Matchday Memories: On This Day 2021 – Watch Woody’s Woe & Leo’s Leap As Mark’s Men Miff Millers
Richard in Sky Blue action
Two seasons ago, on this day (Thursday 15th April) in 2021, SKY TV cameras witnessed a crucial victory for the Sky Blues at Rotherham United in their attempt to climb clear of relegation trouble in their first season back in the Championship, for only their third away success this campaign!
Mark Robins‘ Sky Blues were under pressure knowing they faced a simple equation as they came out to face a team captained by former Sky Blue favourite (and CCFPA member) Richard Wood. Woody played 134 games and scored nine times for the Sky Blues between November 2009 after coming on loan from Sheffield Wednesday and leaving for Charlton Athletic in July 2013.
Leo Ostigard in the Sky Blue
The Millers, occupying the third relegation spot with two games in hand on the Sky Blues, went into the game three points behind and with a better goal difference than their visitors. On the other hand they were facing a Sky Blue ‘double’ as they had succumbed 3-1 at CCFC’s guest ‘home’ in exile, Birmingham City’s St.Andrews Stadium.
A home win would see them swap places with the Sky Blues dumping us into the drop zone with Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe Wanderers with only five games left of that COVID disrupted season. Mark Robins made three changes from the side beaten by Bournemouth at the previous weekend with Ben Wilson, Julien Dacosta and (now CCFPA member) Dom Hyam coming into the starting line-up in place of Marko Marosi, Josh Eccles and Josh Pask.
Leon leaps to score
Ninety six minutes later at the COVID emptied New York stadium, it was Woody’s side that was left despondent as, in a gritty display that they dominated throughout, the Sky Blues finally got the goal their display deserved with a decisive seventieth minute header from our Norwegian player Leo Ostigard. Leo climbed well above a packed goalmouth to power his header home (see above) past the heavily bearded Millers’ goalkeeper Viktor Johansson who had been outstanding in making a string of brilliant saves to keep the likes of Liam Kelly, Callum O’Hare, Tyler Walker and Matty Godden scoreless on the night.
Ryan Giles in the Sky Blue
As well as Woody Rotherham had also brought on former Sky Blue loanee Ryan Giles as a substitute but he also failed to make an impact as the Sky Blues resolute defending and high workrate meant that the Millers were unable to mount a single shot on target the whole game (though they hit the woodwork once)! Richard clocked up his 175th game for the Millers against the Sky Blues (and had already netted seventeen times for the Yorkshire club after signing from the Addicks in June 2014).
A match report from BBC Sport can be accessed here
Thanks to CCFPA’s Dean Nelson you can watch the match highlights in a surreally empty Millmoor by clicking on the link or image below:-
A vastly relieved CCFC and all their fans saw the Sky Blues win jump three places higher taking them six points above the relegation trap door putting then landlords Birmingham City beneath them on goal scored as well as Hudderfield Town and Derby County with a points deficit on the Sky Blues (see below).
The two teams lined up as follows on the day:-
CCFC Manager Mark Robins
Mark Robins Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined):
Ben Wilson, Julien Dacosta, Leo Ostigard, Kyle McFadzean, Dom Hyam, Sam McCallum, Liam Kelly (c), Matty James, Callum O’Hare (sub. Gustavo Hamer -77), Tyler Walker (sub. Max Biamou -70) and Matty Godden (sub. Viktor Gyokeres -70)
Unused Subs: Michael Rose, Josh Eccles, Jordan Shipley, Jamie Allen, Amadou Bakayoko and Marko Marosi (gk)
Rotherham United
Viktor Johansson, Matt Olosunde (sub. Ryan Giles -60), Michael Ihiekwe (sub. Keiren Sadlier -87), Richard Wood (c), Angus MacDonald, Wes Harding (sub. Clark Robertson -77), Jamie Lindsay (sub. Chiedozie Ogbene -77), Lewis Wing, Ben Wiles (sub. Freddie Ladapo -60), Matt Crooks and Michael Smith Unused Subs: Shaun MacDonald, Daniel Barlaser, George Hirst and Jamal Blackman (gk) Referee: Jarred Gillett
As we now know Mark’s men put on an end of season spurt winning three of their remaining five games starting with the following Sunday afternoon ‘home’ scrap in exile at St Andrews with in-form Barnsley which was won 2-0 followed up by a 3-2 win at Stoke. Despite a single goal reverse at St Andrews to Preston North End results elsewhere confirmed Sky Blue safety and the season ended with City climbing the table. They drew 1-1 at fellow strugglers Huddersfield Town and finished off with an emphatic 6-1 last day demolition of Millwall to confirm a perfectly comfortable sixteenth place finish!
CCFC 2020-21
Sadly for Richard’s Rotherham the club didn’t survive in safety and were relegated in penultimate 23rd place sandwiched between also relegated Wycombe Wanderers and bottom club Sheffield Wednesday. The Sky Blues were a dozen points clear of this relegated trio!
At the other end of the table Champions Norwich City finished six points ahead of also promoted Watford and third placed Brentford also made it to the Premier League via the playoffs!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
