Today’s challenge was an away game in Yorkshire at low lying Barnsley and, though City scored first, they were finally pegged back to a 1-1 draw and kept the unbeaten run going (as it would brilliantly for another seven league games until beaten at Millwall at the beginning of November.
Jairo in the Sky Blue
On this day the Sky Blues drew first blood at Oakwell when our Honduran import Jairo Martinez scored his debut goal for City nine minutes after the break guiding in an acrobatic header from close in (above) before running into the stands to celebrate with the visiting Sky Blue army. The Sky Blues always looked good for the win without ever really setting the game alight.
Sadly, the Tykes found an equaliser with eleven minutes to go as their manager Nigel Spackman made some inspired substitutions. Bruce Dyer was able to guide the ball home from close in when a cross eluded everyone else and Kevin Fallon wrong footed Magnus Hedman. The games were coming thick and fast at this point and City were beginning to look tired and jaded in their current tenth place in Division One.
Youssef in Sky Blue action
David in the Sky Blue
Gary McAllister- Sky Blue ‘gaffer’
The Sky Blues recovery under Roland continued and they were to finish in eleventh spot. Champions Manchester City and, ten points behind, runners up West Bromwich Albion were promoted to the top flight. At the other end of affairs bottom club Stockport County were relegated with Crewe Alexandra (21st), today’s opponents Barnsley (23rd).
Despite the decent performances under Roland he was replaced by player-manager Gary McAllister for the 2002-03 season.
