Matchday Memories: On This Day 2023 – See Sky Blue Josh & Vik Bag Brum Win At CBS!
Mark Robins
On this day just a season ago Mark Robins‘ Sky Blues continued their excellent recent run to the Championship play-off spots (only one defeat in sixteen games). Their opponents at the CBS Arena in front of a CBS league record crowd of 30,175 were local rivals (and recent ex landlords) Birmingham City. The Blues were managed by CCFPA member, ex Sky Blue midfielder John Eustace and his men were downed by two clear goals, both netted in the first half. John was sent to the stands during the game after complaining too much!
Josh Eccles
Back in the previous September MR‘s men had got a goalless draw at St.Andrews so four points out of six was a good return from the Brummagems! CCFC shotstopper Ben Wilson achieved his remarkable 20th clean sheet for the Sky Blues in this game and would go on to get another two in the one remaining ‘normal’ league games and three Championship play-off matches.
‘Cov Kid’ Academy graduate Josh Eccles netted his first goal in Sky Blue colours after just three minutes calmly slotting home from a Viktor Gyökeres cut-back to unsettle the Blues and their noisy 4,500 supporters and hand us a useful early advantage. Our second came from a penalty by the Swedish striking star after 38 minutes emphatically coverted after the spot-kick awarded for a handball was drawn by a surge by Josh.
Viktor Gyokeres in the Sky Blue
Like Vik (now both also Association members), Kyle McFadzean and Brazilian Gustavo Hamer also had early chances and the Swede almost got City’s third in the second half, spinning his man on the half-way line and charging towards goal, but sadly his effort sailed just missed! Though attacking action was more muted in the second 45 minutes the Sky Blues performed well to see out the win.A detailed contemporary BBC Match report can be found by clicking here. Also a vlog from a young Blues fan shows the Sky Blues goals here.
Ben Wilson; Luke McNally, Kyle McFadzean, Callum Doyle; Brooke Norton-Cuffy, Josh Eccles (sub. Jamie Allen -90), Liam Kelly (c), Gustavo Hamer, Jake Bidwell; Matty Godden and Viktor Gyokeres.Unused subs: Jonathan Panzo, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Sean Maguire, Tyler Walker, Fankaty Dabo and Simon Moore (gk)
Birmingham City:
Neil Etheridge; Maxime Colin, Kevin Long, Marc Roberts, Auston Trusty (sub. Emmanuel Longelo -86) , Krystian Bielik, Jordan James (sub. Juninho Bacuna -65), Jobe Bellingham, Tahith Chong (sub. Hannibal Mejbri -65), Reda Khadra (sub. Jordan Graham -86) and Lukas Jutkiewicz (c).
Unused subs: Dion Sanderson, Harlee Dean and Zach Jeacock (gk) Yellow cards: Krystian Bielik (48’), Hannibal Mejbri (90+5′) Referee: James Linington
Lukas in the Sky Blue 2010-11
Lukas Jutkiewicz was a Sky Blues striker (2010-12) prior to turning out for the Birmingham club.
As all those in Sky Blue land now know the Sky Blues stayed in 5th to earn a play-off semi-final over two legs with Middlesbrough who they dispatched 1-0 on aggregate to get to the Wembley final to face third placed Luton Town. They went out in the cruellest way possible after drawing 1-1 at full-time and extra time only to go out on penalties 6-7 after half-a-dozen immaculate penalties from each side as the Hatters made their way up to the Premier League. As in this current season’s F.A.Cup Semi Final defeat at Wembley over 36,000 Sky Blues fans were left proud but gutted.
CCFC 2022-23 (May)
Birmingham City finished 17th well clear of the relegated trio of Reading, Blackpool and bottom club Wigan Athletic. Champions Burnley and Runners up Sheffield United got promoted with the Hatters.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
