Matchday Memories: On This Day 2005 – Stephen Saves Sky Blues After S.O. In Scoreless Stoke Stalemate

Stephen in his normal Sky Blue

Ian Bennett in the Sky Blue

On this day (26th February) in 2005 played a Championship fixture against Stoke City in their last ever season at Highfield Road in front of 13,871 fans. They had lost to the Potters in Stoke earlier in the season in mid December by a lone goal.

Today’s game was remarkable in that on-loan Sky Blue ‘keeper Ian Bennett became the club’s first shot-stopper ever to be sent off in a home game. Ian was red carded for handling outside the box four minutes from half-time.

Having no sub. goalie on the bench midfielder Sky Blue midfielder (and now CCFPA member) Stephen Hughes had to deputise in goal and pulled off some great saves and had much to do with the Sky Blues salvaging a point in a goalless draw.

Gary in the Sky Blue

Micky Adams had taken over as CCFC ‘gaffer’ from fellow CCFPA member Peter Reid earlier in the same month. In an exciting game Stoke found it difficult against the ten men Sky Blues.

Arguably the Sky Blues should have claimed three points but the Sky Blues ‘Cov Kid’ forward (and CCFPA member) Gary McSheffrey uncharacteristically had his penalty saved by the Potteries’ side’s own ‘keeper Steve Simonsen who saved the Potters’ blushes on a number of other occasions too.

The contemporary BBC Sport matchday commentary (complete with comments from Micky Adams on Hughesy’s performance between the sticks) can be accessed here. 

Micky’s men that day (CCFPA members underlined) were:-

Sky Blue Manager Micky

Ian Bennett; Andy Whing; Richard Duffy; Stephen Hughes; Adrian Williams; Steve Staunton; Claus Bech Jorgensen, Michael Doyle, Stern John (sub. Eddie Johnson -88); Trevor Benjamin and Gary McSheffrey.

Unused subs:- ‘Dele Adebola, Andy Morrell, Isaac Osbourne and Christian Negouai

Tony Pulis‘ Potters side were represented by:-

Steve Simonsen, Lewis Buxton, Clive Clarke, Dave Brammer, Gerry Taggart, Clint Hill, Kevin Harper, Darel Russell, Kenwynne Jones (sub. Michael Ricketts -61, ‘Thordur’ Gudjonsson -84)), Gifton Noel-Williams and Chris Greenacre (sub. Lewis Neal -61)  Unused subs:- Karl Henry and Ed de Goey (gk)   Referee:-  J.Singh

There were several Sky Blue connections with Stoke City at this time. On the Potters’ books during this season was (both current CCFPA members) former Sky Blues John Eustace (1996-2003) and Marcus Hall (1995-2002 & 2005-10). Future Sky Blue (and CCFPA member) Richard Keogh (2010-12) was starting his professional career at the Britannia Stadium as was future Sky Blue loanee (2013) and CCFPA member Carl Dickenson.

CCFC 2004-05

Micky’s men managed to stay up at the end of the 2004-05 season finishing in nineteenth spot a couple of points and places above the relegation zone. Stoke City finished comfortably in twelfth place. Gillingham, Nottingham Forest and (bottom club) Rotherham United suffered the drop.

Sunderland (Champs), Wigan Athletic and sixth placed West Ham United (after the playoffs) were promoted to the Premier League.

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