Matchday Memories: On This Day 1999 – Strachan’s Sky Blues Salvage Something With Tranmere LC Win

‘Sheffers’ on the programme cover

On this day (22nd September) in 1999 the Premier League Sky Blues under the management of former player (and now CCFPA member) Gordon Strachan were seeking to claw back some respectability in the second leg of their Second Round League Cup tie against lower league Tranmere Rovers. Nearly two weeks earlier they had gone to Merseyside in the first leg and, after dominating the play in the first period, ignominiously collapsed in the second 45 to lose 5-1, their biggest defeat in the competition since 1965!!

Gordon the Gaffer

There were 12,429 fans in Highfield Road to see if the Sky Blues could turn the tie around in the second leg. Though they did win 3-1 it was not enough and they were removed from the competition 4-6 on aggregate! For a while it did look as though WGS‘ men were capable of pulling back the deficit especially as they were 3-1 up at the break but the hill proved too big to climb.

Gary in the Sky Blue

City took the lead thanks to a thirty yard blockbuster from captain Gary McAllister on 21 minutes (Macca had scored first after seven minutes in the first leg) only to be pegged back a minute later when Rovers’ unmarked Scott Taylor struck with a equalising header. Things looked all set for a comeback when two goals in two minutes just prior to the break (44 & 45 mins) from our combative and energetic Moroccan midfielder (and now CCFPA member) Youssef Chippo, the second a 25 yarder worthy of winning any game, sent City down the half-time tunnel full of hope.

Youssef in Sky Blue action

Sadly, that proved it as Rovers defended deep in the second half with ‘keeper John Achterberg saving superbly!

So, the Sky Blues went out of the League Cup at the first attempt for the first time since 1992 despite thirteen goal attempts and ten corners! City were not helped, apparently, by some debateable decisions from the referee, Trevor Jones. 

Perhaps City should not feet too downhearted at the aggregate defeat as Rovers were a bit of a bogey club as far as CCFC were concerned and they did reach the Football League Cup final this season only to lose 2-1 at Wembley to Leicester City.

On the way to Wembley they had successively put out Blackpool (prior to meeting CCFC), Oxford United, Barnsley, Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers too.

Full match details are depicted below:-

We are pleased to report that CCFPA has failed to sign up only Gary Mac from the dozen Sky Blues players appearing in this game so far! A photo of ‘Cov Kid’ Gary McSheffrey graced the Sky Blues matchday programme front cover (top right).

CCFC 1999-2000

In the Premier League it was Wimbledon who were relegated at the end of the season in eighteenth spot along with Sheffield Wednesday and Watford. The Sky Blues finished eleven points clear of any similar trouble in fourteenth spot!

Manchester United took the title with a massive lead of eighteen points over runners up Arsenal.

Our opponents on this day Tranmere Rovers finished thirteenth in the First Division!

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