Matchday Memories: This day in 2008 the Sky Blues defeat the Lions in the FA Cup.

After a dismal run in the Championship—they had lost five of the previous six league games—the Sky Blues got back on track on this day (January 26, 2008) in 2008 with a victory in the Fourth Round of the Football Association of Canada.

Although Iain Dowie would be fired early the next month to make room for Chris Coleman to take over as manager, they were still managed by him. City’s thrilling 4-1 victory over Blackburn Rovers has advanced them to Round Four.

In front of 17,268 spectators at Ricoh Stadium (including roughly 2,500 from London), they defeated the Lions of Millwall 1-0 at home today to advance to the round of sixteen for the first time this century despite a haphazard defense.

The two goals from Sky Blue infuriated the guests. Following sixteen minutes, Michael Doyle’s brief free kick scored the first goal. Stephen Hughes, who is currently a member of the CCFPA, scored a left-footed 20-yard goal from there that went past the defensive wall, maybe hitting a defender, and nestled into the corner of Millwall’s net. Jay Simpson gave the visitors a three-minute head start three minutes before the half, beating our Greek ‘keeper (and recent CCFPA recruit) Dimi Konstantopoulos with a rising 12-yard strike. Both teams entered the game level after Stephen’s first Ricoh goal, thus nothing had been established.

The game-winning goal was scored by our Maltese forward, Michael Mifsud, who was also recently recruited by the Association. He finished with a tap-in from eight yards after Dele Adebola, another CCFPA member, hit a post with his shot. Both teams had more opportunities, particularly for Mifsud, and Gary Alexander’s error late in the game should have forced a replay for the visitors.

You may find a current BBC Sport match report by clicking this link.

The Sky Blues selected the following squad, which CCFPA members highlighted:

Dimi Konstantopoulos, Elliott Ward, Liam Davis, Jay Tabb, Stephen Hughes, Michael Doyle, Julian Gray, ‘Dele Adebola (sub. Robbie Simpson -72) and Michael Mifsud (sub. Leon Best -89) are the players that make up this team.
Subs not used: Liam Francis, Kevin Thornton, and Ellery Cairo.

The order of Kenny Jackett’s Lions was as follows:

The players that were substituted for Neil Harris (78), Adrian Forbes (66), Rhys Evans, Danny Senda, Paul Robinson, Andy Frampton, Scott Barron, Jay Simpson, Alan Dunne, Gary Alexander, and Lewis Grabban were Ali Fuseini and Adrian Forbes. Preston Edwards, Preston Shaw, and Zoumana Bakayogo are the unused substitutes (gk).

Nigel Miller (Durham) is the referee.

Richard Shaw, a CCFPA member and former stalwart of the Sky Blue defense, was sitting on the Lions’ substitute bench. Following Willie Donachie’s departure from Millwall in 2008, Shawsy served as interim manager.

The Sky Blues were soundly defeated 5-0 at home by their local rivals West Bromwich Albion in the Fifth Round of the FA Cup, sending them out of the competition without a fight.

Despite a terrible and depressing 4-1 loss at Charlton Athletic on the final day, City just made it through the Championship, finishing just above the drop zone in the 21st place.

The teams that were demoted were Leicester City, Scunthorpe United, and Colchester United! Champions West Bromwich Albion, runners-up Stoke City, and third-placed Hull City all advanced to the Premier League.