Matchday Memories: On This Day 2016 – See Sky Blue Stokes Score In Saddlers Stalemate

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Chris Stokes in the Sky Blue

On this day (12th January) in 2016 the Sky Blues under ‘gaffer’ Tony Mowbray were doing fine in League One with only one league defeat in the last sixteen games and in the play-off spots. Today they faced Walsall FC at the Ricoh looking for revenge after going down to them 2-1 at the Bescot in August.  City kept the unbeaten run going (but would go one to win only once in the next nine games)!

A glancing header from (now CCFPA member) Chris Stokes, taking advantage of a Joe Cole free kick, gave the Sky Blues the lead after 34 minutes and the Saddlers had quite a few close calls subsequently. However,  the visitors fought their way back level nine minutes from time from Tom Bradshaw glancing shot to snatch a point in front of 15,671 at the Ricoh (including nearly 1,400 fans from Walsall).

Manager Mowbray

Reice Charles-Cook, Aaron Phillips, Ryan Haynes, Sam Ricketts (c), Chris Stokes, Romain Vincelot, John Fleck, Joe Cole (sub. James Maddison -65), Adam Armstrong, Jacob Murphy and Jim O’Brien (sub. Marc-Antoine Fortune -82).    

Unused subs:-   Marcus Tudgay, Gael Bigirimana, Reuben Lameiras, Peter Ramage and Lee Burge (gk)
 
Sean O’Driscoll put out the following Saddlers’ players onto the Ricoh pitch:-
Neil Etheridge, Rico Hentry, Milan Lalkovic (sub. Anthony Forde -60), James O’Connor, Liam Kinsella (sub. Jason Denetriou -60), Paul Downing, Adam Chambers (c), Sam Mantom, Tom Bradshaw, Romaine Sawyers and George Evans (sub. Jordan Cook -78)  Unused subs:- Matt Preston, Keiron Morris, Andy Taylor and Craig MacGillivray (gk)      
Referee:- Tony Harrington
 

CCFC 2015-16

 
The Sky Blues had climbed to top spot in League One by the end of November but a New Year slump (and a bit of a purple patch right at the end of the season) saw them drift down to an eighth place finish,outside the playoffs. The Saddlers however finished third, only a point behind the automatic promotion spots taken by Burton Albion and champions Wigan Athletic. The Saddlers also lost out in the play-offs as Barnsley took the remaining promotion spot. 
 
Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool, Colchester United and Crewe Alexandra were the relegated quartet.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.

 

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