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

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.

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‘.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

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).

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.

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.

 

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