City had, of course, played in the 2008 Final, but this draw came prior to our Premier League promotions of the subsequent decade. An away draw to a side of Chelsea’s stature was a real diary marker.
Having seen off Bristol City and Leicester City in earlier rounds, City travelled to West London knowing that they were in for an almighty test against the competition’s holders. Chelsea, coached at that time by Carlo Ancelotti, were aiming to become only the fifth post-war team to retain the FA Cup as part of ambitions to complete a League, Cup and European treble.
The game started in ominous fashion: inside two minutes, Didier Drogba had put the _Blues_ ahead from inside the area. But on 34 minutes, there was a sense of drama and upset in the air, as Michael Chopra equalised for Dave Jones’ yellow-clad underdogs with a diving header from Chris Burke’s cross. Six thousand jubilant Welshman shook the old Stamford Bridge stadium to its rafters.
City held on until half time and there was a real sense of something special happening in the Press and Media areas. That was until Drogba threaded through Michael Ballack to make it 2-1 after 51 minutes; played in Daniel Sturridge to add another; and celebrated with Salomon Kalou who rounded off the scoring four minutes from time.
With a decimated squad that was without **Stephen McPhail**, **Joe Ledley** and **Mark Hudson**, City rose to the occasion. Youngster **Aaron Wildig**, an Academy product from Hereford, made only his fourth start for the Club in a midfield alongside Gavin Rae and against the aforementioned Ballack and **Frank Lampard**.
Speaking at the final whistle, manager Jones said: _"I cannot fault my players in anything they have done, they were magnificent. It looks like a drubbing, but it was far from that._
_“For over an hour we gave a good account of ourselves and showed great character after going a goal down after a couple of minutes._
_“I decided to come here and have a go. Every player today deserved a lot of plaudits because they worked their socks off. We regrouped after conceding an early goal and stuck to our game plan when they were in possession._
_“We grew in confidence and their keeper pulled off some fantastic saves. But as the game went on, they imposed their quality. It gives us some credit that Ancelotti brought on his big guns.”_
One of the Chelsea big guns who had started and finished the tie for Chelsea was this week’s newly appointed Coventry City manager, Lampard.
A colossus of the English and European game throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Lampard would have been a player idolised by a young central midfielder like Wildig, now playing for Newport County aged 32 after a solid career in the lower divisions.
And whilst Chelsea undoubtedly had the strength and skill to overturn their second-tier opponents on the day, Lampard was sure to show respect and support to the young pretender who battled valiantly against a midfield that would anchor this Chelsea side to a Premier League and FA Cup double later in the spring. Prior to his post-match TV duties in the tight Stamford Bridge tunnel-dressing room area, Lampard sought out Wildig to offer his hand and a word of encouragement. A touch of class.
But what of Wildig, thereafter? He made a total of 17 appearances during his 2009/10 breakthrough season, but after only four appearances leading into January the following term, made a loan move to Scotland with Hamilton Academical. Further loan moves would come with Shrewsbury Town before a permanent switch to the Shropshire side in May 2012.
Sadly, Wildig wouldn’t go on to enjoy many more encounters with the game’s elite, but would no doubt remember that chat with Frank for a long time to come. Was he thinking of something the midfield-maestro said to him the day he played in Chopra for the winner against Swansea City later that season?
Either way, that Chelsea game and the South Wales derby win will no doubt rank among Aaron’s career highlights.