Brazil, it's just like watching Brazil...

It was possible to get confused Thursday night. Yellow shirts, attacking football: anyone would think they'd turned up to see the South America footballing wizards rather than a team of Bosman signings from Birmingham who, after going 1-0 down, came up with a brilliant fighting performance and a quite unbelievable victory... Well, we can dream that one day we will be as good as Brazil, but what we're doing at the moment is good enough for me.

Due to the ease of getting to Belgium and the affordability, Club Brugge KV was the European away game of choice for many Blues fans: 5,400 in total in the ground and, according to reports, another few thousand watching the game in bars in Brugge. And those thousands of Blues fans went home more than happy, in what turned out to be a brilliant few days and an unbelievable result.

It’s probably worth noting that Brugge had never lost at home to an English team, with Chelsea and Tottenham amongst those who failed to pick up three points in Belgium. So Blues had a mammoth task ahead of them, especially considering Brugge’s record this season has been more than impressive, but coming off the back of three straight victories – two of them away from home – an air of confidence was clear amongst the fans and the players. However, that didn’t mean to say we were sure of victory. Asked many times by barmen and taxi drivers what we thought the result would be: in truth, we didn’t really mind. None of us ever thought we’d see our team in Europe, so a win would be a bonus, especially against a team of Brugge’s caliber.

Blues fans came for the experience. The square on the day of the game from early morning was buzzing. Flags everywhere, beer being consumed and even a game of football with the thousands of fans who were in the square. It was a sight to behold and a nice, good natured beginning to what was to be one of the best days in the life of every single Blues fan who had made the journey across the channel.



The atmosphere continued into the afternoon, and as the game approached the 5,000+ Bluenoses headed on the shuttle buses to the Jan Breydel Stadium. A concrete prison-type building from the outside and not much better once inside, Blues fans filled the away stand and continued brilliant atmosphere from the square earlier on in the day. As the game began the singing continued, but Brugge threatened to ruin the party; and after some very questionable defending from a changed Blues side from the previous game against Leicester, Joseph Akpala was on hand to put Club Brugge ahead just three minutes into the game. It looked to be a long night in store for Birmingham.

After waking up a little Blues began to gather pace and come into the game. Chris Burke particularly impressed in the early stages, getting crosses into the box for the tireless Adam Rooney and Nikola Zigic. In the 23rd minute the whole ground were on their feet, in applause in memory of Brugge player Francois Sterchele who sadly passed away a few years ago in a car accident. All Blues fans had been encouraged to join in and they did just that, in a magnificent gesture towards Sterchele, who was an up and coming star player in the Brugge side before his tragic death.

And Blues were applauding again three minutes later, but for a totally different reason. It was Burke who began the move for the equalising goal half way through the first forty-five, feeding the ball to Wade Elliott who wove through the Brugge defenders and sent a brilliant ball into the box which the incoming David Murphy connected with and made no mistake in slotting it into the back of the net. The already loud Blues fans were sparked into a frenzy, and the away end produced scenes of madness, with no one quite believing that they’d just witnessed an away goal in Europe.

But the best was yet to come. Blues were on the up and chance after chance was being created, with Rooney and Zigic both having brilliant opportunities to put their side ahead. Late on in the second half the front pair, who had worked their socks off all night, we’re replaced with fresh legs in Chris Wood and Marlon King, who both made an instant impact, working together to allow Elliott a shot on goal, firing just wide of the target.

The only downer of the match was the late injury to defender Pablo Ibanez ten minutes from time. A nasty collision left Ibanez on the floor with a head injury so bad it left Guirane N’Daw distraught. Ibanez received a lengthy period of treatment on the pitch which meant an extra ten minutes was added on at the end of the game, and just as the clock was reaching the 100th minute, a moment of absolute magic happened. King picked up the ball and sent the ball into the box with Wood running in. From close range, Wood connected and the ball ended up in the back of the net. The Bluenoses behind the goal went into delirium, fans went flying and players piled in to celebrate with the man who had surely won the match for Blues after, yet again, being in the right place at the right time.


As the full time whistle went everyone went into party mode. The players came over to applaud the magnificent support of the travelling 5,400 and the fans in return congratulated the players who had put everything into the game, with some magnificent performances namely from Burke, Elliott, Zigic and Rooney, as well as the defence who coped with everything the pacey Brugge attack had to offer. For the last two seasons we have been used to battling and hoping to nick a goal; but this current team, even when weakened, still puts in as much of a battling, fighting performance as well as putting everything into the attacking side of play too, and as the game showed: sometimes, it really, really works. You don’t have to have a team full of million pound players to win, after all, you can’t buy passion and fight; something which this set of players really have in abundance.

Brugge fans also stayed behind and videoed the Blues fans, and this youtube video really shows the magnificent travelling support and makes me not only proud to be a Bluenose but grateful that I was there to celebrate a famous victory.

As the party carried on into the night both players and fans celebrated what was a magnificent win, and our fourth win on the bounce: three of them being away from home, two away from home in the Europa League. It was honestly the most brilliant few days of my life and something I will never forget, I just wish I had the money to do it all over again against Braga in November! I’m so glad I got to see my team play in Europe and so happy I got to experience not only a great performance but a win as well. It was worth every single penny at 1-0 down, so at 2-1 up I don’t think any of us could quite believe it: last minute winners are the best ways to win games, without a doubt! I couldn’t have written a better script. This is why I find it annoying when people devalue the Carling Cup, and when teams such as Spurs don't even want to be in the Europa League. Without the Carling Cup we wouldn't be here in the first place, and without the Europa League I wouldn't have just experienced the best couple of days of my life.

Top of Group H. and bursting with pride and, also, confidence. Our Blues are back, and the other night really was just like watching Brazil. Take me back there right now!

Deadline Day: Ins and Outs

As the transfer window slammed shut at eleven o’clock last night Birmingham City were left to assess the damage after the player exodus continued; with Scott Dann and Cameron Jerome making their way through the exit door. Nevertheless, it could have been worse. Only two went out and two – plus an 18 year old – came into St. Andrews on deadline day, with both departures very much expected ones.

Since relegation former England U21 player Scott Dann has attracted attention from Liverpool, Arsenal and even Chelsea no less. But his deadline day move to Blackburn Rovers raised a few eyebrows, seeing as they are one of the favourites to suffer relegation from the Premier League this season. After his move to Stoke City earlier on in the transfer window fell through – whether that was due to Blues being too stubborn or reported high wage demands we don’t know – but Blackburn came in and Blues seemed to be happy to sell the player for a reported fee of £7.7 million, and Dann himself seemed to welcome a move back to the Premier League. All the best to the young defender who has a big future ahead of him; it was a shame for him to get injured when he did but I wish him the best of luck in the future: a great lad on and off the pitch who deserves success. Always believe in…

The next deadline day mover was striker Cameron Jerome, who has more than divided opinion amongst the Birmingham fans since his arrival in 2006. After seeing the club through two promotions, two relegations and a Carling Cup win, as well as being part of the invincible team of 2009/10, the Huddersfield-born forward has seen it all, and before his departure yesterday he was one of the longest serving players in the current squad. Although not blessed with goal-scoring ability – ironic seeing as he plies his trade as a striker – you can’t fault his work rate, and that goal at Anfield will never be forgotten, nor is it likely to be repeated by Jerome! With Stoke City his new employers – a club on the up I must add – I wish Jerome luck there, though he’ll have to work hard to become first choice striker, especially with the addition of Peter Crouch to Pulis’ ranks also.


Despite late interest from Newcastle United regarding Liam Ridgewell, who had a transfer request rejected by Blues yesterday, Dann and Jerome were the only two movers on deadline day, so it really could have been worse for Chris Hughton and his management team, who already have the mammoth task of bringing in reinforcements for a tough Championship and Europa League campaign. And that brings me to the players coming into Blues yesterday.

The first deadline day addition came in the form of Jack Deaman; an 18-year-old who signed a one-year professional contract with the club, and a clear ‘one for the future’ singing by Hughton. A highly rated centre half, Deaman was realised by Welsh side Wrexham and after a successful trial period at the club was snapped up by Hughton and his management team.

After securing the loan signing of midfielder Guirane N’Daw early last week it looked like that would be the last summer signing, of note, to be made by Hughton. But late on last night the services of first Wade Elliott and then Pablo Ibanez were also secured.

Elliott, scorer of the magnificent goal which took Burnely into the top flight signed a two year deal late last night; much to the dismay and disappointment of Burnley fans who rate him highly. The midfielder spent the last six years at Turf Moor making 280 appearances, and the 32 year old adds a wealth of Championship experience to Hughton’s side.


A late move for Pablo Ibanez saw him leave near neighbours West Bromwich Albion to join Blues on a two year deal. The centre half came through the door just as Scott Dann left, and is an appropriate replacement for the much-loved Scouser. Ibanez, a Spanish International, was signed by West Brom from Atletico Madrid and so has Europa League experience – as well as Champions League appearances under his belt – and will prove a good squad player for Hughton to utilize with so many games to play already this season.

After a transfer window of players coming in on frees, spending money – although ‘undisclosed' so we don't yet know how much was spent – is a welcome change for the fans of Birmingham City, who hope to see their manager secure some loan signings in the next week or two to bolster the squad further.

The two outgoing players were expected, and after all we could have lost Ridgewell, Jean Beausejour – who was linked with a move to Wigan Athletic – or even worse Stephen Carr. So like I said: it could have been worse.