Matchday Memories: On This Day 2017 – See CCFCs’s Checkatrade Carry On v. Brighton’s U23s!

Russell Slade

On this day just eight years ago (10th January) in 2017, in a season of three ‘gaffers’ and a caretaker, the Sky Blues were into the second half of their League One season which had seen them begin under Tony Mowbray with a dreadful start – without a league win in their first ten games, which led to Tony departing. The situation began to be rectified with the Sky Blues moving off the bottom of League One under caretaker ‘gaffer’ Mark Venus.

Marvin Sordell, Coventry City

However, the results went from bad to worse with a string of defeats. When Russell Slade took over the Ricoh hot seat just before Christmas he failed to stop the disastrous league performances as the rest of the season progressed.

However, the EFL (Checkatrade) Trophy competition had been the one slight glimmer of positiveness for the Sky Blues in the gathering League gloom having quicly gone out of both the League Cup and F.A. Cup. The Checkatrade competition for clubs of the lower two divisions also allowed U23 sides of the top level sides to compete.  In the First Round (a round robin) West Ham U23s had been beaten 4-2 at the Ricoh as had Northampton Town (3-1) and Wycombe Wanderers away (4-2).  Crawley Town had then been despatched in the Second Round thanks to a Marvin Sordell goal in front of the lowest Ricoh crowd ever  (1,338)!

Ruben in the Sky Blue

George Thomas in the Sky Blue

This evening’s Third Round game saw City take on the youngsters of Brighton in front of a slighter bigger Ricoh audience of 2,085 (including around sixty hardy souls from the South Coast)! The Sky Blues, as they should, with their own youngish side, made no mistake and progressed through to the last eight of the Checkatrade Trophy with a 3-0 win.  City’s goals came from Ruben Lameiras hooking in four minutes before the break, and a couple of City’s own youngsters, both of whom later joined this Association, George Thomas (a close range header after 50 minutes) and Ryan Haynes finishing off a marauding run three minutes from the fianl whistle.

Jodi Jones had a hand in two of the goals and was a thorn in the flesh of Brighton the whole game.  Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can watch the match highlights by clicking on the link or image below:-

https://youtube.com/watch?v=wDOazyzu-fA

The Sky Blues celebrate the win

The Sky Blues lined up against Brighton U23s as follows (CCFPA members underlined):-

Ryan Haynes in the Sky Blue

Jodi Jones in the Sky Blue

Lee Burge, Dion Kelly-Evans, Ryan Haynes, Vladimir Gadzhev (sub. Ben Stevenson -76), Chris Stokes (sub. Jack Finch -46), Cian Harries, Gael Bigirimana, Stuart Beavon (c) (sub. Marcus Tudgay -58), George Thomas, Rúben Lameiras and Jodi Jones

Unused subs:- Andy Rose, Callum Maycock, Callum Reilly and Lee Burge (gk)

Simon Rusk‘s young Brighton charges comprised:-

Robert Sanchez, Liam Rosenior (sub. Ben White -46), Rohan Ince, Jason Molumby, Des Hutchison (c) (sub. Joe Ward -58), Ben Barclay, Connor Tighe (sub. Danny Mandriou -67), George Cox, James Tiley, Ben Hall and Henrik Bjordal   Unused subs:- Dylan Barnett, Archie Davies, Tom Cadman and Tom McGill (gk)    Referee: Rob Lewis

 

George Thomas in the Sky Blue

City’s victory earned them quarter final tie later in the month with another U23 side, that of Swansea City and City needed penalties in Wales (after a 1-1 draw at full time) to go through 4-2. The Semi Final pitched us against a side we had met in an earlier stage of the competition and Wycombe Wanderers were again beaten, this time at the Ricoh, by the odd goal in three in front of Sky cameras. Stuart Beavon and George Thomas were our scorers.  A Wembley final tie against Oxford United awaited!

Manager Mark

Following Slade’s otherwise disastrous period as manager, with only one league win to his name, City’s previous ‘gaffer’ Mark Robins returned  in March. Despite an improvement in morale within the club and some better performances, ultimately Mark was sadly unable to salvage the season and prevent the Sky Blues going down to League Two. They were relegated in penultimate position with only Chesterfield beneath them. Port Vale and Swindon Town also suffered the same fate (League Two next season).

At the other end of the table Champions Sheffield United stormed the division with 100 points, fourteen ahead of also promoted runners up Bolton Wanderers and sixth place Millwall, who accompanied the pair via the playoffs.However, Mark’s end of season highlight was proudly leading the Sky Blues out at Wembley as they won the EFL (Checkatrade) Trophy in a 2-1 victory over Oxford United in front of nearly 75,000 fans over 43,000 from Coventry.

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