Matchday Memories: On This Day 1998 – See Sky Blue Dion’s Cup Double Do For Dirty Derby

Matchday Memories: On This Day 1998 – See Sky Blue Dion’s Cup Double Do For Dirty Derby

 

On this day (January 24th, 1998), the Sky Blues, led by Gordon Strachan, faced Derby County in the Fourth Round of the Football Association Cup at Highfield Road. The Sky Blues were full of confidence after defeating Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield in Round Three with to goals from Darren Huckerby, Dion Dublin, and Paul Telfer (all of whom are now CCFPA members). Dion was on a roll, having scored in a 2-2 Premier League tie against Arsenal at Highfield Road the week before. City handled the Rams with respect, despite the fact that they had defeated us 3-1 in the Derby at the end of November.

However, our talismanic center striker DD scored another brace against the Rams today, putting City into the FA Cup Fifth Round (where they finally reached the Quarter Finals).

The two-goal triumph also ended a bad run for the Sky Blues, as it was their first home win in this Cup against top-flight opponents since 1984! Dion’s first came in the 38th minute, a stooping header close in off a looping cross from our Dutch midfielder George Boateng. His second was snatched from close range on the stroke of halftime.

The Rams were not pleased with their approaching setback, cutting up rough throughout the game and receiving three yellow cards in fury.

Their Francesco Baiano was also forced to withdraw from the contest, since he faced dismissal if he continued. The Sky Blue followers, who made up the bulk of the 22,816-strong audience (with record revenues of £365k), went home pleased!

Thanks to former CCFPA committee member Dean Nelson, you may see the goal action by clicking on the link or picture below.

Magnus Hedman, Roland Nilsson, Brian Borrows, George Boateng (sub Gavin Strachan -89), Gary Breen, Richard Shaw, Paul Telfer, Trond Egil Soltvedt, Dion Dublin, Darren Huckerby (sub Viorel Moldovan -84), and Noel Whelan (replacement Marcus Hall -78).

 

Unused subs:- John Salako and Steve Ogrizovic (gk)

The Derby County squad lined up as follows:

Mart Poom, Stefano Eranio, Chris Powell, Dean Yates, Igor Stimac, Jacob Laursen, Lee Carsley (sub Gary Rowett -73), Francesco Baiano (sub Ron Willems -64), Paulo Wanchope, Deon Burton (sub Christian Dailly -73), and Darryl Powell.

Unused substitutes: Russell Hoult and Jonathan Hunt. Referee:- Martin Bodenham (West Sussex).

Future Sky Blue (and CCFPA member) Lee Carsley was in the Rams’ squad that day, as were future Sky Blue defender Paul Trollope and ex-Sky Blue and now CCFPA member Sean Flynn!

City’s Cup campaign has continued to grow this season. After defeating old rivals Aston Villa 1-0 at home (thanks to a goal from our Roumanian striker Viorel Moldovan), we were eliminated on penalties by Sheffield United in the FA Cup Quarter Finals after 1-1 draws in Coventry and Sheffield. Dion received a penalty in the first home game.

In the League return at the end of March, City faced Derby County at Highfield Road and held a clean sheet, defeating the Rams 1-0 thanks to Darren Huckerby’s strike a minute before halftime.

 

The Sky Blues finished a respectable twelfth in the 1997-98 Premier League season, but the Rams finished a few places (and three points) ahead of them.

Arsenal won the championship by one point over Manchester United, and the relegated teams were Bolton Wanderers (eighteenth), Barnsley (nineteenth), and Crystal Palace (bottom).