Matchday Memories: On This Day 2006 – Don’s Pen. Secures Stalemate At Saints For Micky’s Men

Unfortunately our locally born striker Gary McSheffrey was missing suspended and City’s normally livewire loanee Dennis Wise put in a rather subdued performance against his former club. Nevertheless the Sky Blues managed to force a 1-1 draw with the Saints. The game remained stalemated until the home side scored what they expected would be their winner from their own loanee from ‘Spurs Gregorz Raziak ten minutes from time with a far post header.

Don Hutchison in the Sky Blue

Fortunately sixteen minutes from the final whistle Mickey had brought on as substitute (fairly recent CCFPA recruit) Don Hutchison for Stern John.  Don’s arrival sparked a bit of a Sky Blue revival and when he went down in the box as a result of a Nathan Dyer challenge and won a spot kick with just two minutes left it proved Sky Blue salvation! It must have taken some nerve but ‘Hutch’ picked himself up and coolly slid the ball home, a blockbuster of a penalty, past Saint’s goalie Paul Smith. The Sky Blues probably deserved to share the points and the result might have been a tad predictable as the 1-1 draw repeated the score between the two teams at Highfield Road at the end of August. In addition, Southampton had now drawn seventeen games so far this season!