Matchday Memories: On This Day 2012 – See CCFC’s Cody Catch Oldham Cold (For MR’s 1st Win)
On this day (29th September) in 2012 the Sky Blues were having a dreadful beginning to their League One season and still looking for their first league win eight league matches in. City’s ‘gaffer’ Andy Thorn had been given his marching orders at the end of August after three successive league draws at the season’s start. Thorn’s Assistant (and now fellow CCFPA member) Richard Shaw had taken over as caretaker and, apart from winning his first game in charge, a 3-2 Capital One Cup victory over Birmingham City at the Ricoh, all the rest of his games were lost.
Sky Blue gaffer Mark Robins
This included five League One games and a Johnson’s Paint Trophy home defeat to Burton Albion (9-10 on penalties after extra time). Last time out the Sky Blues had been crushed 6-1 at Highbury by Arsenal in the Capital One Cup Third Round. The only way, everyone in Sky Blue land hoped, was up and fingers were crossed for a new manager’s bounce as Mark Robins took over for his first Sky Blue game (first time round)!
Cody in the Sky Blue
Mark’s baptism was away from the Ricoh at Boundary Park, Oldham Athletic‘s ground and the Sky Blue Family’s fervent wishes were granted! They got a slender 1-0 victory in a poor game, as evidenced in the contemporary BBC Sport match report (below). The points were due to a late (89th minute) stooping header from City striker (and now CCFPA member) Cody McDonald. The ‘Latics had their chances and were the better side for periods of the game and missed out when Jose Baxter hit the post just before the hour! There were 562 members of the Sky Blue Army among the 4,022 crowd and they were mightily relieved with the win as it could have gone either way:-
Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch Cody’s goal by clicking on the link or image below:-
Cody (right) celebrates the late winner with Franck Moussa
The Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined) took to the field as follows:-
Joe Murphy, Jordan Clarke (William Edjenguele -85), Jamie Reckord, Reece Brown, Richard Wood, Jamie Bailey, Conor Henderson (Cody McDonald -51), Franck Moussa, David McGoldrick, Gary McSheffrey (John Fleck -64) and Carl Baker
Unused Subs.: Chris Hussey, Stephen Elliott, Adam Barton and Chris Dunn (gk)
Paul Dickov’s ‘Latics lined up this way:-
Robbie Simpson with the Sky Blues
Dean Bouzanis, Jonathan Grounds, James Wesolowski (Robbie Simpson -91), Jean-Yves M’Voto, Lee Croft, Dean Furman (c), Matt Derbyshire, Cristian Montano, Cliff Byrne (Matt Smith -91), Jose Baxter and Reece Wabara Unused Subs.: Conor Brown, James Tarkowsi, Youssouf M’Changama, Connor Hughes and Alex Cisak (gk) Referee: David Coote
Under the new ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins results greatly improved (including completing the double over the ‘Latics at Highfield Road in January (winning 2-1). City soon climbed away from the lowly position they had occupied when MR arrived. However, after some policy disagreements with the owners, Mark left in in February 2013 to manage Huddersfield Town and former CCFC player Steven Pressley eventually took over from caretaker Lee Carsley (now Steven’s fellow CCFPA member) and piloted the club to a thirteenth place finish in League One. The following season ‘Elvis’ would have to face taking his team to play in exile at Northampton Town‘s Sixfields stadium.
CCFC 2012-13 (between Thorn & Robins)
Doncaster Rovers, who took the League One title, and runners up Bournemouth were promoted to the Championship along with fourth placed Yeovil Town (via the play offs).
Scunthorpe United, Bury, Hartlepool United and Portsmouth were relegated to League Two.
