On this day (20th February) in 2010 the Sky Blues, managed by Chris Coleman, put one over Crystal Palace managed by Neil Warnock in London. The Eagles manager refused to deny speculation about his future as City’s 1-0 victory over the Londoners dropped them into the bottom three for the first time in the season after recent CCFPA recruit David Bell, having come off the bench, notched the Sky Blues’ winner with only five minutes remaining in front of 13,333 spectators including 500 members of the SBA! City had drawn 1-1 with the Palace in the first game between the two sides at the Ricoh in mid November.
It was a mistake from Palace ‘keeper Julian Speroni who cost the home team dear as when Jonathan Stead put Bell clear the goalie raced off his line to leave himself in no man’s land. The Sky Blues sub still had a lot to do and his delicate 25-yard lob sailed over Speroni into the net. The goal displayed a rare moment of skill in a low-key game not assisted by the bumpy pitch which discouraged any good football.
In the second half, our ‘keeper Keiren Westwood saved a point-blank header from Johnny Ertl, while (his now fellow CCFPA member) Aron Gunnarsson, put clear by Clinton Morrison‘s subtle flick, hit the ball straight at Speroni when a shot either side would have scored! City’s away win put them up to tenth in the Championship.
The contemporary BBC minute-by-minute match report containing comment from both managers can be found here.
Sky Blues gaffer Chris Coleman reminded Sky Blues fans, “It was the perfect way to bounce back after our 4-1 defeat at Newcastle United. We competed from the first minute to the last and I thought we were worthy of the win.”
Sky Blues (CCFPA members underlined):-
Keiren Westwood, Stephen Wright, James McPake, Richard Wood, Martin Cranie, Carl Baker, Sammy Clingan, Aron Gunnarsson, Michael McIndoe (sub. David Bell – 72), Clinton Morrison (sub. Gary Deegan -90) and Jonathan Stead.
Unused Subs. Ben Turner, Jermaine Grandison, Freddy Eastwood, Freddy Sears and Dimi Konstantopoulos (gk)
Crystal Palace:
Julian Speroni, Nathaniel Clyne (sub. Calvin Andrew -85), Matthew Lawrence, Claude Davis, Clint Hill, Darren Ambrose, Shaun Derry, Johannes Ertl, Nick Carle, Sean Scannell (sub. Kieran Djilali- 67) and Alan Lee Unused Subs. Lee Hills, Danny Butterfield, James Comley, Allesane N’Diaye and Charlie Mann (gk) Referee: Darren Deadman.
After a reasonable season up to then the Sky Blues had a dreadful end to the season failing to win in their last eleven games so slipping down to finish in nineteenth spot in the Championship seven points above the drop zone. The Eagles, having been deducted ten points for going into admin, finished two places and five points below the Sky Blues just safe in nineteenth. At the foot of the table the three clubs to be relegated were Sheffield Wednesday (22nd), Plymouth Argyle (23rd) and bottom Peterborough United.
At the top of the Championship Newcastle United racked up 102 points as Champions and were promoted with runners up West Bromwich Albion eleven points behind the Magpies and, after the play offs, sixth placed Blackpool a full 21 points behind the Baggies!