Matchday Memories: On This Day 2011 – See Sky Blues Stall As Blackpool Blag Stalemate

CCFC gaffer- Andy Thorn,

Gary in the Sky Blue 2010

The 10th September saw City’s only win so far a 2-0 home victory over Derby County but this was followed by a 3-0 hammering at Ipswich Town and a 1-1 draw at the Ricoh against Reading.

Third from bottom Thorn’s men, looking hard at the Championship basement, were desperate for another win as they returned to the Ricoh this Tuesday evening (27th September 2011)  three days later to take on Blackpool. Sadly they could only manage another stalemate in front of a crowd of 12,822 as the Tangerines forced a 2-2 draw in the last minute in a match we really should have won!

Lukas celebrates his goal for Sky Blues

Things quickly looked ominous when the seasiders took a nineteenth minute lead through a stunning strike from Gary Taylor-Fletcher. The one goal advantage to the visitors lasted until well past half-time and was only broken with eleven minutes of the match left when (now CCFPA member) Gary Deegan, making his first appearance of the season off the subs. bench, found an equaliser from a Sammy Clingan corner (see below).  Then, even better, with seven minutes to go Lukas Jutkiewicz struck to put city in front for the first time and the points looked to be in the bag! Better still Blackpool’s ‘gaffer’ Ian Holloway got booked by the ref.

Sadly however Blackpool rallied and, two minutes into time added on, Keith Southern‘s header from a Stephen Crainey corner snatched the draw to the chagrin of the Sky Blues and their supporters! However, the draw kept us just out of the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference.

Deegs goes for goal

Lukas Jutkewicz in the Sky Blue

BBC Sport’s contemporary report can be found here.

Thorn’s men lined up as follows (subs in brackets & CCFPA members underlined)

Joe Murphy, Richard Keogh, Chris Hussey (sub. Cyrus Christie -67),  Martin Cranie, Colin Cameron, Sammy Clingan, David Bell (sub. Gary Deegan -64), Conor Thomas, Lukas Jutkiewicz, Gary McSheffrey and Roy O’Donovan (sub. Clive Platt -77)

Unused subs:- Cody McDonald and Chris Dunn (gk)

Conor in the Sky Blue 2015

Ian Holloway‘s Blackpool took the field with the following players:-

Matthew Gilks, Stephen Crainey, Keith Southern, Ian Evatt, Kevin Phillips, Gary Taylor-Fletcher (sub. Daniel Bogdanovic -70), Alex Baptiste, Barry Ferguson (c), Craig Cathcart, Craig Sutherland and Angel Martinez (sub. Neil Eardley -58)  Unused subs:- Matt Phillips, Mark Howard and Thomas Ince   Referee:- A.Woolmer

A the end of January the Tangerines made City’s plight worse by beating us at their place and to rub salt into the wounds it was another late late defeat. After taking a 54th minute lead from (now CCFPA member) Conor Thomas the Sky Blues threw the game away in the last few minutes. Kevin Phillips equalised with three minutes to go and that man Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored the winner four minutes into added on time!

CCFC 2011-12

As is well known 2011-12 developed as a dire season for the Sky Blues in which they only won nine Championship games, were knocked out of both major cups at the first attempt, and were relegated in penultimate spot on 40 points with Doncaster Rovers and Portsmouth (who had the handicap of being deducted 10 points)!  Blackpool finished fifth and missed out in the play-offs.

Reading (Champions) and runners up Southampton were promoted along with third placed West Ham United (but via the playoffs).

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