Matchday Memories: On This Day 2008 – See Coleman’s CCFC Smash Saints Thanks To Tabb & Two Leons
Jay Tabb in Sky Blue
On this day (4th October) in 2008 the Sky Blues, managed by Chris Coleman, took on Southampton at Highfield Road watched by SKY TV Live cameras and a crowd of 15,518 (including 638 members of the Sky Blue Army). The match produced a slick 4-1 win with goals from (all three now CCFPA members) Leon McKenzie, Leon Best and a Jay Tabb brace (bookends in the game) and it could have been five since another Association member now Elliott Ward missed a penalty. This was a comfortable victory for the Sky Blues.
City went ahead after nineteen minutes thanks to our diminutive midfielder Jay Tabb who headed home powerfully from a Leon McKenzie cross to make it 1-0. The chance to double up was then spurned as City was awarded a soft penalty on 27 minutes . Sky Blues’ defender Elliot Ward‘s attempted a chipped penalty with not enough power and the ball was comfortably saved by Southampton’s ‘keeper Kelvin Davis.
Elliott Ward’s penalty attempt
Leon Best in the Sky Blue 2008-09
Leon McKenzie in the Sky Blue
However, the Sky Blues did get to double their lead three minutes after the half hour when Leon McKenzie swept home from close range. City were set fair with a 2-0 half-time lead which was then extended two minutes into the second period by a Leon Best tap-in! Although the Saints’ Andrew Surman pulled one back for the visitors after 63 minutes with a header (which was more deflection than shot) Jay Tabb completed his brace with the coup-de-grace three minutes from time with a firm half-volley when left in space.
The contemporary BBC Sport report (quoting the reactions of both managers) can be found here.
The Sky Blues fielded the following players (CCFPA members underlined):-
Chris Coleman 2009
Kieren Westwood, Isaac Osbourne, Elliott Ward, Scott Dann, Danny Fox (Marcus Hall -81), Jay Tabb, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael Doyle, Leon Best (Clinton Morrison -81), Freddie Eastwood (Michael Mifsud -89) and Leon McKenzie.
Unused Subs:– Guillaume Beuzelin and Andy Marshall (gk)
The Saints lined up with the following team:-
Kelvin Davis, Lloyd James (Simon Gillett -58), Chris Perry, Olly Lancashire, Joseph Mills, Jack Cork, Paul Wotton (Bradley Wright-Phillips -58), David McGoldrick, Adam Lallana (Tomas Pekhart -59), Andrew Surman and Jordan Robertson. Unused Subs:- James White and Bartosz Bialkowski (gk) Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire).
Clinton in the Sky Blue
The Saints continued to slide in the Premier League and manager Jan Poortvliet resigned in January replaced by caretaker manager Mark Jones. However, Jan was still in charge for City’s visit to St. Mary’s on 28th October when the two sides fought out a 1-1 draw in the return.
Southampton‘s 69th minute goal came from future Sky Blue loanee David McGoldrick and the Sky Blues’ goal came from Clinton Morrison. Apart from David and future Sky Blue loanee (2009) Jack Cork in the side on this day, the Saints squad also had another Sky Blue connections. Former Sky Blue striker (2004-07) Stern John was on their books.
CCFC 2008-09
Fairly recent Sky Blues’ landlords, Birmingham City fared well in the Championship being promoted to the Premier League as runners up seven points behind top dogs Wolverhampton Wanderers. Fifth placed Burnley also went up via the playoffs. The Sky Blues finished in an unimpressive seventeenth place, albeit six places and eight points above the drop. The three relegated teams were Norwich City, today’s opponents Southampton and Charlton Athletic.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
