Matchday Memories: On This Day 1998 – Rovers Riled At Ewood By Sky Blue ‘Hucks’ & ‘Snowy’
Gordon the Gaffer
On this day (7th November) in 1998 the Sky Blues, managed by former Scottish international Gordon Strachan (who is now a CCFPA member), were languishing in the lower reaches of the Premier League and looking to get back on track after two successive league defeats, 1-2 at Southampton and 0-1 at Highfield Road last time out against Arsenal. City were on their travels up to Lancashire and were about to take on Blackburn Rovers, who were also struggling, at Ewood Park.
Hucks in the Sky Blue away strip
The Sky Blues could no longer rely on talisman Dion Dublin (who had moved to Aston Villa) to find some goals and it was rumoured WGS was bringing in Norwegian star Andreas Lund as a replacement (He eventually went to Wimbledon from Molde). The expectation, however, spurred on the Sky Blues other strikers as they came away from Ewood with a 2-1 victory! After a goalless first half City went ahead, thanks to the Sky Blues mercurial striker (and CCFPA member) Darren Huckerby. ‘Hucks’ struck after 53 minutes to give the City fans in the worried Blackburn crowd of 23,779 something to shout about. However Rovers fashioned an equaliser twenty minutes later with future Sky Blue Tim Sherwood finding the net past our Swedish ‘keeper (and now CCFPA member) Magnus Hedman.
Noel in away colours this season
The equaliser seemed unjust to City as our Belgian defender Phillipe Clement, who was making his full debut, was impressive in managing the game and Darren’s striking partner (and fellow Association member) Noel Whelan was having a stormer, having been denied by the crossbar on two occasions. It only took a minute after Rovers equalised for things to get worse for the hosts when ‘Snowy’ finally got the goal he deserved with a stunning winner. Blackburn were despondent and two games later their ‘gaffer’ Roy Hodgson got the order of the boot!
Strachan’s Sky Blues that day lined up (CCFPA members underlined):-
Magnus Hedman, Roland Nilsson, Marc Edworthy, Phillipe Clement, Gary Breen (sub. Paul D. Williams -53), Richard Shaw, Paul Telfer, Gary McAllister (sub. George Boateng -89), Noel Whelan, Darren Huckerby and Steve Froggatt
Unused subs: Paul Hall, Trond-Egil Soltvedt and Steve Ogrizovic (gk)
Roy Hodgson‘s Blackburn Rovers put out the following team:-
Tim Flowers, Jeff Kenna, Callum Davidson, Tim Sherwood (c), Darren Peacock (sub. Dario Marcolin -46), Stephane Henchoz, Damien Johnson, Christian Dailly, Chris Sutton (sub. Kevin Davies -46), Nathan Blake and Damien Duff Unused subs: Gary Croft, David Dunn and John Filan (gk) Referee:- Paul Durkin (Dorset)
Tim in CCFC kit
Another Tim with Sky Blue connections in the Rovers team was their goalkeeper, Kenilworth born Tim Flowers. Tim came to Coventry on loan for a handful of games in 2002. Also on their books during the 1998-99 season were former Sky Blue striker (and now CCFPA member) Kevin Gallacher, ex Sky Blue reserve ‘keeper John Filan, future two time Sky Blue player (and caretaker ‘gaffer’) Lee Carsley (another Association member now) and future Sky Blue loanee forward in 2002, Matt Jansen!
Despite the Lancashire team continuing to be in trouble the Sky Blues did not manage to complete a double over them. In mid March, in the return at Highfield Road, Blackburn came away with a point with Jason Wilcox finding a 67th minute equaliser to a 22nd minute opener from the Sky Blues’ Australian striker (and fairly recent CCFPA recruit) John Aloisi.
CCFC 1998-99
In the Premier League City eventually earned themselves a fifteenth place finish six points above the relegated clubs Charlton Athletic, today’s opponents Blackburn Rovers in nineteenth spot and, bottom of the pile, Nottingham Forest.
Manchester United pipped Arsenal to the title by a single point!
