Matchday Memories: On This Day 2001 – See Sky Blue ‘H-Men’ Deliver Derby Distress!

Hartson does his utmost for CCFC

On this last day of the month (31st March) in 2001 the Sky Blues got their only fourth home win of the 2000-01 season (and their first since Boxing Day). The improved performance today rekindled hopes of avoiding the drop from the top tier after 34 unbroken seasons (sadly, hopes that soon enough withered). There was a Highfield Road crowd of 19,622 to watch the Premier League contest with fellow strugglers Derby County.

John is mobbed by team mates after scoring

In the event CCFPA member Gordon Strachan‘s men beat the Rams, managed by another man who would soon be involved in Sky Blue management Jim Smith (as Assistant to WGS’s replacement Roland Nilsson), for their clearest win of the season. The damage was done by two Sky Blue CCFPA members, Moustapha Hadji (44 minutes) and John Hartson (49 mins).

Mous nicks the ball

The Sky Blues ‘H Men’ scored within ten minutes either side of half time against substitute Rams’ keeper Mart Poom, their Andy Oakes having been stretchered off after only ten minutes after a collision with Hadji.

Hadji in Sky Blue despair

Our Moroccan international star Moustapha headed the Sky Blues’ first and then Hartson helped to further lift the relegation gloom surrounding Coventry (albeit for a short time) with a superb header from a Paul Telfer corner. John’s strike added to the Welshman’s three  goals in two games!

Moustapha later blotted his copy book being sent off after 72 minutes after an incident with the Rams’s Danny Higgingbotham. At least the Sky Blues got revenge for their 1-0 defeat at Pride Park the previous December!

Courtesy of Dean Nelson you can watch the goal highlights by clicking on the picture below:-

For the record Gordon Strachan‘s Sky Blues team that shone slightly that day in that gloomy season (CCFPA members underlined i.e.all but Gary and Craig) was:-

Gordon Strachan -City’s ‘gaffer’

Chris Kirkland, Barry Quinn, Marcus Hall, Lee Carsley, Gary Breen, Richard Shaw, John Eustace, Paul Telfer, John Hartson, Moustapha Hadji, and Craig Bellamy (sub. Youssef Chippo -84)

Unused Subs: Paul Williams, David Thompson, John Aloisi and Magnus Hedman (gk)

The Rams lined up as follows:-

Horacio in the Sky Blue

Andy Oakes (sub. Mart Poom -10), Rory Delap, Seth Johnson, Youi Mawene, Horatio Carbonari, Danny Higginbotham, Craig Burley (sub. Adam Murray -75), Thordur Gudjonnson (sub. Georgi Kinkladze -59), Deon Burton, Malcolm Christie and Darryl Powell (c)  Unused Subs: Bjorn Otto Bragstad and Paul Boertien    

Referee:- David Elleray (Harrow on the Hill)

Derby County‘s team included Horacio Carbonari who had a short loan spell with the Sky Blues in 2002

CCFC 2000-01

The Sky Blues’ season ended  ignominiously five games later in May with a 3-2 defeat at the Villa where, in spite of a Hadji brace, Paul Merson‘s 85th minute goal sent us down. Our final scoreless home draw against the also doomed Bradford City provided a sad end to a 34 years unbroken period in the top flight.

Derby County finished one place above the drop (but a full eight points clear). The ‘other’ sky blues, Manchester City completed the trio that would be playing in the Championship for the next season. Manchester United took the title by a full ten points from Arsenal.

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