Matchday Memories: On This Day 1998 – HR Sees Strachan’s Sky Blues Taken To Task By Toon Army

Gordon Strachan -City’s ‘gaffer’

After a misleading opening day Premier League 2-1 win at Highfield Road against Chelsea the Sky Blues found subsequent games a struggle! They failed to score in and lost three of their next four games prior to this day (19th September) in 1998 and were down to meet illustrious visitors from the North East! Former Sky Blue player Gordon Strachan (now a CCFPA member) was in charge at CCFC at this time as we met Ruud Gullit‘s top ten side Newcastle United fresh from their European game in Belgrade. Ruud had taken over in August from Kenny Dalglish whose son Paul was a late sub in their side today.

Jean-Guy Wallemme in the Sky Blue

The game was a baptism of fire for the new Sky Blues French centre-half (and fairly recent CCFPA recruit) Jean-Guy Wallemme who had signed during the summer from Racing Club Lens. Jean-Guy went on to make only eight first team outings for us before returning home in December to sign for FC Sochaux.

After taking a fifth minute lead through Noel Whelan (which delighted the 22,639 Highfield Road crowd) the Sky Blues became firmly unstuck and eventually lost 5-1 (which didn’t delight them at all)! An amusing footnote was that Noel, who was in for (now Noel’s fellow CCFPA member) Paul Telfer, scored with a header soon after he had injured himself playing head tennis in the bath! Former Sky Blue (and now CCFPA member) Stuart Pearce was in the Toon Army side.

Noel in Sky Blue Action

Though the scoreline was somewhat flattering on the balance of play the Geordies took their chances clinically.  Nikos Dabizas quickly equalised ‘Snowy’s’ opener just before a quarter of the game was reached. Then Newcastle’s goal ace Alan Shearer, at his predatory best, made his mark with the first of his brace two minutes before the break followed up a minute later with a sucker punch strike from Gary Speed. The Sky Blues were 3-1 down at half-time.

In the second half Stephen Glass scored a fine individual goal a minute before the hour mark to make it 4-1 and Shearer’s second a minute from the final whistle completed the home team’s embarrassment. City’s confidence was knocked and didn’t get their next, second, win  until the 18th October (against Sheffield Wednesday at Highfield Road.

Stuart in the Sky Blue

Strachan’s Sky Blues that day lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-

Magnus Hedman, Marc Edworthy, David Burrows, George Boateng, Gary Breen, Jean-Guy Wallemme, Noel Whelan, Barry Quinn, Dion Dublin, Simon Haworth and Paul Hall (sub. Sam Shilton -62)

Unused subs: Paul Williams, Richard Shaw, Trond-Egil Soltvedt and Steve Ogrizovic (gk)

United put out the following team:-

Shay Given, Steve Watson, Laurent Charvet, Rob Lee, Nikos Dabizas, Stuart Pearce, Keith Gillespie (sub. Paul Dalglish -87), Nolberto Solano (sub. Gary Speed -21), Alan Shearer, Stephane Guivarc’h (sub. Warren Barton -72) and Stephen Glass  Unused subs: Philippe Albert and Lionel Perez (gk)  Referee:- Rob Harris (Oxford)

CCFC 1998-99

City were sick of the sight of the Magpies this season. Having shipped five to them at Highfield Road (their worst defeat of the season), in mid February they put another four past us at St James’ Park in a 4-1 victory! Again Noel Whelan got our only goal, once more the game’s opener, and Alan Shearer got another brace!

In the league, despite the double over CCFC, Newcastle United only managed a thirteenth place finish in the Premier League four points and two places above City’s fifteenth place finish, themselves six points above the relegated clubs Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and Nottingham Forest. 

Manchester United pipped Arsenal to the title by a single point!

Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.