The Good, The Bad, The Ugly... and the three points!

After a series of defeats a much-welcomed home game, although needed, put pressure upon a team who really needed to start picking up points again. As it usually is in these type of ‘must win’ situations, the game grinded out a result rather than producing a performance full of goals and free-flowing football. But with that being said, points on the board are all that matter and that’s exactly what Blues ended up with, although in true Birmingham style; they left it late.

It was all about getting the right result and to do that we needed goals. Of late we’ve not been hitting the back of the net, and although chances have been created the final touch has been missing. But we were again left ruing our missed chances when a quick counter attack saw Doncaster take the lead, further frustrating Chris Hughton and the fans after we had more than enough chances to go ahead before Marc-Antoine Fortune put Rovers in front.

Yet, credit where it is most certainly due, Blues kept on at it and the equalising goal was testament to their dogged attitude and never say die spirit. The chasing down and harrying of Carl Ikeme and Habib Beye by Chris Burke and Marlon King allowed the former to dispossess the on-loan Villa man, passing straight to King who duly slotted home.

Advantage Blues, and after pushing for a winner they finally reaped the rewards of their hard work just two minutes from time. A superb move saw Burke again set up King who coolly slid the ball through Ikeme’s legs as St. Andrews breathed a sigh of relief and picked up three points which Blues’ performances deserved. The good, the bad, the ugly; the only way Blues know how.

And finally...

The Good
Two goals from a striker, two assists by Chris Burke and a glimpse of that fighting spirit we’ve been missing for a couple of games. Guirane N’Daw especially impressed on his first league start; a real fighting midfielder who doesn’t take any flack.

The Bad
We really need to learn to take our opportunities. Unlike last season, we are now seeing some brilliant build up play – thanks to more attacking-minded wingers – but we just don’t seem to know how to finish the chances. Target practice is a must!

The Ugly
People booing one of our own players. Or player, should I say. I never agree with booing, no matter how bad they as a team or as individuals have played. So people booing Keith Fahey when he came on as a substitute made me disappointed of a section of our fans. I like Fahey. He’s not world class but I’ll defend him because I honestly think he is a good player; he’s neat, he’s tidy and he’ll even get stuck in. Granted you don’t have to get behind every single player but booing someone when they’ve not even kicked a ball is definitely uncalled for and took a bit of a shine off what was otherwise a positive second half. You support the whole team; don’t make someone an exception just because you don’t think he’s not as good as the rest. There’s a reason why first McLeish and now Hughton put him in the starting eleven more often than not.