Matchday Memories: On This Day 2006 – Sky Blues Stun Sunderland As Season Starts
Gary McSheffrey in action
Sky Blue Manager Micky
On this day (6th August) in 2006 the Sky Blues, for the time being managed by former player Micky Adams, kicked off their Championship season with a game against Sunderland at the Ricoh Arena. The Sky Blues came from behind to deny Niall Quinn‘s ‘Black Cats’ the points in their gaffer’s first game in charge by coming from behind with goals from Stern John and ‘Cov Kid’ (and now CCFPA member) Gary McSheffrey. Gary had successfully appealed against the red card he received in the Sky Blues’ pre-season friendly defeat to Boavista on July 29th.
After a goalless first half, The Mackems’ Daryl Murphy grabbed an opening goal for the visitors in the 57th minute in front of the 22,366 crowd prodded home a loose ball after City defenders failed to clear a corner.
Stern in the Sky Blue
However, in the space of seven second half minutes, Stern got City’s equaliser curling a delicious left-foot curler into the top corner after 71 minutes and then ‘Sheffers’ belted home the winner through the packed defence from an angle (taking a deflection on the way). Gary also hit the outside of the woodwork later. He was such an asset to the Sky Blues that Birmingham City were quick to buy him four days later for a fee reported as up to £4m!
Sunderland must have been impressed with Stern because their new manager Roy Keane took him to the north east in January 2007. Other Sky Blue connections in the game include future CCFC signings Stephen Wright (2008-10 and now a CCFPA member), Kevin Kyle (2006-09) and Jonathan Stead (loan 2010).
BBC’s Match report (with views of both managers) can be found by following the link here.
Sheffers scores
Micky’s men lined up as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-
As far as the Championship season was concerned there was little to write home about, the Sky Blues were, at best, a mid table side. Micky was sacked in January after City were knocked out of the F.A.Cup at home by Bristol City in the 3rd Round. Iain Dowie took over the following month (after Adrian Heath had looked after the shop as caretaker) and seventeenth place safety was achieved. Sunderland, on the other hand, went from strength to strength and were promoted to the Premier League finishing top of the Championship at season’s end.
CCFC 2006-07
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
