Matchday Memories: On This Day 2007 – City Visit Crystal Palace As Best Blasts His Point

On this day (18th September) in 2007 Sky Blues ‘gaffer’ Ian Dowie’s took his team to south London to play Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, in their sixth Championship game of the season. The Sky Blues had certainly started the 2007-08 campaign with a bang. After bashing Barnsley at their own place 4-1 in the season’s league opener they dispatched Notts County 3-0 at the Ricoh in the first round of the League Cup. Then, again at the Ricoh, the Sky Blues had fought out a 1-1 draw with Hull City and seen off Cardiff City in Wales thanks to a goal from (fairly recent CCFPA member) Jay Tabb. 

They had also racked up another League Cup victory at Carlisle United to add to their success against the Nottingham club. In their fifth game (fourth in the League), at the start of the month, Preston North End had been dispatched 2-1 at Highfield Road to keep the the Sky Blues top of the table. However, in midweek the run had ended as they suffered their first defeat on September 15th at Bristol City and dropped to third.

Leon in the Sky Blue

City were looking to get back to winning ways in London but were thwarted with a 1-1 draw, and they only got that thanks to an equalising strike from (now CCFPA member) Leon Best three minutes from time. This proved to be a hard working point, if a little fortunate, in Sky Blue ‘gaffer’ Dowie’s first return to his former club. Palace had already missed two good opportunities before their Dougie Freedman set up a 27th minute goal for Stuart Green. It looked like another likely Sky Blue defeat until  Leon latched onto a touch from fellow substitute (and also a fellow CCFPA member now) Robbie Simpson to thump the ball home to relieve the members of the Sky Blue Army among the 14,455 crowd!

BBC Sport’s contemporary report featuring reactions from the respective managers can be found here.

Leon in Sky Blue action

The Sky Blues fielded the following team (CCFPA members underlined):-

Dimi Konstantopoulos, Marcus Hall, Gary Borrowdale, Michael Doyle, Elliott Ward, Arjan De Zeeuw, Ellery Cairo (Kevin Thornton -70), Stephen Hughes, ‘Dele Adebola (sub. Leon Best -62), Leon McKenzie (Robbie Simpson -72) and Jay Tabb 

Unused subs:-  Colin Hawkins and Andy Marshall (gk)

Peter Taylor‘s Palace side lined up as follows:-

Julian Speroni, Danny Butterfield, Mark Hudson, Leon Cort, Tony Craig, Stuart Green, Ben Watson, Carl Fletcher, Tom Soares, James Scowcroft, Dougie Freedman.  Unused subs:- Matthew Lawrence, Besian Idrizaj, Dave Martin, Paul Dickov and Scott Flinders (gk).  Referee: A.Woolmer

Apart from Iain Dowie there were some other Sky Blues connections with the Palace squad on this day. Their forward James Scowcroft had played for the Sky Blues in 2005-06 scoring three times in his 45 games (and is now a CCFPA member). On their books during this season was also soon to be Sky Blue (and now a CCFPA member) Clinton Morrison who scored 23 goals in 101 games for CCFC between 2008-10.

James Scowcroft in the Sky Blue

The season, of course, developed in a much less promising way with takeover plans stuttering and the resignation of City MD Paul Fletcher in October (to be replaced by Ray Ranson before Christmas as the threat of Administration was lifted. Crystal Palace deepened City’s gloom on Boxing Day with a 2-0 defeat of the Sky Blues at the Ricoh with both Eagles’ goals coming from, wouldn’t you know it, Clinton Morrison. Future Sky Blue winger Kyel Reid (2016-18) was on loan at Palace for some of 2008.

As results and player morale continued to suffer Chris Coleman was placed in the CCFC hot seat after Iain Dowie‘s shock sacking in February. Frankie Bunn and John Harbin took temporary caretaker charge in between).

Coventry City 2007-08

In the event, the Sky Blues escaped relegation in 21st position in the Championship, a point and a place above the drop. Leicester City were the somewhat unlucky fall guys, even after the Sky Blues succumbed to a last day of the season drubbing, losing 4-1  at Charlton Athletic.

Crystal Palace got themselves into the playoffs in fifth position but could not profit as it was third placed Hull City who went up along with West Bromwich Albion (as champions of the Championship) and runners up Stoke City.

At the other end of the table bottom club Colchester United and Scunthorpe United went down with the Foxes.

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