Lead role for Mifsud at Theatre of Dreams

Barcelona’s Gerard Pique, Manchester United’s Jonny Evans, Newcastle’s Danny Simpson and Sunderland’s Phil Bardsley are outstanding footballers for their respective teams. As a unit they comprised the Manchester United defence that expected to beat the Sky Blues in the Carling Cup tie of October 2007.  Nine months into his Coventry City career, Michael Mifsud would make national headlines with two goals at Old Trafford as the United back four were found wanting by the man nicknamed ‘Mosquito’.

One of the key factors in the victory was the ability of Iain Dowie’s men to win their individual duels. John O’Shea and Anderson were overpowered by Jay Tabb and Michael Doyle. Nani found little joy up against Gary Borrowdale while Chris Eagles and the unknown Dong Fangzhou were given limited opportunity by Elliott Ward and Ben Turner. Isaac Osbourne snuffed out the threat of Lee Martin leaving Leon Best and Mifsud to give Pique and Jonny Evans a night to forget. Andy Marshall’s save from Dong’s header at 1-0 was the catalyst for Mifsud to break away from future three times ‘La Liga’ winner and three times Champions League winner Pique to smash the ball past Kuszczak in the United goal. The evening was a tactical masterstroke for Dowie at the home of the champions.

Iain Dowie’s man-management brought out the best in the speedy striker. In March 2007 City beat Barnsley 4-1 at the Ricoh in one of the best team performances seen at the new stadium. Mifsud opened his home account in a team performance that was so good it merited repeat Mexican waves. Dowie’s departure and Chris Coleman’s subsequent appointment were the beginning of the end for the striker. A move to Bristol City in the close season of 2008 fell through before his release in the summer of 2009. He now plies his trade with Maltese side Valletta and holds the national side’s all-time scoring record. On that night at Old Trafford only the width of a post denied him a hat-trick. Without anyone realising his football career hit its peak on that October evening. Not many players score twice at Manchester United in front of 74,000 supporters but Michael Mifsud did just that.

Huckerby & O'Neill - the great and the not so good

For Coventry supporters the names of Darren Huckerby and Keith O’Neill could not bring a wider gulf in opinion of their respective talents. Both signed by Gordon Strachan, Huckerby would score 34 times in 109 appearances whereas O’Neill figured just 11 times in three seasons. The last top flight meeting between City and Forest in 1999 saw the Nottingham-born forward take home the match ball as City won 4-0. A week earlier the Sky Blues had thumped Macclesfield Town 7-0 in the FA Cup with ‘Hucks’ again seeking the signatures of all concerned on the 'Mitre Delta'. He provided entertainment and effort every time he wore sky blue and there was major disappointment when he signed for Leeds United.

Keith O’Neill replaced Michael Doyle in the Sky Blues’ clash against Forest in August 2003. Eight minutes later he left the field of play for the last time in his professional career. The Irishman is, quite possibly, the worst player in the club’s history. Given the turnaround of personnel in recent seasons it sums up just how poor his contribution was to all things sky blue. As he departed the Highfield Road pitch with a torn hamstring it was fortunate for him he was just a yard from the touchline to escape the fans' derision. In the minutes afterwards, and only then, could City supporters take in what had happened. Shortly afterwards O'Neill left the club and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. You have to ask what he ever brought to Coventry City. 

As City supporters travel in numbers to the City Ground this weekend, the fantastic finale on Tuesday has cranked up the expectation bar yet again. Premier League loanees Oliver Norwood and Alex Nimely made telling contributions as their class was visible for all to see. Norwood displayed a Paul Scholes range of passing in the first-half while Nimely’s pace and direct running were pivotal to both penalty decisions. Barnsley, Palace, Birmingham, Pompey, Peterborough, Millwall and Doncaster are next in line at the Ricoh along with the Easter Monday away day at Bristol City. Gary McSheffrey was spot on with his ‘Relegation is unthinkable’ statement prior to the fixture and held his nerve when we needed him most. With the inspirational Richard Keogh leading by example a point or three at Forest will kick start the 15 game season we now face as the great escape is well and truly on...

Kaiser chief as Leeds riot

Leeds United and their supporters visited Highfield Road in September 1981 displaying tell tale signs of a club in decline. They were an ageing side under the management of former great Allan Clarke and prior to this fixture newly promoted Swansea had thumped them 5-1 at the Vetch Field on the opening day. Dave Sexton’s Sky Blues won 4-0 with goals from Garry Thompson (2), Steve Whitton and new signing Rudi Kaiser. The fixture, however, was marred by hooliganism in the visitors’ section.

In 1981 the away support was housed at the Spion Kop end of the Sky Blue Stand. It all became too much for the Leeds fans with City leading 3-0 just after half-time. Seats rained down onto the pitch as they fought with Sky Blues fans sat adjacent to them. Those seats still intact were then launched at the Spion Kop as referee Howard King briefly halted proceedings. Just eight years previously they had won the league title and this episode showed just how far their star had fallen as relegation loomed. It would take them until 1990 to return to the top division with Gordon Strachan instrumental in their success.

Rudi Kaiser was the second overseas player to join Coventry following the Ardiles/Villa revolution after the 1978 World Cup.  Gordon Milne signed Belgian Roger Van Gool from FC Cologne in the summer of 1980 but his appearances were limited, just 19 in two seasons before Dutchman Kaiser arrived in his place. Left-footed yet employed on the right wing, he scored just eight minutes into his home debut and followed up with two more against Brighton and Swansea. By January he had departed for Nice and warmer climes having started brightly but was unable to settle in England. Raddy Avramovic and Martin Jol completed the overseas imports during the 80’s with their brief cameos. Not one of the above played more than 20 games for the club.

Leeds will again travel well to the Ricoh. In the above clash their numbers were low yet caused maximum disruption. The seating they were hurling was wooden, not plastic, and fortunately their aim was poor as they hurled them onto the playing area. City are the only side in all four divisions still to win away from home but the Sky Blue Army have backed them in their numbers, maintaining their dignity and not letting standards slip. Tonight, nothing less than three points will do but Portsmouth’s looming points deduction has drawn them into the relegation equation. We cannot rely on other teams, our destiny is in our own hands.

Richie Partridge - the loan that paid off

Gary McAllister used the loan market to its maximum in 2002/03. Supporters witnessed 22 league defeats as 44 players turned out in sky blue – both club records. Highfield Road endured Dean Holdsworth, Matt Jansen, Brian Kerr, Jamie McMaster, Juan Sara, Christian Yulu and Vicente Engonga with little success. Craig Hignett promised much until a broken leg curtailed his City career but one man came in and made an impact.

Richie Partridge, future brother-in-law of Michael Owen and former team-mate of Gary McAllister joined from Liverpool and illuminated the old stadium upon his arrival. Slight of build, the diminutive Dubliner possessed the ability to run at defenders and, allied to his close control, the ability to finish. He made things happen and we haven’t said that too often during the last decade. Boxing Day 2002 witnessed one of the best goals seen at Highfield Road in the new millennium as City moved up to sixth in the second tier with a 2-0 win. Reading were the visitors as Partridge slalomed through numerous challenges before curling the ball into the top corner of Marcus Hahnemann’s net from just outside the box. Norwich custodian Robert Green was beaten weeks before by a similar effort but this one in front of the West Terrace was worth the entrance money alone for the 19,000 crowd.

His form suffered along with the team in the spring and he returned to Anfield just before the season concluded. Sheffield Wednesday signed him from Liverpool in 2005 and spells followed at Rotherham United, Chester City, MK Dons, Stockport County and The New Saints (TNS) in the Welsh league. He retired with a knee injury in August 2011 having completed his Physiotherapy degree with first class honours at Salford University and is now a director of ‘10 Bridge Physiotherapy Clinic’ along with working part-time for Liverpool’s academy in a physio role. When he ran out at the Ricoh for the Owls in 2006 City fans greeted his return with warm applause in recognition of his efforts.

The loan market has finally been evident this January with little monies provided by the uninterested and uncommunicative owners. The £250,000 spent on Cody McDonald in September has sadly been a complete waste of both money and judgement. In a performing side he would have fitted in but in a side creating little he has proved a luxury. Alex Nimely and Oliver Norwood have arrived from the Premier League’s top two yet outside of Manchester they are unheard of, such is the depth of Mancini and Ferguson’s squads. We expect immediate results, there simply isn’t time for them to play their way into the side. Richie Partridge was able to handle the pressure and made an immediate impression during his stay at City. We have to hope the Mancunian duo can repeat his efforts in sky blue to get us out of this mess.

Ferguson 4 Ipswich 1

When (Sir) Bobby Robson brought his Ipswich Town side to Highfield Road in the winter of 1979 little did he know what lay in store. His defence comprised George Burley, Terry Butcher, Russell Osman and Mick Mills while John Wark reigned supreme in midfield. Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen complemented the free-scoring Scot with Paul Mariner, Alan Brazil and Eric Gates leading from the front. Over 42 games they would concede just 39 goals, establishing themselves as challengers to Liverpool and Manchester United. Mick Ferguson and Ian Wallace led City’s attack with Tommy Hutchison and Steve Hunt on the flanks.

Ferguson, the bearded Geordie number nine, had smashed three hat-tricks in one season back in ‘77/78. By 4.45pm he needed trophy cabinet reinforcements as he claimed the first four goal haul for 20 years in a Coventry shirt.  Gordon Milne's men won 4-1with Wark netting the Suffolk side's consolation from the penalty spot. In the return fixture the following April, Robson's men won 3-0 having not lost since their mauling at the hands of Ferguson, a valuable lesson learnt.

Hat-tricks can tend to come against the division's struggling sides as in the cases of Lee Hughes (Crewe) and Freddy Eastwood (Peterborough). Ferguson’s haul was comparable in future years with Terry Gibson, Dion Dublin and Mick Quinn as they scored against the country's elite defences on their particular day. ‘Gibbo’s’ treble in 1983 against Mark Lawrenson and Alan Hansen was beyond belief, even now when you view the footage that Liverpool side was simply outstanding. Dion Dublin triumphed in his battle against French World Cup winners Frank Lebouef and Marcel Desailly in 1998 while Mick Quinn led a merry dance to messrs Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Andy Linighan and Tony Adams at Highbury as chants of ‘Sumo’,’Sumo’ rang out from the jubilant away following.

As is the norm in modern times the hero is afforded a substitution to a standing ovation from most sides of the ground. Ferguson, however, played the whole game and walked off with his team-mates holding the ‘Minerva Supreme’ match ball as just over 16,000 stood to applaud. In that evening’s ‘Pink’, the legendary 6pm after-match newspaper, a picture of the scoreboard summed up the day as it beamed out ‘FERGUSON 4 IPSWICH 1'. This feat remains the last time a City player scored four times in a league fixture, just over 32 years ago. Freddy Eastwood's treble was just over three years ago, the club must be saving a fortune in match ball expenditure.

The visit of Ipswich has taken on even more importance with the late capitulation on the Golden Mile. Away points may prove to be so vital come April but the home games hold the key. Draws at the Ricoh are of little value, we need the maximum haul to counter the dearth of points on the road. We escaped the previous time we failed to win away all season mainly due to Robbie Keane and Gary McAllister entertaining us with flair and goals at Highfield Road. Gary McSheffrey was a fringe player in that squad, he's now a main player and his goals could make all the difference to our hopes of survival.