Matchday Memories: On This Day 2001 – See City Win Downed Light Blues Battle In 7 Goal Thriller!
Roland Nilsson (& assistant Jim Smith)
On the day (19th September) in 2001 the Sky Blues were under new management as Swedish former Sky Blues defender Roland Nilsson (CCFPA) had been given the chance to see what he could do to restore the clubs top flight status after relegation from the Premier League last season. Our manager then (now CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan had lasted five matches only in the new Division One season, with City having only won once, and had been sacked after a dire 1-0 home defeat to Grimsby Town.
Laurent Delorge in the Sky Blue
Roland’s reign had begun well last time out with a 1-0 victory at Sheffield United, City’s goal at Bramall Lane came from Belgian winger, a recent CCFPA recruit, Laurent Delorge.
Today’s game, in front of 18,804 fans at H.R., was doubly important for Roland to prove himself by keeping the ‘new manager bounce’ going especially since opponents Manchester City, another team whose fans were kitted in light blue, had accompanied the Sky Blues out of the top flight last season finishing one place above them on goal average on equal points! Who would win? The answer was the Sky Blues as they beat Kevin Keegan‘s men in a thriller by the odd goal in seven scoring a last minute winner!
‘Big Mo’ Konjic in the Sky Blue
Nilsson’s magic wand saw City score four at Highfield Road their first home goals since the previous April! The spellbinding game was full of incident and could have gone either way. The Sky Blues struck first just after a quarter of an hour when Lee Carsley‘s cross from the right hit the visitors’ former Sky Blue and England defender (and now Lee’s fellow CCFPA member) Stuart Pearce who couldn’t get out of the way and diverted in past the Manchester City ‘keeper Nicky Weaver. The Mancunians replied on the half hour with a low shot from Ali Benarbia for the equaliser. Then just on the stroke of half time Weaver boobed to let in a header from the Sky Blues’ impressive central defender (and now CCFPA member) Mo Konjic! Advantage CCFC at the break. However, thirteen minutes into the second period the visitors Kevin Horlock conjured a second equaliser after being initially denied only for Lee Hughes to restore the Sky Blues advantage on 66 minutes with another deflected goal after a jinking run!
Marcus in Sky Blue action
David in the Sky Blue
Then came a third equaliser for the visitors as ‘Cov Kid’ Marcus Hall put through his own goal under pressure from Danny Granville with just sixteen minutes left. In a nailbiting finale, when Sky Blues ‘keeper (and now his namesake’s fellow CCFPA member) Marcus Hedman had an attack of the jitters and nearly let the visitors in, it was a minute from time when another Sky Blue who is now another Association member David Thompson turned the ball home with a low strike from the right to send the Sky Blues fans mental and the Light Blues’ fans distraught!
The two Lees celebrate the first goal
Lee Carsley in Sky Blue Action
Marcus Hedman, Richard Shaw, Marcus Hall, Lee Carsley, Gary Breen, Mo Konjic, David Thompson, Youssef Safri, Lee Hughes, Jay Bothroyd (sub. Laurent Delorge -85) and Youssef Chippo (sub. Keith O’Neill -72)
‘Psycho’ Pearce in Sky Blue action
Nicky Weaver, Richard Edghill, Danny Granville, Gerard Wiekens, Steve Howie, Stuart Pearce, Ali Benarbie, Dickson Etuhu (sub. Simon Colosimo -46), Paulo Wanchope, Shaun Goater and Danny Tiatto (sub. Kevin Horlock -46) Referee:- R.Furnandiz
CCFC 2001-02
The Sky Blues recovery under Roland continued and they were to finish in eleventh spot whilst Manchester City went on to take the Division One title ten points clear of West Bromwich Albion. City’s fairly recent landlords, Birmingham City in (in fifth spot) joined the duo as a result of winning the playoffs. Sadly Roland departed at the end of this season to be replaced for 2002-03 by another player-manager Gary McAllister.
In a tight relegation fight it was Crewe Alexandra, Barnsley and (a long way adrift) Stockport County that took the drop.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
