Sky Blues Managerial team: Roland Nilsson & Jim Smith
On this day twenty three years ago on March 9th in 2002 the Sky Blues were experiencing their first taste of second tier football since 1966-67 having been relegated from the Premier League under Gordon Strachan the previous season. WGS lasted only five matches into this season until the Sky Blues former Swedish international full back Roland Nilsson took up the managerial reins. Under Roland CCFC got something of a resurgence often residing in the top ten. However, he was in charge in mid December when the Canaries beat us 2-0 at Carrow Road so a win today would be some sort of revenge!
Lee in the Sky Blue
In fact, to get the victory, the Sky Blues had to make their first comeback win in three years. The Canaries’ Marc Libbra got their opener on the stroke of half time to send the Canaries in at the break with apparent momentum. However, the Sky Blues allegedly want-away striker Lee Hughes proved City’s saviour.
It took only six minutes of the second half for the ebullient forward to get the equaliser from the penalty spot, somewhat fortuitously. The Canaries’ Adam Drury was judged to have kicked the Sky Blues’ Moroccan midfielder (and now CCFPA member) Youssef Chippo in the face in the box – though Canaries’ players claimed it was just outside.
‘Big Mo’ Konjic in the Sky Blue
The Sky Blues’ late winner, to make a brace for Lee, was the result of him reacting quickest to the ball rebounding off the bar from a Mo Konjic header. Lee’s reflex header came fully two minutes into time added on at the end of the game. Sky Blues fans among the 16,742 crowd were delighted as it set them up for a happy journey back to Coventry!
Thanks to CCFPA’s former committee member Dean Nelson you can watch match highlights by clicking on the image below:-
Roland’s Sky Blues comprised (CCFPA members underlined):-
Magnus in the Sky Blue
Magnus Hedman, Barry Quinn, Richard Shaw, Colin Healy, Gary Breen, Mo Konjic, Youssef Chippo, Youssef Safri, Lee Hughes, Jay Bothroydand David Thompson
Nigel Worthington‘s Canaries team lined up as follows:-
Paul Crichton, Darren Kenton (sub. Daryl Sutch -46), Adam Drury, Gary Holt, Craig Fleming, Malky Mackay, Steen Nedergaard, Phil Mulryne, Marc Libbra, David Nielsen (sub. Trevor Benjamin -59) and Clint Easton Referee:- Uriah Rennie
Norwich’s on loan substitute this day Trevor Benjamin later (2005) had a short spell with the Sky Blues and quite recently joined CCFPA!
After flirting with a play-off place in the second half of the season results falters after mid March with only two wins in the last eleven games and five straight defeats to end the season. Roland and his assistant Jim Smith were sacked although a mid table (eleventh place) position for the Sky Blues was not too bad in the circumstances.
CCFC 2001-02
Norwich City made it into the play-offs in sixth spot but could not go all the way. It was fifth placed Birmingham City who profitted to gain promotion alongside second placed West Bromwich Albion and champions Manchester City.
Crewe Alexandra, Barnsley and Stockport County journeyed down in the opposite direction as the Sky Blues faced another campaign in the second tier!
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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