Blues v Ipswich Town: Q&A with Hark Now Hear

I was contacted this week by Ipswich Town fan Billy Walker, regarding answering some questions ahead of this weekend’s game against the tractor boys.

I talked about how our team is shaping up, our start to the season and my hopes for where we’ll finish in the table, amongst other things.

You can read my Q&A, as well as an in-depth preview of tomorrow’s game, here: http://harknowhear.wordpress.com/2013/08/30/128/

So Close But Yet So Far

Two points in two games have left Birmingham City agonizingly close to confirming a top six finish, with just two games to go away to Brighton and at home to Reading in the last game of the season. Blues were given a scare at the weekend in a game where a win would have seen them all but seal a play-off place.

In the battle of the BCFCs it was relegation threatened Bristol who took the lead with Stephen Pearson beating Colin Doyle, in goal after Boaz Myhill picked up an injury in the warm up. Bristol doubled their advantage soon after, this time Jon Stead scoring a peach of a goal to give the visitors an almighty boost in their quest for survival, and to send shockwaves throughout the Birmingham side reminding them that in this league, no game is easy.

Just before half time Marlon King halved the deficit, thanks to a deflection, and Blues went in at the break with work still to do. The second half saw Blues finally get the equaliser they had been searching for; defender Peter Ramage and player of the season contender Chris Burke worked together on the right hand side before Burke sent a low ball into the box which Nikola Zigic, just yards out, duly slotted home.

Blues only have themselves to blame for letting vital points slip at an all-important home fixture, in which miss placed passes were unfortunately all too common throughout the ninety minutes, culminating in Blues being the masters of their own downfall.

Tonight’s midweek fixtures presented Blues with another opportunity to cement their play-off place but a lacklustre start from the away side meant that it was a very nervous forty-five minutes, especially with the news that Cardiff were 1-0 ahead and, as it stood, on level points with Blues.

Ipswich caused problems for the Blues back line and Colin Doyle had to be called upon several times to prevent the tractor boys from taking the lead. Blues were then hit with another injury blow, with Captain Steven Caldwell having to go off with ten minutes left of the first half.

Just before half time Blues took the lead against the run of play, with a goal that was equally well constructed as it was well taken, with that man Chris Burke finishing a move that saw Peter Ramage, Marlon King and Andros Townsend all involved. It was a perfect time to score a goal.

Blues began the second half with impetus, looking bright on the counter attack with Ipswich, mid table and with nothing to play for, not as committed to the cause as their opponents. But Ipswich pressed on to enjoy heavy spells of the game, with Michael Chopra and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas causing countless problems and keeping Doyle on his toes.

And the latter equalised for his side with 75 minutes on the clock, sending his low effort past Doyle and piling pressure on Blues who up until that point were fifteen minutes away from sealing a place in the play-offs.

The game continued to be an end of end affair, with Blues coming agonizingly close late on with Zigic’s shot being cleared off the line. Ipswich piled on the pressure but the away side held on, all but confirming a play-off place after tonight’s result, but wins for Cardiff and Blackpool mean Blues are clinging onto fourth place by a single point.

Right On Track

The past week has been a fruitful one for Birmingham City. A resilient performance and a stalemate against local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the FA Cup earned them a replay, and that was followed by consecutive victories in the Championship; first against Ipswich at home where a last gasp winner sealed all three points, and then yesterday against Milwall in a six-goal demolition of The Lions at The Den.

The midweek fixture against Ipswich, although not an exhilarating performance, still saw Blues pick up the much needed three points and left us just outside the play-off places, still with a game in hand. Nikola Zigic was highly instrumental in the victory, bagging two goals. After putting his side ahead, a brilliant piece of lone skill by Lee Martin put the away side back on level term going into half time. After being denied a late penalty, Ipswich were then cruelly denied a point when Zigic scored his second goal of the game from close range to pick up all three points, much to the delight of the Birmingham fans.

Image: bcfc.com

An away trip to Milwall then topped off a perfect footballing week. Curtis Davies’ header put Blues in front before Milwall went down to ten men after an incident involving Nikola Zigic and Shane Lowry, the latter having no complaints when he was sent for an early shower. The red mist descended once again on Milwall as they went down to nine men, this time for a tackle on Zigic by Alan Dunne, making the Serbian even less popular and angering the home fans who became severely angry at the referee’s decision.

Blues then made sure the match was beyond Milwall, as Keith Fahey’s perfectly timed ball found Marlon King who slotted the ball into the net. Chris Burke then compiled more misery onto The Lions, firing home to make it 3-0 Blues and no way back for the hosts. Two goals in quick succession from first Adam Rooney and then King’s second goal of the match sent the travelling Blues fans into away day dreamland, and substitute Nathan Redmond completed the stunning away victory by scoring a sixth, and heaped mounting pressure on Milwall who now sit dangerously just above the trap door of the relegation zone.

Two games, two wins, six points, and eight goals. It’s been a tremendous few days for Birmingham City and this should act as a major confidence boost ahead of the trip to Wolves for the FA Cup third round replay on Wednesday. Blues are still unbeaten in 2012 and now, sitting just outside the play offs, are right on track for a promotion chase as we enter the last few months of the season.

Image: bcfc.com