Back to Back Victories

After a much needed 3-1 win against relegation strugglers Doncaster Rovers on Friday, Birmingham faced a quick turn around and repeated the same result this time away to Burnley, a team who had come off the back of an impressive weekend win themselves, much to the delight of everyone connected with the club as the promotion push took a major boost at such a pivotal point of the season.

The cold conditions didn’t seem to be hampering Blues’ red-hot attacking play, as after just eleven minutes they were in front. Finding himself in space, Marlon King fired the ball into the net to score his sixteenth goal of the season, and set Blues on course for successive away victories.

King could have easily added a second in what was a relatively comfortable half for the visitors, but his reluctancy to shoot meant he took too many touches and Burnley were able to clear the danger before the in-form striker was able to capitalise.

Long range shots from Guirane N’Daw and Jordon Mutch seemed to be the order of the night, yet neither came anywhere near doubling their team’s advantage, much to the frustration of the travelling support who sensed that their team needed that vital second goal; knowing that a Burnley equaliser was on the horizon.

The second half introduction of Junior Stanislas for the home side proved a turning point in the match, with Burnley finally getting more into the game and posing a threat to Boaz Myhill and the so far resilient Birmingham back line.

And Blues had a right to feel threatened; first Charlie Austin, seeing Myhill out of position, tried a long range effort which Curtis Davies managed to get his head to just in time to clear off the line, and Burnley came even closer just moments later with Danny Ings hitting the bar before Austin again came close from the rebound.

Burnley finally got the goal that had been coming through Ings, heading in a routine cross from Ross Wallace. But they didn’t get to celebrate for long, as a minute later Blues had the ball up the other end with King, who fed the ball to Mutch who put Blues ahead again; much to the delight of the Birmingham fans who mimicked their opposition by singing the goal celebration music they had heard just moments earlier.

The game was put to bed in the 88th minute when David Murphy sealed the three points from close range. Turf Moor emptied as the Blues fans celebrated another vital three points in their push for promotion. The result keeps them in fourth – three points clear of fifth place, with a home game against Crystal Palace on Saturday before a tough trip to London to face West Ham on Easter Monday in front of the television cameras. 

Image: BCFC.com

Back To Winning Ways

It was almost a carbon copy of Saturday’s game against Peterborough: we have more than enough chances to put ourselves ahead by some margin, we get a goal, we miss some astonishing sitters and then we conceded early on into the second half. The only difference being, of course, last night we kept on plugging away and scored a last minute equalizer which, on the whole, and over the course of two games: we deserved.

Going 1-0 up after just two minutes thanks to a perfectly placed shot from Jean Beausejour, the first half was, for the second game running, heavily dominated by the home team. The early goal meant we had ample time to go two or even three up before half time, and Nikola Zigic – much more lively after his static substitute appearance at the weekend – came close to doubling the advantage, heading just wide from a David Murphy free kick. Strike partner Marlon King was also left blushing, missing an open goal after some great solo work from Zigic, and it seemed easier to score than miss.

Blues went in at half time one goal to the good, yet, de ja vu was about to strike. Early into the second half Burnley were awarded a free kick in roughly the same area Peterborough scored theirs from at the weekend. The free kick was taken but cleared for a corner. Sighs of relief could be heard from the crowd, glad they had not witnessed an exact replica of the weekend’s game at St. Andrews. Of course, that was before Burnley scored from the resulting corner, and Blues were back to square one for the second game in a row.

But, true to their anthem, they kept right on, fighting in search for the winner. Keith Fahey and Jonathan Spector kept play moving in midfield and were looking to get the ball out to both the wingers and the fullbacks as Blues continued to put heavy pressure on the Burnley defence. Fahey, who comes under a lot of unfair criticism, had a creditable game and close twice with long range efforts. Burke similarly took on the Clarets’ backline several times but just couldn’t find a way through. The introduction of Nathan Redmond added yet more attacking firepower to Chris Hughton’s arsenal, and the teenager’s mazy runs confused the Burnley players several times, yet when they reached a team mate, the ball still managed to stay out the back of the net. Zigic missed another great opportunity to score after some great work by Redmond on the left hand side. The youngster wipped in a ball that went straight to the back post where Zigic was standing but the Serbian, being pushed by a Burnley defender, headed agonizingly wide.

The goal just didn’t seem to be coming and it looked to be like two points dropped again at home. But, as the three minutes were put up on the board, Blues finally got their lucky break. Murphy’s cross from the byline found an unmarked Burke in a busy 6 yard area, and the Scot managed to fire home; running off in jubilation towards the bench as soon as the ball left his foot.

Blues finally got what they deserved and will be looking to repeat the same performance – of not just dominating but picking up the three points too – in their next few fixtures, which include three tough away games on the bounce: away to first Blackpool, Braga in the Europa League and then Cardiff the following weekend. So it was a relief to finally get back to winning ways, and even if it was frustrating at times, you can’t help but admire the football we’re watching this season.



Full Time: BLUES 2-1 Burnley
Goal Scorers: Beausejour (2) Bartley (49) Burke (91)
Star Man: Although Nikola Zigic recieved man of the match in the ground, I felt that Chris Burke deserved it more. His tireless running up and down the wing, his excellent link-up play with Stephen Carr and the two central midfielders, his ability to take on players and beat them in the tightest of spaces and for his much-deserved last minute goal. Burke will tear you apart, again!
Next Up: Blackpool away - Championship

we are unbeatable.. at home!

yesterday marked not only out first win since the middle of march, but it also made sure we kept up the unbeaten home record, stretching all the way back from september.

the score line could've been much worse from burnley's perspective, so it is somewhat frustrating that we didn't take more of the chances we had as it could've, and should've, been about 3 or 4 nil to blues.

with it being most likely the last time joe hart would ever play at st.andrews in a blues shirt, most of the first half was a love-in session for the goalkeeper, with the whole ground singing to him/at him for the majority of the game: england's number one, stand up if you love joe hart and f*ck man city and stay at the blues were amongst the favourites.


with chucho back in the team we had abit more pace upfront, which was visible from the off. the deadlock was broken on the 29th minute: larsson's cross found the head of lee bowyer, who aimed it towards goal. the burnley defence were spectators as the ball hit jerome and deflected off the heal of keeper brian jensen, eventually ending up in the back of the net. a scrappy goal, but a goal none the less.




it is easy to see why burnley are top of the fair play league; the play nice stuff, but don't really do much and don't really get stuck in. they passed it around quite nicely, but blues can do that too - and make an end product out of it aswell. you could see the gap between the two teams, and it's a large one.


blues found the back of the net again on the 41st minute. blues got a freekick and mcfadden cleverly found roger johnson on the back post, who headed it across goal for it to fall to birthday boy chucho, who will not have scored a more simple goal in his life - he chested it into the back of the net and ran away in delight upon scoring his first ever goal at st. andrews - much to the disappointment of roger johnson, who thought the cheeky striker had nicked his goal, but on replays it shows johnson's header was going across the goal, and never into it.





half time: blues 2-0 burnley




the atmosphere was raised somewhat in the second half by the blues fans, to the best as it has been all season at home. it was brilliant to see everyone just having a good time. blues had pretty much secured the win in the first half, and for all the possession burnley had, they looked pretty clueless as what to do with the ball - which has been an obvious problem for them for the majority of the season. blues however had chances galore - chucho and jerome both could of had hat-tricks, and seb larsson could've also had a goal for himself when chucho cleverly crossed in the ball for larsson to volley powerfully just wide of the target; it would've been a brilliant goal!





michel came on for mcfadden in the latter stages of the game, and made some neat touches, passes and interceptions which showed us why mcleish invested in the spaniard, and why he will have a big part to play in the team next year. another substitution followed as stuart parnaby got a knock in a 50/50 challenge - he'd done well all game and was unfortunate to pick up a knock after all the trouble he's had this season.


winning by a two goal margin just seemed too good to be true for blues - and it was. steven thompson beat the offside trap - to the dismay of gregory vignal! and slotted the ball across goal and past joe hart for a conciliation goal for burnley, which denied blues their first 2-0 win this season.


when 90 minutes came, lee carsley was brought on for what would be his final game at st. andrews, after he announced he would be leaving earlier on in the week. he was handed the captains armband too, which was a very touching gesture.

the final whistle went and a roar went up around the ground. we'd done it. we'd managed to stay unbeaten since september at home, and we'd picked up a much needed, and deserved, win.

full time: blues 2-1 burnley




thousands of fans stayed behind for the lap of appreciation, and the players received a standing ovation from the whole ground as they paraded round with their children and families. it was a change from last season, when a dejected few fans stayed behind to applauded the just as equally dejected players as they fell to defeat at the hands of preston, meaning promotion would go down to the last game.





alex mcleish made a tear-jerking speech, thanking the fans and players for such an amazing season - with abit of scottish humour added in! it was brilliant to see the fans and players so happy after such a brilliant season, especially at st. andrews; a ground which blues have made a fortress this season.


as we move onto the last game with one hand and a couple of fingers firmly gripped onto ninth place, a win against bolton, or maybe even a draw depending on results elsewhere, would confirm our best finish in many years. and for the season we've had, we thoroughly deserve that ninth place finish, let alone a top ten finish.

i can't believe it's nearly over - i don't want it to end!

next up: bolton away, 09/05/10