Matchday Memories: On This Day 2016 – See Sky Blue ‘S’ Men Sink The Us!
In a season of three ‘gaffers’, on this evening eight years ago (18th October 2016) the Sky Blues were due to face Oxford United in a League One game at the Ricoh where they were yet to win in the league. CCFC were under the caretaker management of the club’s former Assistant ‘gaffer’/Technical Director Mark Venus (right) who had stepped up to the plate following Tony Mowbray parting company with the club by mutual consent the previous month.
Tony Mowbray
Ben Stevenson, Coventry City
Mark’s tenure began with that very thing, first a 2-0 win at Port Vale followed by a 3-1 Checkatrade Trophy home defeat of Northampton Town. However, last time out things returned to worrying with a 3-0 defeat at Charlton Athletic. Everyone was desperate for the club to get their first league win at home under their belts and, thankfully, they got it this evening with a hard fought 2-1 victory over the U’s! Furthermore they won their next two Ricoh fixtures as well to improve matters slightly.
Marvin Sordell, Coventry City
It wasn’t until the 28th minute that City made the breakthrough when the Sky Blues young midfielder (now an Association member) Ben Stevenson scored a cracking long range effort and this lead was doubled, also in the first half, when City’s experienced striker Marvin Sordell took advantage of a defensive mixup between goalkeeper and defender to chase a long ball and tap in two minutes before the half time whistle.
Ben’s shot wings its way into the net
After an initial flurry of better results in October things returned to ‘dire’ in November under Mark Venus who gave up his caretaker role when Manager Russell Slade arrived just before Xmas.
Sky Blue gaffer Mark Robins
After Slade’s disastrous period as manager previous ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins returned to CCFC to replace him in March. However, ultimately Mark was sadly unable to salvage the season and prevent the Sky Blues going down to League Two in penultimate position with only Chesterfield beneath them. Port Vale were also fellow travellers down to League Two with Swindon Town.
At the other end of the table Champions Sheffield United stormed the division with 100 points, fourteen ahead of also promoted runners up Bolton Wanderers and sixth place Millwall, who accompanied the pair via the playoffs.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
