It’s a funny old game, football.
Such is the demand of the forty-six game a season Championship games come thick and fast, and while on Tuesday Blues were celebrating another fantastic victory over Barnsley, Saturday saw a disappointing defeat and the end to an unbeaten run stretching all the way back to December.
What was most apparent in Tuesday’s clash at Oakwell, and something that has been visible for the last few games, is that we are now much more clinical. Where we were once having 5-10 shots with one or two on target – Peterborough away for example – we now have a much better shots to shots on target/goals ratio.
As such, our three excellent finishes – albeit one handsomely deflected – allowed us to appear a much more clinical side and win the game, with the help of some astute defending. Chris Burke’s deflected shot put Blues ahead in under ten minutes, before an unlikely equaliser from David Cotterill, after the defence had a momentary lapse on concentration and were duly punished.
But Blues found themselves ahead again thanks to a 20 yard shot from Keith Fahey. A man who has booed only months previously had his name sung by the travelling 700 Bluenoses, which is a testament to how much the Republic of Ireland midfielder has changed opinions at St. Andrew’s with his strong performances in the centre of the park.
After commendable performances by all, the home side were limited to chances and as such Blues put the game to bed with twelve minutes left on the clock. Substitute Nathan Redmond beat the keeper from the tightest of angels to seal all three points for Blues and keep their unbeaten run going.
The next couple of days saw two loan singings come in; first, Portsmouth’s Erik Huseklepp was added to Chris Hughton’s charges. The pacey forward left the south-coast struggles with a heavy heart, but determined to do well at his new club. Another addition was made shortly after; this time Tottenham Hotspur’s Andros Townsend joined the ranks, having been on loan at fellow Championship side Leeds United up until his move to B9.
The new signings were set to make an impact as up next at home was a relatively straight-forward match against Championship strugglers Nottingham Forest who, on paper, have a team oozing with talent and experience. The likes of George Elokobi, Dexter Blackstock and Chris Gunter to name but a few. And Blues fans and players alike shouldn’t have been so quick to dismiss this, as they were on the wrong end of a 2-1 score line, bringing not only their unbeaten home run to an end, but their fifteen match unbeaten run to a close as well.
Dexter Blackstock produced the goods for the away side in both halves, whilst sandwiched in the middle was another impressive Chris Burke strike which seemed to offer hope of a victory, before it being snatched away with just under half an hour to go by the team who, ultimately, wanted it more on the day.
Despite the unfortunate defeat, Blues still sit in the play-off places with an extremely favourable goal difference. The FA Cup reply next week may provide a distraction, but it certainly isn’t unwanted. After all, a year ago today was the greatest day in Birmingham City’s history, and another trip to Wembley certainly wouldn’t be a bad thing.
Showing posts with label Barnsley. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Barnsley. Show all posts
Monday, 27 February 2012
Sunday, 25 September 2011
Disappointing Displays
Having won our previous two home league games scoring four and conceding none, there was a right held by Blues fans to expect something of their team yesterday afternoon; but they certainly didn’t live up to such expectations.
From what I saw yesterday I can conclude that Barnsley are a good passing team and came with a purpose; sticking to it throughout, especially in the first half. They marked wingers Chris Burke and Nathan Redmond out the game, they closed down fast and held possession until they could break with force. However, at home we should be able to stop that. In short; we were poor. We couldn’t retain possession half as good as our counterparts could and for me that’s because of our midfield: we are missing a general. Someone like Barry Ferguson who can hold onto the ball and look for a pass, and someone who can keep the ball flowing across the midfield. The loan market should definitely be seen as an opportunity to bring this type of player in, because Jean Beausejour, winger by trade, and Jonathan Spector, who started his career as a right back, are clearly are not the answer to this problem.
But that wasn’t the only negative of the day. We just didn’t seem to get going, and nothing appeared to work for us. At one point in the second half Barsnely played a ball across a busy back-line and it landed at the feet of one of their players. It was one of those days where, if we had attempted that, it would have fell to a guy in a red shirt.
I don’t like to use the referee as a scapegoat, on the contrary; I have admitted how poor we were, but he didn’t help proceedings either. Mr Phillips’ incorrect decisions throughout the game, and his inability to stop play at the correct times frustrated the Blues fans further. It’s one thing watching an inept display for your team, but when the referee isn’t up to standard either, it’s a nightmare. I admire the job they do, because they get countless amounts of stick for it on and off the pitch (like I am doing here!) but they are trained to do a job and should be able to do it up to a suitable standard. Yesterday was far from suitable. Take Barnsley’s goal: the ball fell to David Murphy and The Tykes’ number eleven David Perkins slid in on Murphy who had to jump out the way to narrowly survive what could have been a leg breaking tackle. This meant the ball fell to Jacob Butterfield who, admittedly unchallenged by the rest of the Blues back-line, ran forward a yard or two and scored. A bad decision by the referee which was amongst many of the afternoon.
Likewise, it was an abject performance by players of Birmingham City as well, and up until the last fifteen or so minutes we just didn’t look like scoring. The introduction of Nikola Zigic as a second half substitute, one of the only positives of the game aside from the rescued point we picked up, made a definite change and linked up well with Marlon King. Zigic helped to set up the equalizer; heading down a ball in the area which was cleared out to the edge of the area, and Chris Burke, picking up the ball fired home a deflected shot which found its well into the back of the net and grabbed at least a point for Blues who were at that point in the ascendency.
King almost grabbed an undeserved winner moments later but saw his effort hit the inside of the post, but a point was all that Blues picked up after a disappointing home performance. Lying 16th in the table after seven games on eight points, it is true to say we have had a mixed start. Thus far we have won two, drawn two and lost two whilst playing some very entertaining football, scoring in every game we have played so far in the league, which Chris Hughton should be applauded for. I think now we should be just about finding our level which, at present, isn’t promotion. Fans’ expectations surely now must be lowered, and many are coming to terms with the fact it will be a struggle to get promoted this season. However that does not mean we should expect performances like yesterday’s, and hopefully there will be a big improvement the next time we play.
Full Time: BLUES 1-1 Barnsley
Goal Scorers: Butterfield (33) Burke (86)
Star Man: If I had to pick one I would go for David Murphy who never seems to put a foot wrong in a Blues shirt
Next Up: Maribor away - Europa League Group Stages
From what I saw yesterday I can conclude that Barnsley are a good passing team and came with a purpose; sticking to it throughout, especially in the first half. They marked wingers Chris Burke and Nathan Redmond out the game, they closed down fast and held possession until they could break with force. However, at home we should be able to stop that. In short; we were poor. We couldn’t retain possession half as good as our counterparts could and for me that’s because of our midfield: we are missing a general. Someone like Barry Ferguson who can hold onto the ball and look for a pass, and someone who can keep the ball flowing across the midfield. The loan market should definitely be seen as an opportunity to bring this type of player in, because Jean Beausejour, winger by trade, and Jonathan Spector, who started his career as a right back, are clearly are not the answer to this problem.
But that wasn’t the only negative of the day. We just didn’t seem to get going, and nothing appeared to work for us. At one point in the second half Barsnely played a ball across a busy back-line and it landed at the feet of one of their players. It was one of those days where, if we had attempted that, it would have fell to a guy in a red shirt.
I don’t like to use the referee as a scapegoat, on the contrary; I have admitted how poor we were, but he didn’t help proceedings either. Mr Phillips’ incorrect decisions throughout the game, and his inability to stop play at the correct times frustrated the Blues fans further. It’s one thing watching an inept display for your team, but when the referee isn’t up to standard either, it’s a nightmare. I admire the job they do, because they get countless amounts of stick for it on and off the pitch (like I am doing here!) but they are trained to do a job and should be able to do it up to a suitable standard. Yesterday was far from suitable. Take Barnsley’s goal: the ball fell to David Murphy and The Tykes’ number eleven David Perkins slid in on Murphy who had to jump out the way to narrowly survive what could have been a leg breaking tackle. This meant the ball fell to Jacob Butterfield who, admittedly unchallenged by the rest of the Blues back-line, ran forward a yard or two and scored. A bad decision by the referee which was amongst many of the afternoon.
Likewise, it was an abject performance by players of Birmingham City as well, and up until the last fifteen or so minutes we just didn’t look like scoring. The introduction of Nikola Zigic as a second half substitute, one of the only positives of the game aside from the rescued point we picked up, made a definite change and linked up well with Marlon King. Zigic helped to set up the equalizer; heading down a ball in the area which was cleared out to the edge of the area, and Chris Burke, picking up the ball fired home a deflected shot which found its well into the back of the net and grabbed at least a point for Blues who were at that point in the ascendency.
King almost grabbed an undeserved winner moments later but saw his effort hit the inside of the post, but a point was all that Blues picked up after a disappointing home performance. Lying 16th in the table after seven games on eight points, it is true to say we have had a mixed start. Thus far we have won two, drawn two and lost two whilst playing some very entertaining football, scoring in every game we have played so far in the league, which Chris Hughton should be applauded for. I think now we should be just about finding our level which, at present, isn’t promotion. Fans’ expectations surely now must be lowered, and many are coming to terms with the fact it will be a struggle to get promoted this season. However that does not mean we should expect performances like yesterday’s, and hopefully there will be a big improvement the next time we play.
Full Time: BLUES 1-1 Barnsley
Goal Scorers: Butterfield (33) Burke (86)
Star Man: If I had to pick one I would go for David Murphy who never seems to put a foot wrong in a Blues shirt
Next Up: Maribor away - Europa League Group Stages
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