Gary Breen in the Sky Blue
On this first day of March in 1997 Manchester United, unbeaten in sixteen league games, completed the ‘double’ over the Sky Blues at Old Trafford (having won 2-0 at Highfield Road on 18th January). This time, in front of 55,230 fans, the scoreline was 3-1 to the eventual Premier League champions as Gordon Strachan‘s men gifted a brace of own goals to the Red Devils.
First, Gary Breen stroked the ball past our bemused Sky Blue goalie (and now CCFPA member) Steve Ogrizovic after just four minutes, followed up a minute later by (fairly recent Association recruit) Eoin Jess getting in the way of an Andy Cole shot so it cannoned in past ‘Oggy’. Two nil after only five minutes!
The away side kept it at that until half-time but a goal from Karel Poborský two minutes after the interval sealed CCFC’s fate! City’s star striker Dion Dublin (also now a CCFPA member) could make little headway against his old team.
The Sky Blues new Ukrainian central defender ‘Alex’ Evtushok, who only played three times for the Sky Blues in all, was substituted after half an hour in this, his debut game!
Arguably the goal of the game was the Sky Blues’ late consolation scored by (now CCFPA member) Darren Huckerby scored at 86 minutes!
Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson you can see match highlights by clicking on the link or image below:-
https://youtu.be/krJ5xVT9I18
Gordon the Gaffer
For the record, the **Gordon Strachan**‘s Sky Blues team that day (CCFPA members underlined) was:-
Steve Ogrizovic ; Richard Shaw; Oleksandr Evtushok (sub. Peter Ndlovu-30); Noel Whelan; Gary Breen; Paul D.Williams; Eoin Jess; Gary McAllister; Dion Dublin; Darren Huckerby and Marcus Hall (sub. Paul Telfer -49)
United’s star studded team was:-
Peter Schmeichel; Gary Neville; Steve Irwin (sub. Phil Neville -49); Karel Poborský; David May; Gary Pallister; David Beckham (sub. Ronny Johnsen -71); Jordi Cruyff; Eric Cantona; Andy Cole and Ryan Giggs (sub. Brian McClair -64) Referee:- Graham Barber
Of course, the Sky Blues loanee goalie in 2004 Kasper Schmeichel who went on to play Premiership football with Leicester City (and is now with Glasgow Celtic) is the son of United’s Peter and has also joined this Association.
CCFC 1996-97
The Sky Blues who had been stuck in the lower reaches of the Premier League all season finished on the last day of the season just a point and one place above the drop in seventeenth! The fall guys (in descending order) were Sunderland, Middlesbrough (with a three point deduction) and (bottom) Nottingham Forest. As mentioned earlier our opponents tody finished up Premier League champions a full seven points clear of Newcastle United.
Thanks to CCFPA’s Mike Young for sourcing the images.
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