Matchday Memories : Sky Blues Blunt The Blades On This Legends Day 2022
Former players line up with the FA Cup for a half time photo
Three years ago today CCFPA held another successful Legends Day, made even better by The Sky Blues beating Sheffield United 4-1.
Dawn and Kevin Curtis bring the FA Cup onto the pitch
Members of the 1987 cup winning squad were present along with players covering seven decades of club’s history.It was great to have family members of both John Sillett and George Curtis carrying the F.A.Cup onto the pitch at half time.
Meanwhile on the pitch Sky Blues put on a classic display.
A Callum O’Hare brace secured a 4-1 win for the Sky Blues against Sheffield United at the Coventry Building Society Arena.
After going a goal behind, the Sky Blues fought back instantly to head into half-time at one-a-piece.
Three goals in the space of fifteen second-half minutes saw City pull away with ease from their opponents as they wrapped up a thrilling home win. Sander Berge gave the Blades the lead a quarter of an hour in, rising at the back post to power his header home.
CCFPA’s LD22 programme front (MY)
But the Sky Blues responded swiftly, as (both recent Association recruits) Viktor Gyökeres pounced onto (now CCFPA member) Michael Rose’s long ball to slot home, leaving Wes Foderingham rooted to the spot. Both sides then exchanged efforts looking to get the go-ahead goal, the visitors chancing their luck first, narrowly wide through Conor Hourihane, before Gyökeres looked to double his tally, forcing a save down low.
The final ten minutes of the half saw the pace ramp up a notch, initially when the Blades were awarded an indirect free-kick in the box, but Michael Rose’s goal-line clearance kept the score level.
City broke quickly down the other end, with Jamie Allen cleverly spinning his marker and teeing up a neat one-two to set up Gustavo Hamer, but the midfielder’s effort was smothered by Foderingham.
In the dying embers of the first half, Callum O’Hare tested his range with a thumping 35-yard volley, nestling on the top of the net to round off the action.
HALF-TIME: Sky Blues 1-1 Sheffield United
Berge carved out the first chance after the restart, but it was O’Hare’s that proved pivotal as the midfield dynamo bundled home to give the Sky Blues the lead for the first time.
Callum O’Hare celebrates his second goal in the 4-1 victory
O’Hare grabbed his second- and City’s third- moments later, jinking past his man and slotting into the far corner with his left foot from close range to give the Sky Blues a two-goal cushion.
The Sky Blues’ second-half rout continued as they grabbed a fourth, sparked by Ian Maatsen’s sleek skill to find O’Hare who squared it for Matty Godden to tap home with ease.
O’Hare’s star performance encouraged a rampant display in-front of goal as City walked away with a vital three points.
FULL-TIME: Sky Blues 4-1 Sheffield United
Scorers: Sander Berge (16’), Viktor Gyökeres (20’), Callum O’Hare (52’, 59’), Matty Godden (68’)
Attendance: 21,732 (4274 away)
Sky Blues (current CCFPA members underlined)
Simon Moore, Fankaty Dabo (Todd Kane -71’), Michael Rose, Kyle McFadzean (c) (Dom Hyam -68), Jake Clarke-Salter, Ian Maatsen, Gustavo Hamer, Jamie Allen, Callum O’Hare, Matty Godden (Martyn Waghorn -81’) and Viktor Gyökeres.
Unused Subs: Ben Sheaf, Ryan Howley, Fabio Tavares and Ben Wilson (gk)
Sheffield United:
Wes Foderingham, Ben Osborn (Iliman Ndiaye 78’), Kyron Gordon, John Egan, Jack Robinson, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Sander Berge, Oliver Norwood (Oliver McBurnie 65’)(Daniel Jebbison 90′), Conor Hourihane, Morgan Gibb-White and Billy Sharp (c). Unused Subs: Kacper Lopata, Femi Seriki, Oliver Arblaster and Adam Davies (gk),
Thanks to CCFPA Richard Morris (& Dean Nelson) for sourcing the images.
