, the Sky Blues’ “gaffer,” had a promising close season up to their first “proper” test against Norwich City at home, which they lost 3-0. He had been in that position since the previous March.
The Championship season itself got off to a rocky start with a home loss to longtime rivals Leicester City in the first game and a loss to Bury in the Football League Cup semifinals. Following more league losses against future landlords Crystal Pala
ce and Birmingham City, only a point was earned in a draw at home against Watford, and another draw occurred at Middlesbrough. In a dozen seasons, this was City’s poorest season-opening performance.
The lone victory City has had thus far was a 2-0 home triumph against Derby County on 10 September. However, this was quickly followed by a 3-0 thrashing at Ipswich Town and a 1-1 draw at the Ricoh against Reading.
3rd from the bottom Three days later, on Tuesday evening (September 27, 2011), Thorn’s team went to the Ricoh to play Blackpool, intent on climbing out of the Championship cellar. Unfortunately, they could only manage a stalemate in front of 12,822 spectators as the Tangerines forced a 2-2 draw in a game we really ought to have won!
Things quickly looked ominous when the seasiders took a nineteenth minute lead through a stunning strike from Gary Taylor-Fletcher. The one goal advantage to the visitors lasted until well past half-time and was only broken with eleven minutes of the match left when (now CCFPA member) Gary Deegan, making his first appearance of the season off the subs. bench, found an equaliser from a Sammy Clingan corner (see below). Then, even better, with seven minutes to go Lukas Jutkiewicz struck to put city in front for the first time and the points looked to be in the bag! Better still Blackpool’s ‘gaffer’ Ian Holloway got booked by the ref.
Joe Murphy, Richard Keogh, Chris Hussey (substituted by Clive Platt in the 77th minute), Martin Cranie, Colin Cameron, Sammy Clingan, David Bell (substituted by Gary Deegan in the 64th minute), Lukas Jutkiewicz, Gary McSheffrey, and Roy O’Donovan (substituted by Cyrus Christie in the 67th minute)
Cody McDonald and Chris Dunn (gk) were not substituted in.
2015’s Conor in the Sky Blue
The following players were on the pitch for Ian Holloway’s Blackpool:
Joe Murphy, Richard Keogh, Chris Hussey (Clive Platt replaced him in the 77th), Martin Cranie, Colin Cameron, Sammy Clingan, David Bell (Gary Deegan replaced him in the 64th), Lukas Jutkiewicz, Gary McSheffrey, and Roy O’Donovan (Cyrus Christie replaced him in the 67th)
Chris Dunn (gk) and Cody McDonald (gk) were not replaced.
Conor in the Sky Blue (2015)
Ian Holloway’s Blackpool had the following players on the pitch:
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