Unpredictable

Last minute goals, victories for the underdog, ridiculous circumstances no one thought would happen. The thing I love most about football is its unpredictability.

This weekend we watched two unpredictable ends to two important games. Wigan scoring in the 90th minute to beat top dogs Manchester City, winning the FA Cup for the first time in their history, followed the next day by the play-off semi-final second leg involving Watford and Leicester. A penalty and the follow-up saved at one end, and ten seconds later the ball in the net at the other end all in the dying seconds of the game.


Last gasp winners. Images: Sky News / Getty Images

It was fascinating to watch particularly the latter unfold. I don’t have any real affiliation to either Leicester or Watford, but I watched the events unfolding before my eyes with the hairs standing up on my arms, because this is what football is all about.

Watching both games made me remember, not for the first time, why I and millions of others are so engrossed in this sport. We go every week for moments like this. The underdogs beating a top team, not only in a competition as big as the FA Cup, but in the last minute to win the trophy like Wigan did is something special.

Being a Birmingham City fan I’ve experienced that moment with my own team; I could never forget Obafemi Martins scoring in the 89th minute to win us the League Cup against Arsenal, nor my first ever European away game against Brugge with Chris Wood scoring the winning goal in added time. And who could forget Stern John in the last minute at Villa Park?

Wembley Winners. Image: The Guardian

These instances don’t happen every week in football. Often you have to wait for wonderful, completely unscripted moments like last minute goals and unpredictable wins, but it’s worth the wait. The tough and grueling games you have to sit through to get there, the losses you suffer, the relegations you go through. The great moments make it all so worth it.

And when you're on the other end of it? I'm sure if you speak to any Leicester fan this week they'll tell you how much it hurts going from jubilation to complete despair. We've all been there, but it's the great moments, when you're the ones celebrating at the end, that make up for the heart break.

Although there will always be the Manchester Uniteds and the Arsenals of this world going for titles and Europe, and the same crop of teams battling relegation every season up and down the leagues, moments like this weekend just show that football is never completely predictable.

There will always be moments of magic, teams who take the script, rip it up and write a completely new one.

And the best thing? It happens in every league, in every competition. Wigan in the 90th minute to win the FA Cup, Didier Drogba equalising in the last minute to take the Champions League final to extra time, Brentford missing a penalty and Doncaster scoring at the other end to send them up as Champions, Martins to win the League Cup, Chris Wood to seal an away victory in Europe, Sergio Aguero to win the league.

Here’s to the teams who do the unthinkable, who threaten the top teams, who ruin bets, break hearts, make dreams come true. This is what makes football the greatest sport on earth.

"I swear you'll never see anything like this ever again"

There'll Be Joys And Sorrows Too..

They break your heart, don't they? I don't particularly like using clichés but it was an absolute roller coaster of a day. Waiting with baited breath every time the scores rolled across on the big screen at White Hart Lane, the euphoria of Gardner's goal only to find out a minute later it wasn't enough, and then the final nail in the coffin when Spurs scored the winner.

We travelled in belief because that's all we could hope for. It wasn't in our hands and everyone had us as nailed on certs to go down. We were out to defy them and at half time it all seemed to be going so well. Wolves were 3-0 down, we were putting on a brilliant battling performance – everything that was missing the previous week against Fulham was back again, raising questions as to what if we had played like this last weekend. And the fans were playing their part too, singing their hearts out, roaring the team onto victory.

And then Spurs scored just into the second half. Hearts sank, but heads didn't go down. Even when the news came through that Blackpool were winning. But still Blues pushed for an equaliser, and still the fans kept true to their anthem and kept right on – the slow rendition of keep right on brought a tear to the eye!

By now Blackpool were losing 3-2 and Blues were pushing for the equaliser. And suddenly the ball fell to Craig Gardner and he hit an absolute rocket of a shot. I didn't see it go in, all I saw was the ball fall to him and then next thing I knew it was nestled in the back of the net. Arguably, it was celebrated more than Martins' winner was in the final. It meant so, so much. It was written it the stars – it had to be – that Craig Gardner the bluenose scored the goal that would keep Birmingham in the Premier League.

And yet, there was still another twist. Wigan had scored. And so had Wolves. Meaning we were down on goals scored. What a way to go. The achilles heal of our team for years now is not scoring enough goals and it would be that that would kick us out of the Premier League.

I honestly do not know if the players knew straight away, because some seemed to be holding on for a point. But when Spurs got the winner, we knew it was all over. Part of me was glad they scored, because to go down on points – albeit one point – is less of a gut-wrenching feeling that gong down because you didn't score enough goals.

And that was that. A lot of things will stick in my mind after today, the feeling when Gardner scored being a horrible reminder of what could have been, but the scenes after the game were so very emotional and will stay with me for a while now.. Craig Gardner coming over to the Blues fans and just standing there with his hands on his head, Blues fans singing keep right on and being applauded by the Spurs fans, the whole ground singing 'Thursday nights channel 5', Spurs serenading us with 'you beat the scum 2-1, the players looking truly gutted as they came over to applaud us, saying goodbye to the players that will most probably leave us in the summer, the PA announcer wishing us the best of luck, and also him trying to talk over us to announce the post-match arrangements for the players' lap of honour as we belted out the last rendition of Keep Right On that the Premier League will hear for at least one season.

A lot of things could have been different. I'm sure many of us will be looking back over the season now thinking if only we could have scored then, if only we could have picked up a point there, if only Dann, McFadden and Zigic could have stayed fit. All it boils down to is the fact that over the course of the season, we weren't good enough, despite picking up 39 points which in past seasons would have kept us up.

Despite that, I am a proud Brummie. The fight those eleven men showed today was brilliant. Every single one of them to a man were great, and a special mention to Curtis Davies who has come under a lot of criticism since signing had a brilliant game. If on the off chance any Blues player comes across this, I just want to say thank you. Last season you gave me one of the best seasons I had ever seen as a Blues fan, and this season you gave me the best day of my life by winning the Carling Cup, and you made me proud today with the performance and the shift you all put in. Thank you.

When it comes to Blues I'm always a glass half full kind of person, because I believe they can do anything (within the realms of possibility of course – I'm not saying I think we can win the Premier League!) So there's no point pointing the finger, placing the blame or blaming the world for our misfortune. It's times like this where as a club we need to stick together. We've been here before, we know what it's like, and we've got a good a chance as anybody has of bouncing straight back up to the Premier League. It's never easy being a Bluenose but we will re-group, build on what we have and give it a right good go next season.

More sorrows than joys, but lets hope this time next season we're celebrating another one of those rare joys on our return to the Premier League.

I shall see you all next season.

Full Time: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Birmingham City

Believe In Blues

Standing amongst the few that stayed behind after the game for the lap of honour last Sunday, the news that came to us from the Wigan game was not good. Wigan had scored a last minute winner. It felt like the world was at an end. That's it. We were done for. The writing was on the wall and we were going to be relegated this time next week. But now, as I write this, I have a renewed sense of optimism that I always knew was there, it just took a while to come to the surface.

I don't know if it's confidence as much as it is optimism, or just blind passion and spirit; something that unites us as a fan base in the continued support of our club. Amongst all the pessimism surrounding Birmingham City at the moment, there's that little grain of optimism that keeps us going. Keeps us believing. It's all stacked against us. Even sitting outside the relegation zone we are the out of form team. The Carling Cup winners poised for a Premier League exit. But still we will flock to White Hart Lane; be sat in front of the television; be listening to the radio; be sitting in a dark room with headphones in waiting until it is all over: all in the hope that something really, really special will happen, just like it did in our last 4pm kick off in London.

We had our chances and it was in our hands. But now it is going to take some luck for us to stay in the Premier League, something that we lack a hell of a lot of. We're not only relying on ourselves to put on a good performance, but we're also counting on Stoke and United to do the business in their games. There's plenty of scenarios so I won't bore you with by taking you through them all because there really is so many. But the one that stands out is win and we stay up. Because our goal difference is better - only slightly mind you - but it is better than that of Wigan and Blackpool, and it really would take some cruel twist of fate to get relegated should we win against Spurs.

Many have already conceded defeat, starting thinking ahead to life in the Championship. I tried it but, believe me, it doesn't work. Because there is something that won't let me just give up on Birmingham City. My heart won't allow it and it's also a defeatist attitude that doesn't belong at our club, not after what we've achieved over the past couple of seasons anyway. Fight, battle and passion are three characteristics this team has in abundance. Who would have thought we'd go 15 games unbeaten on our return to the Premiership? Who would have imagined we'd not only get to a cup final, but win it by beating one of the best sides in the country at Wembley? So what's to say we can't defy the odds again? What's to say we can't go out there Sunday, pick up a result and get results go our way elsewhere too?

And when have you ever known us to do things the easy way? This is Birmingham City we're talking about. It's almost like they do it on purpose just to test the hearts of the faithful. Just to make it even more special when they manage to defy the odds and do it. Just like they've done before.

Forget everything else that has happened this season. Don't question what would have happened if we had managed to do this, or not conceded that goal or scored the other. There's no point blaming the cup run or some external force either. None of that matters because you can't change the past – no matter how much we want to! What matters is Sunday; what matters is giving the players phenomenal support in the hope of getting something in return.

They build you up, they let you down but if this season has taught us Blues fans anything, it's that that do reward us too. Just every once in a while. And I've got a brilliant feeling that Sunday will be one of those times.

It can be done.

“Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it.”

Keep Right On

I decided I wan't going to sit here and write and match report on a game that I never, ever want to re-live again (although we'll all be laughing at this if we end up surviving). So I decided to write this instead.


Dear players of Birmingham City Football Club,

I like many other fans put my heart, soul and not to mention a shit load of money into watching you every week, so first of all I would like to thank you for the memorable performances this season, such as Villa and West Ham in the Carling Cup, and then the Carling Cup final itself – three games which will go down in history, no doubt about it. The passion, fight and determination you showed in those three games – let alone in a lot of league games this season like Chelsea at home – was second to none. You really fought for the shirt and played like it really, really meant the world to you.

So why, in one of the biggest games of the season, did this passion suddenly disappear? You looked like you didn’t want to win it today. You honestly looked for all the world like you didn’t know each other. Like eleven little rabbits caught in headlights from the word ‘go’. I can’t fathom a reason as to what on earth happened. You literally lay down and said ‘go on then, you have the points’ to a team who are pretty much on holiday right now. We played better in a handful on ‘nothing’ games at the end of last season than we have in six pointers such as todays disaster of a game this season.

It’s not good enough. As fans of Birmingham City we don’t expect a lot, we’re not Arsenal or Manchester United. We’re Birmingham City and all we’ve ever asked for is passion, fight and bottle when playing in the royal blue shirt. For us, to see you battle out there on the pitch for 90 minutes is enough. Today we didn’t even get that, and that’s what hurts the most.

If we had lost 2-0 today but played with fight and passion, I’d be sitting here now saying you know what? I’m still proud of you. You can never be ashamed of a battling performance. I wasn’t ashamed today though, I was just completely and utterly disappointed and I feel so let down by eleven men I thought I could trust to win one fucking game of football. For a few weeks now we’ve been saying ”there’s always the next game” but now you have one game in which to better the result of Blackpool and probably Wigan too or so help us we are going down. It was in our own hands at the start of play today but now we have to do everything we can to pick up points and just pray that the other results go our way.

Football is so bloody cruel at times lads, but it is you the players who have completely shot yourselves in the foot. Like I said, it was in our hands. A win today and we were all but mathematically safe. But we made Fulham look a bit too close to Barcelona for my liking today and they could have had four or five, were it not for some piss poor finishing. We could have conceded four or five goals at home in a must win game. That speaks volumes.

It is simply not good enough and that was a performance that warrants relegation. If I supported Fulham and watched that today I’d be hoping Birmingham City went down because if the season was based on today then we don’t even deserve to be in this league. Thankfully, it isn’t, and you have one more game left to prove that this game was just a blip, that you let all the pressure get to you and that for one thing you’re sorry for what you did today.

I’m trying to find something that will give me a boost of confidence for next week. The ‘you know what, fuck it, let’s have it’ kind of optimism that we had before we played Arsenal in the final. At full time today and especially after hearing that Wigan had won in the last minute made most of us feel like the end was nigh. But after a bit of thinking, the one thing I can count on is that over the past few seasons there is one thing you haven't done, and that is that you haven't let me down. We've lost some stupid games, done some really fucking annoying things but one thing you lot have never done is let me down. Please don't let me down again like you did when we were relegated in 2007/08. Because that's the last time I felt really, really let down by you.

I will never ever boo you at any point in the game but I don’t begrudge those that did boo today, because you really were awful and I know you don’t need people like me writing degrading shit like this to tell you that but I just want to drum into you how much this means to us as fans. You say that you’re hurting – multiply that by 100. You say that you want this – times that by 1000 while you’re at it. Some of you won’t be here next season. A lot more of you will go onto pastures new if we get relegated. But we the fans will be here forever. No questions, no regrets, just undying love for a team that has kick us where it hurts the most so many times that a lot of people question why we’re still here. Then we have nights like West Ham, days like Wembley, and that puts to rest the questions, it stops the piss taking and it renews our faith in the team that we put so much into.

So just one last time, all of you, whether you’re here for the long run or know that you will be playing your last game for Blues next Sunday, just play with a bit of passion so at least if we go down, at least we can say we went down fighting.

May the footballing gods be with you next weekend and the best of luck to you all. I shall be making my way down to London to watch you and whatever happens I will applaud every single one of you off that pitch when the 90 minutes are up. Let’s just hope it’s because we escaped relegation.

You’re doing this in true Birmingham City style you know boys, I just wish you knew how to break the fucking trend!

Keep Right On, it's far from over yet and you are the ones who can do something about that.

10 man Birmingham... again!

Just a few more points. Just three. That was all we wanted against Wolves and we got a man sent off and one point for our troubles. Then again against Newcastle, but this time all we wanted was a point. This time we got a man sent off and came away from the game after a resilient, brave but ultimately failed performance.

The beginning of the match looked promising. As the away team, setting out with a 4-5-1 formation we had a clear game plan of catching them on the break with our quick striker Jerome; set-pieces and hopeful balls up to the lone striker whom we hoped would hold it up until he got support. But we were passing it around quite nicely and had a few chances in the early exchanges.

Not to mention the fact that Steven Taylor - Newcastle's second goal scorer in the game - should have been sent off for his elbow on Jerome, and a penalty which was turned down after a Shola Ameobi handled in the area. It was all looking promising... until the arrival of the 36th minute.

There was a goal-mouth scramble as Blues tried to clear the ball after a thumping shot by Fabricio Coloccini was equalled by the save of Ben Foster, and the ball bounced around the penalty area which was subsequently handled not once but twice by defender Liam Ridgewell. Chris Foy made no hesitation to point to the spot, and the red card was out his pocket equally as fast. Two games in a row; two penalties awarded; and two players sent off.


Shola Ameobi converted the penalty which was tucked in the corner of the net and nearly saved by Ben Foster. But once again Blues were left to rue missed chances and saw themselves 1-0 down and with ten men for the remainder of the game.

Newcastle began to press more and more now that they had the upper hand, and their second goal of the game through Steven Taylor, who headed in from a Joey Barton corner which Seb Larsson, on the line, tried but failed to clear. It seemed like a long afternoon ahead for the travelling Blues.

But credit to the team and their never say die; never back down attitude. A long ball was played up to Jerome who found himself in front of goal with the ball at his feet. The Newcastle defenders did well to distract him from shooting and get the ball from under his feet, but their efforts fell kindly to the feet of Lee Bowyer, whose powerful shot flew past the two defenders and Tim Krul in the Newcastle net, to give Blues some hope that they could get something out the game.


The ten men of Birmingham put on a brave performance in the second half, resulting in a shut-out in a game which they very nearly attained a point from. It was a case of all hands on deck to defend their goal and keeper Ben Foster was on hand to make sure Newcastle didn't increase their narrow one goal lead, with some superb saves to keep his team in the game.

Seb Larsson had a brilliant chance to level the score near the end but he didn't make the best contact with the ball and saw his shot go high and wide over the bar. Matt Derbyshire added to the Blues attacking force late on but it was too little too late for Blues who contributed somewhat to being the masters of their own downfall once again - with Newcastle having the added help of referee Chris Foy falling for all their antics.

A win against Fulham is now needed to secure Premier League survival, with Blues on 39 points and just three points from the drop zone. Along with making sure we get three points, keeping eleven men on the pitch for 90 minutes would also be a very nice achievement!

Full Time: Newcastle United 2-1 Birmingham City

Clawing our way to safety

Well we know how to do it the hard way don't we? Before the game, a point would have been a great result for Wolves, but after the game and under the circumstances, it was Alex McLeish who was left smiling after another battling performance by Blues.

In front of a near sell-out crowd the game began at a pace, and it wasn't long until the deadlock was broken under frustrating and at the time controversial circumstances. An awkward ball was played back to Ben Foster whose poor clearance was capitalised on by Stephen Ward, who charged into the box as a determined Foster rushed out of his goal with eyes on the ball. Foster slid in, clawing the ball away from Ward but simultaneously bringing down the player and the referee Kevin Friend – whom certainly didn’t make any friends in Birmingham today – pointed straight to the penalty spot, dishing out a yellow card to the Blues keeper in the process.

As Foster walked back to his goal shaking his head, protests were ignored by the referee from several Blues players, and Steven Fletcher stepped up to the spot as the Blues fans behind the goal sung the name of their goalkeeper in an attempt to put off the Wolves striker. Cameron Jerome pointed to Foster’s left and unfortunately Foster dove that way and Fletcher slotted a soft penalty into the other side of the net to give Wolves a priceless lead in the Midlands Derby after just over five minutes of play.

As the match went on the atmosphere grew incredibly hostile, and you could sense the game would not finish 11 v 11 as players began to get heated and challenges aplenty were flying in, with players squaring up to each other on the pitch, one of which saw Craig Gardner receive a yellow card - Kevin Friend’s inconsistency adding to the frustration of the Blues faithful.

The first big chance for Blues came in the fifteenth minute when they were awarded a free kick in a good position. Larsson stepped up and hit a wonderful shot which he agonizingly saw crash back off the woodwork.

With Larsson sensing a goal he capitalised on the second mistake made by the opposition in two straight home games, when Michael Mancienne was caught in the headlights and Super Seb picked up the ball and fired a brilliantly fierce shot past Hennessey in the Wolves goal to equalise.

The whole ground was now rocking and the already quiet Wolves fans sensed a home victory, and it seemed that way until just two minutes later when Gardner was given a second yellow for an alleged dive. I haven’t seen the replay so I can’t comment but those who have said it was a dive, and if that is the case then it was a stupid thing for him to do, especially being within shooting distance too.

Kevin Phillips was then sacrificed for Jean Beausejour – who had a great game - and Blues reverted to a 4-4-1 formation with Cameron Jerome – who also did a fantastic job and looked completely shattered by the end, like they all did – playing as the lone striker, and Blues faced the next 60 minutes with 10 men, after it looked like they would go on to win it.

The second half was as nerve-wracking as anything, but Wolves didn’t pose any major threat which I’m sure their fans will be annoyed it – I would be. I don’t normally critise players on here (yes, even Villa players) but I will make an exception for Karl Henry, who got nice and dirty and very unsporting. Unfortunately Mr. Friend only saw this once and brandished Henry a yellow card for his troubles. In fact, the man in the middle didn't see much this lunch time, with a blatent a hand in the face of Jean Beausejour being the one that stands out.

Never the less, Wolves really should have taken advantage of the ten man Birmingham, but fortunately for us they were very poor today, and had Craig Gardner not pretended to be playing for Barcelona we would have won that game, as even before the equaliser we seemed to be in the ascendancy.

We now have a four point gap between us and the bottom three, and a seven point gap between bottom of the table West Ham. With the fixtures that the teams below us have to play left, you would think we were safe, but you never know with this league. As long as we battle as we did today – and not make any more silly mistakes – we will once again be dining at the top table with the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal for a third consecutive season.

Full Time: Birmingham City 1-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Car Crash

When you concede in under ten minutes away from home it's always going to be a struggle, especially when it's against an in-form Liverpool side. And then when you go 2-0 down in 20 minutes, losing your goalkeeper in the process, you start to realise it might not be your day. By the time the fifth, and final, goal went in you really, really knew it wasn't our day.

The first by Maxi was handed to him on a plate when Foster failed to hold onto a fierce shot from Spearing and Liverpool went 1-0 up after just seven minutes of play. Never to be shot down though, and to their credit, Blues responded with a large amount of possession but, failing to do anything with it, were knocked back again when Liverpool went on a counter attack and after various blocks the ball eventually ended up in the back of the next courtesy of Dirk Kuyt, leaving Ben Foster in a heap on the floor. The England International played on for another 20 minutes to try and shake the knock off, but in the end had to be replaced by Colin Doyle just before half time.


Carr and Larsson did some good running down the wing in the first half but none of their crosses met anyone in the area, and all in all it was a thoroughly disappointing first half for Blues.

At the beginning of the second half Blues had a handful of chances, with Fahey coming close on a couple of occasions. But again, Blues failed to create with the possession they had and the travelling fans were willing them to just get the ball into the box - especially aiming this at Hleb who seemed to want to pass it into the net instead of shooting from a good possession - you don't play for Arsenal yet!

Liverpool struck again on 66 minutes with Maxi getting his second of the game. Suarez wasn't picked up and was able to loft a lovely ball into the area from the by-line and Maxi was on hand to make it 3-0 to the home side.


If the match wasn't over by then, just under ten minutes later it was. Suarez, again the creator, found Maxi in space and his pass struck the Argentinian. His first time shot was saved by Doyle, but he managed to get the rebound to complete his hat trick.

Blues were in search of a consolation, and with the away fans singing "we only want one goal!" substitutes Bentley and Phillips both produced saves from Reina, but neither could find a way past to Spaniard.

Joe Cole was on hand to pile yet more misery on Blues, scoring Liverpool's fifth goal in the 84th minute, with a shot that sneaked its way under Doyle in the Blues goal to complete a frustrating afternoon for the visiting side.


Conceding eight goals in the space of two goals and only scoring one - which was a penalty - does not making pretty reading (or watching!) but a win next Sunday against Wolves and all will be forgiven!

Full Time: Liverpool 5-0 Birmingham City

The Battle of the Champions...

I had a dream a few weeks ago. It was 0-0 at The Bridge, approaching full time, when Blues got a corner. Larsson took it from the right and Roger Johnson rose majestically (as majestically as old-fashioned centre halves can) and connected with the ball, beating his marker and sending a bullet header past Petr Cech. He ran off in celebration and Blues clung on to do the double over Chelsea, and Johnson got a goal against the club he supported as a boy.

So before the game yesterday I put a bet on Roger Johnson as the last goalscorer at 40/1 to see if my dream would come true.

Well on three minutes it wasn't looking exactly like my dream as we went 1-0 behind courtesy of Malouda; after a brilliant pass from Terry found Ferreira and as equally good a cross from him made the finish for Malouda easy. As memories of the 5-0 defeat at Old Trafford came flooding back it seemed like it would be a very long night for Blues and the 700 odd fans who had travelled down to watch them. But surprisingly for some, Blues received a bit of a wake up call and kept quite a lot of possession of the ball, but unfortunately not taking their chances. Jerome was looking especially lively as he has done in the past few games, this time having to play on his own in a 451 formation. At least we dispelled the myth for some that we weren't a passing side (ahem, Mr. Hleb).


After 26 minutes there was another set back as Kalou, who wasn't closed down quick enough, fired Chelsea into a 2-0 lead. It seemed a long way back from here for the battling Blues now.

Early on in the second half Roger Johnson had a chance to make my £123 dream come true but his header from a corner went just wide. Sensing a reply from Blues, the home side were in search of a third to completely kill the game off, and thanks to Florent Malouda some questionable defending, (why was no one marking Malouda and why was Ridgewell behind him and ducking when Malouda rose for the header?!) the current Premier League and FA Cup Champions put the game firmly beyond the reach of the Carling Cup holders.

A consolation goal for the away side came in the form of a penalty. Substitute Matt Derbyshire made a run into the box but was tackled by Luiz, and a penalty was awarded (our second in the Premier League this season, - I feel spoiled!!) Gardner and Larsson had a bit of a lovers tiff about who took it, whilst I was waiting for Roger Johnson to come storming into the penalty area, give 'the Jiranek stare of death' at the squabbling pair and take the penalty himself. Alas, it wasn't to be; Larsson won the battle, scored quite possibly the best penalty you will see this season - powerful and into the top corner - and gave Gardner a little hug.


Going down after three minutes at Chelsea and losing 3-1 is nothing to be ashamed of at all, and for what it's worth I thought the team did well. The goals conceded could have been avoided, but with a make-shift defence you could argue and say it could have been worse. At least it wasn't a must win game!

If the game taught me anything, it's that you should never bet because of something you dreamt about: that's three pounds I will never see again. Could have been worse; I could have bet a tenner!

Full Time: Chelsea 3-1 Birmingham City

The Playmaker

Alexander Hleb. Or Aleksandr, like the meerkat off that over-played advert. However you spell it, he's still the same player: impeccably, undoubtedly talented. An attacking midfielder who lacks pace which he more than makes up for in skill, vision and overall talent. He has a somewhat lazy persona; with the smallest shin-pads, if any, and socks rolled down as if he were playing in the park. He saunters about the pitch as he pleases but it's what he does with the ball that is most enjoyable to watch. You look to someone like Hleb to change a game; to play that pass no one else can see; to have that eye for the perfect through ball or the most delicate of shots into the net.

Unfortunately we've not seen much of this. What promised to be a good loan and a nice bit of business for the club on the final day of the Summer transfer window has petered out into a short, but sweet, stint for the Belarusian. His unfortunate injuries picked up throughout the course of the 2010/11 season have hindered his chance to show Blues what he is really about, and shorten his opportunities at showcasing himself on the big stage of the Premier League once again in hope of being rescued from his unfruitful time at Barcelona.


We have seen glimpses of what he is capable of. His goal against MK Dons in the Carling Cup was one of the first signs, as was that brilliant run against Fulham, his only Premier League goal against Blackpool, and then there was his great performance in the first half against Sheffield Wednesday before he was cruelly tackled and subsequently injured again showed us that the 29 year old still has a lot left to offer to any club.

And his substitute performance providing the second goal of the game against Sunderland again conveyed just why McLeish decided to get him in on loan: Hleb's choice to pass the ball to Craig Gardner in acres of space instead of going for glory himself highlight two characteristics of the finely-finished player he is: unselfish with great vision.

But it's his attitude, I suppose, has got in the way of him progressing and becoming a Blues favourite, as has unfortunately his lack of game time due to injury. We always knew it would be a one season loan affair, and he knew it too, despite him now talking like he's just decided over the past few weeks that our style of play leaves much to be desired.


He says he won't be staying because, at Blues, "you need to just fight and run, not too much passing" which is something I will take as a compliment seeing as at our club, in a relegation battle, fight is exactly what you want. After all, it won us the Carling Cup over Arsenal, did it not? It appears, in that case, that although Hleb wants to be at a club who always play the passing game, it takes a lot more than just pretty football to win trophies. Manchester United, although passing it about superbly, have players who "fight" and never give up - and this is why they win games; win trophies.

The reason Hleb is so overwhelmed with this idea of "fight" and "run" is because he's never had to do it before. He's played for Arsenal, he's played in the Champions League for Stuttgart, he's played for Barcelona - and the last one speaks for itself. But realistically, if he goes back to Barcelona and wants to play, or if he really wants this dream move back to Arsenal, fighting is exactly what he is going to have to do, whether he likes it or not.

In any case, surely if Hleb wanted to go to a club surrounded by players of his own ilk, then snubbing Liverpool, Benfica and Spurs for battling Blues was the wrong move for him. Did he come in the quest of first team football? Has he got a crystal ball and could see what future riches lay ahead in the form of a shiny gold Carling Cup Winners medal? Whatever it was, he came to Blues and now despite stating he has no future in the second city, he has vowed to give 100% in whatever part he plays in the remaining fixtures.


People are understandably miffed - for want of a better word - about his comments, but he was simply asked a question and he answered it, maybe more brutally than we would have liked, but he answered it. For his honesty, I admire him. Some of his comments could be misconstrued, especially if you read The Mirror, but he clearly has enjoyed his time here. Firstly, he admitted it: "I am happy and I am enjoying my time here, everything is good here" and secondly you only have to look how he acted when we won the Carling Cup - against his beloved Arsenal - if that's a man that doesn't like us, then I must be missing something here. Obviously the bottom line is he won't stay here next season. The jist of what he said is basically; thanks for the "different experience" and some game time. And of course the Carling Cup medal.

Personally, I like him. I'm not sure how he won me over, probably that cheeky smile and his footballing ability. Along with the fact, or realization, that he is exactly the type of player we need if we want to move forward. At Blues what we need, along with our fighters, our battlers and our players with the never say die attitude, is a few players like Hleb. We've seen that, even when fit, we often have to change our side to accommodate Hleb, when in an ideal world a player of his stature should be able to fit in alongside someone else with the same unpredictable and exciting talent. Players like him, along with the '110% every game' players we already have are what we need to continue going forward as a club.

Clearly he is a good player but if he thinks Arsenal would welcome in back with open arms he might want to take a look at their midfield before he calls up his best mate Fabregas to ask for a favour. Moving to Barcelona was the wrong career choice. He probably should have stayed at Arsenal. But mistakes are always made in football.

Nevertheless, after all that has been said, I'm sure he'll look back at possibly his last stint in the Premier League with fond memories, and walk away from Birmingham with a Carling Cup Winners medal in his back pocket. Fight and running can't be all bad then, eh, Alex?

Footnote: I wrote this because of Hleb's latest interview and wanted to break down what he had said more for myself than anything else. The articles in the Birmingham Mail and The Guardian cover Hleb's interview fully and make for much better reading than the shortened down and edited version in The Mirror. If anyone is interested to read any more about Hleb I suggest reading here or here.

Safety almost secured

Blues moved one more step closer towards Premier League survival this afternoon after clinching a 2-0 win over a Sunderland side who continue their bad run of form. McLeish named an unchanged side meaning those who had battled against Blackburn and Bolton regained their place yet again, and deservedly so.

In front of a near enough sell out crowd the home side began the game brightly, with Jerome again looking incredibly lively in the first few minutes as he has done the previous two games. And he nearly got the opening goal when he was put clean through but his shot was saved by Sunderland keeper Mignolet.

Sunderland then began to get into the game and had more of the possession but failed to create. They almost got a break though when, on the edge of his box, Barry Ferguson uncharacteristically lost the ball but Ben Foster and Roger Johnson were both on hand to spare his blushes; the former making a great dive to scoop the ball away from the feet of a Sunderland player, and the latter making a goal line clearance when it looked inevitable that the away side would take the lead.

It was a nervy period for Blues and the crowd were getting anxious as the ball kept making its way back to Foster, but that was exactly what led to the first Blues goal: Foster cleared it high up field with one of his massive kicks; Jerome flicked the ball on superbly and Larsson ran on. Confusion between Mignolet and Bardsley allowed Larsson to sneak a foot in on the end of the box and the ball rolled into the back of the net - 1-0 to Blues and just the boost we needed.


The second half saw immediate Sunderland pressure but some very un-clinical finishing; some super Ben Foster saves and some last ditch defending saw that Blues maintained their one goal lead. Phillips, who struggled to get into the game, was substituted and Hleb filled the gap, and just five minutes later he provided the pass that set p the second goal. After some neat passing by Blues the ball fell to the feet of Hleb, who instead of running on found Gardner free on the edge of a box. Craig picked up the ball and hit hard with his left foot, which bounced in front of their Sunderland keeper and into the back of the net to give Blues a two-goal lead.


By then, you could tell it was Blues who would run out winners, and they saw the final fifteen minutes of the game out seemingly comfortably. Man of the match Larsson, on his 100th Premier League appearance, left the field to a standing ovation and a few chants of "sign him up" rang from the Tilton as the game came to a close.

It's not often we're the most clinical team, but today proved that goals win games and no matter how much possession you have or how many shots you have, it takes goals to win games and fortunately Blues were able to score two of them today.

Three points in the right direction, two goals scored and a clean sheet which will have done wonders for the back four and England's number one in goal. Well done Blues, another win should surely do it now!

Full Time: Birmingham City 2-0 Sunderland

Honours Even

Another batteling I'm getting bored of saying that now) display by Blues saw them pick up a vital away point in the relegation battle today, and with the teams below us losing it proved at full time to be an even better point.

With Blues unchanged from their brilliant win last week at home to Bolton at travelling fans came out in force today in full voice, however it was the home side that started the brightest, with Junior Hoilett showing signs of what was to come with a run down the wing which eventually came to no avail. Blues picked up though, and the partnership of Jerome and Phillips looked to be working well; Jerome especially working well and winning countless aerial challenges against the strong back four of Blackburn.

And it was the away side who drew first blood with a goal after just over half an hour of play. Jerome received the ball from Larsson and put in a brilliant ball into the box which was tapped in with ease by Lee Bowyer to set the travelling fans tucked away in the upper tier into complete frenzy, and further silence to very quiet home support.


Blues continued to put Blackburn under pressure and with 45 minutes gone won a freekick. Larsson curled the ball expertly; Robinson in the Blacburn goal didn't even move... and the ball hit the woodwork! Had that gone in it may have been game over, or at least a very comfortable lead going into half time. But just a coyuple of minutes later at the pther end of the pitch Roger Johnson was left knocked out on the deck after a Blackburn attack. After a fw minutes of treatement he was bak on his feet, but a Ridgewell mistake meant Hoilett was through on goal and rounded Foster to rqualise for the home side. All the hard work by Blues had been undone by one defensive mishap.


Althoughnthe first half had been entertaining, the second half wa s areal relegation scrap. neither team wanted to go too far forward in fear of conceding and when either team ventured into the opposition half they lost the ball. It was end to end, scrappy, and by the end of the match half the players had been on the floor injured.

Johnson's concussion from his knock in the first half proved too much for him to carry on, and Davies had to come on in place of him. It's a given now that whenever Davies comes on we all look at each other as if our fate has been decided. But credit to him as today, even with a clear injury, he had a solid game at the back alongside Ridgewell.

Overall, the draw was the right result and like I mentioned at the start, it was even better considering the results of those around us. Win next week and we'll be one step closer to Premier League survival and one step further away from the relegation trap door. I believe there are more than three teams in this league who are worse than us: we will be fine... and hopefully come the end of the season I won't be made to regret what I just said!

Full Time: Blackburn 1-1 Birmingham City

Absolutely Brilliant

Last season we played Portsmouth in the quarter finals of the FA Cup and lost. A couple of weeks later we played them in the league and won - a moral victory seeing as we were already guaranteed safety, and we would have much rather had the semi final win. This season we played Bolton in the quarter finals of the FA Cup and lost. A couple of weeks later we played them. Again we won, but the circumstances meant so, so much more than getting to Wembley. I'll take the three points over the FA Cup semi final. As for the title of this blog, well, it alludes to quite a few areas. The first one being of course; the players.

I don't know what McLeish has been feeding them during the international break but I hope he carries on giving it to them because they were on fire today. The tempo from kick off was great and we got an early goal which showed just how up for it they were. The defence were especially superb, especially in the last ten minutes when Bolton were piling on the pressure they coped with everything. And then the man behind them too, England's rightful number one it seems, had another blinder today. We really have been blessed with great goalkeepers over the past couple of seasons and some of the saves Foster made today really could be put under the bracket of 'world class' - take note tonight of two he made right at the death, one of which God only knows how he managed to tip it over!


The midfield were also excellent, they kept the ball superbly and some of the balls they were playing made you wonder how we are in a relegation zone (and then you remember performances like Wigan away and realise why!) The partnership of Phillips and Jerome up front worked really well, and hindsight will probably tell you Phillips should have played more this season, and definitely should have played in the last game against Wigan.Those two up front seem to be just the right mix: Jerome to win the ball in the air to knock down to Phillips who will always do something for you.

The next subject the title of this refers to is the performance as a whole. Every single one of them were up for it today. All of them. They were a team today, and defended not only for the cause but for each other as well. I cannot fault any of them because, although there were some misplaced passes and times we/Jerome should have scored, they all gave it everything today and at the end of the day we came away with three very valuble points - so we can;t complain can we! What summed it up for me was when Roger Johnson came over to the Tilton at the end to applaud us and he started pumping his fists and shouting. That's passion. And that's what every single one of them showed today.


The final thing the blog title can apply to today is the fans. We came out in our numbers today and sung, cheered, applaud the team onto victory. It is a cliche but we were the 12th man today and although we went quiet towards the end because of the nerves, but the rest of the game the support was great. With just under 3,000 going to Blackburn next week we should look to create another great atmosphere but today proves just how much it helps the team.

We can forget the missed chances, the dodgy decisions from the linesman and anything else for that matter: all we needed to do today was pick up the three points and we did. Well done to every one today. You were all absolutely brilliant.

Full Time: Birmingham City 2-1 Bolton Wanderers

Blues Go Down Together

Billed 'the biggest game of the season so far' by some; it's a shame no one told the players that then. Or if they did, I'd like a nice explanation of their performances today - individually and as a team. We imploded today after Wigan's equaliser. End of. The highs of the Carling Cup win are now firmly behind us, so to is the spirit and drive shown in the final. If someone finds them, please return them to St. Andrews immediately!

Last Saturday against Bolton we lost but there were so many positives to come from the performance, you could sense a real fight and that we were going to stay up. Fast-forward to a week later and we're 19th in the Premier League after losing in the 90th minute against bottom of the league, after showing no fight at all.

The first ten minutes were as good as it got. We scored an early goal thanks to Liam Ridgewell, and we looked like we could score more - and we nearly did. Soon after the goal, which came after just six minutes, Jerome had a shot cleared off the line and Wigan seemed to be all over the place; Blues more or less in control. But, one lapse of concentration from the defence (where was Ridgewell?) and Wigan were back in the game through Tom Cleverly. And that's when Blues fell apart.


It was an end to end game in the second half, and neither team could get hold of the ball long enough to mount a real attack. It really was two poor teams in a relegation six pointer, and unfortunately it was Blues who looked the team that lacked the fight and the inspiration to push forward in search of a goal.

Jerome worked his little legs off. But whenever he won a header, he knocked it down to no one because no one came to support him. Martins hid behind many a Wigan player when he got his chance and David Bentley flattered to deceive. The midfield were none existent and the whole team performance lacked fight and battle. All in all, it was a performance to forget.

But a point, yeah, a point would be good after the way we had played. We'd wanted all three before the game started, but now, a point would be great. And then Wigan go and spoil the party. It was really cruel, a horrible way to lose such an important game in the 90th minute. I suppose it would have been worse if we had played our hearts out all game and then lost it in the 90th minute... but then again, if we had played our hearts out today: we definitely would have won. Because Wigan were no better than us, they just wanted it more and when they saw we didn't want it; they went in for the kill.

Bemoan the 451 formation all you want but even when we went 442 we didn't look convincing enough to go on and win the game. We lacked everything you look for in a team today, but now we've got a couple of weeks to get everyone fit and raring to go for the home game against Bolton - which we need to win, desperately.

It's so, so tight at the bottom and although today felt like the end of the world it's going to go right to the wire. Would we have it any other way at Blues? (in fact yes, I'd like the easy 09/10 season back please!)

Full Time: Wigan Athletic 2-1 Birmingham City 1

Battling Blues

An intelligent defensive display saw Blues pick up a vital away point in their quest to survive another season in the Premier league and avoid the ever-present relegation trap door.

Blues began the game the brighter side, with Jerome heading close early on. There was bad news for both teams in the space of a minute as Arteta pulled up with a hamstring injury and a few seconds later Bentley signalled that something was wrong and he too had to come off - David Murphy coming on the field to replace him.

After a little pressure from Everton - namely a shot from Beckford which was saved by Ben Foster - Blues broke against the run of play and Jordan Mutch's expert cross found the head of Jean Beausejour who netted for the second time in two game.


Everton regained momentum after Blues look the lead and had chances of their own. Beckford had the perfect chance to equalise when the ball fell to him, however an air shot from him and some desperate defending from Carr and Foster saved Blues from conceding.

Eventually, Everton did manage to find the back of the net. Stephen Carr conceded a soft corner after being under pressure, and Osman swum the ball into the box. Cameron Jerome's failed clearance then set up Heitinga who let rip a fierce shot which found its way past Lee Bowyer on the line to make it one all just ten minutes before the break.


With Premier League games never without a contriversioal moment nowadays, this game saw referee Peter Walton book Jordon Mutch. With no yellow card. Instaid, he lifted his arm to the air, gesturing to Mutch that he was in fact being booked. Improvisation at its finest.

The second half started as the first half had ended, with the home side in ascendancy. As Birmingham struggled to get a foot hold in the game, Everton piled on the pressure - but for all the time on the ball they had, they couldn't get into goal scoring positions of any sort to convert that possession in to a much needed goal.

That was all thanks to the Blues defence who put their bodies on the line and their head in the way of everything in order to stop Everton from scoring and to prevent themselves dropping back into the relegation zone - as a point would see them leapfrog West Ham.


Although Blues swam against the tide for much of the second forty-five, they had have some chances. Jordon Mutch, who had an impressive game, let rip a 25 yard shot which went wide of Howard's post - and just before that he had been at the other end of the pitch, blocking a shot from Saha inside the box.

The battling performance from Blues, who absorbed all the pressure Everton put on them, made sure that they went away with a point which from an away game against a strong and professional side in Everton is a great point.

It's Bolton in the FA Cup on Saturday now and although in the quarter finals, I wouldn't blame McLeish if he rested some key players, especially with a lot of the team injured after their victorious Carling Cup exploits this season - after all, the league is our bread and butter, and our next Premier League game is a six pointer away to Wigan.

Full Time: Everton 1-1 Birmingham City

Back to earth with a bang

A complete and utter come down from the jubilation we felt last weekend; today we were outclassed and outplayed by a determined Baggies team who, quite simply, wanted it more than us.

The only changes made were ones forced upon McLeish - Ferguson, Gardner, Jiranek and Zigic (although named as a substitute) through injury. Blues were welcomed onto the pitch by rapturous applause from the fans inside St. Andrews, with each player getting the reception they deserved as their name was read out.

It was West Brom who started the brighter though but for all the possession they had in the first half, the more clear cut chances came to Blues; with Cameron Jerome first shooting just wide and then looking on to see his header go just past the post.

Playing in Barry Ferguson's position, Keith Fahey made a good start; controlling the midfield like the Scot he replaced. Alongside him, Lee Bowyer was in all the right places, and Jean Beausejour, fresh after a great substitute appearance at Wembley, also played well. However the defence was Blues' downfall in the game as we failed to control that of West Brom's.


As the second half started it was the away side who made the first move, bringing Odemwingie on which subsequently led to the first goal of the derby, Mulumbu - who is from Africa, and apparently "better than Kaka" - took advantage of some clueless Blues defending and slotted the ball home. That didn't get Blues down though, and just a minute later they equalised. Bowyer did some excellent work on the by-line and slid a sharp cross into the box which met the foot of Beausejour, who couldn't miss, and it was all level at St. Andrews.


Bowyer then recieved a questionable yellow card and went missing somewhat in the game from then on. The Blues midfield then failed to gain control of the game, and James Morrison put the Baggies back into the lead with a fierce shot after some more defending that made it seem as if the Birmingham defence had only just met each other.

Try as they might, Blues couldn't get back into the game and a third goal from Paul Scharner killed the game and there was no way back for the Carling Cup Champions.

If there was one player that stood out today it was Stephen Carr, who at times bombed down the right with no support at all and still managed to cross the ball or find a pass. As for the rest, there was a lot to be desired - especially from David Bentley who had an off game today.

But, onwards and upwards. It was a kick up the backside after the highs of last Sunday, and as the relegation trap door is looming; the game midweek against Everton seems even more crucial now.

Full Time: Birmingham City 1-3 West Bromwich Albion

Thinking of Wembley

I think we should have guessed what the game would turn out like when kick off went wrong. Or when Newcastle went 1-0 up after a minute and forty seconds.. What really did it for me though, was when Stephen Carr nearly impaled someone sitting in the Family Stand when he angrily threw a pitch fork over the advertising hoardings. In short: tonight just wasn't our night.

Going one nil down so early on in the game is real confidence knock, especially to a team with one eye on Wembley and the other on not picking up any injuries. But after that early blip, we pretty much ran the rest of the first half. We had the majority of the possession and were getting in good places, but we just couldn't find that killer ball and we're lacking any form of shot on target. But then again, so were Newcastle, it was just lucky breaks and bad defending from Blues than got them their early goal that proved very costly for the home side, and very beneficial to the travelling Geordies.

The flag happy linesmen didn't really help the shots on target total though, who rose their arm pretty much every time Zigic went near the ball. Surely he's not that stupid to be offside that many times, but I guess we won't know until we see the game again... which I doubt many of us will be doing any time soon!
Obafemi Martins looked lively again like he did in the Stoke game at the weekend, but lacked the cutting edge. His control is brilliant though: if only Cameron Jerome had that touch! He seemed to overdo it at times too, much like team mate David Bentley, who strangely won man of the match. He wasn't at the races tonight and went missing at times during the first forty-five, and when he did get the ball, granted he put in some decent crosses and did some good running, but sometimes he just overdoes it and tries to do too many fancy turns: just get it in the box Bentley!


It was a pity the first half had to end, as Blues were the team in control and the team who shaded the half; despite lack of real chances as other than a Gardner shot after a nice passing move went just over, we didn't really have too much to shout about. The second half again started badly for Blues as they went two goals behind after a goal from Leon Best. One goal, we may have been able to do, but two seemed pretty impossible - and the rest of the game proved this.

Heads dropped as Newcastle began to seize the game into their control. Blues tried to get back into it but with no avail. Roger Johnson almost did a Wayne Rooney when the ball fell to him just outside the area but it fell agonisingly wide of the post, and the defender walked away to chants of 'Rooney! Rooney!' from the Tilton. Zigic also came close a number of times, especially with a header that went just over the bar, and Roger Johnson again came close when he headed the ball hard from a corner, only for his effort to fall straight to Harper in the Newcastle goal.

With 20 minutes to go Blues began to surge forward more, with Cameron Jerome - who came on earlier in the half in place of Martins - causing problems. A few corners, offsides and Newcastle falls (over thin air) later, and it seemed that two goals from the home side really was too much to ask, and the game finished 0-2 to the away side - only the third home defeat all season for Blues.


The Premier League can be pushed to one side for a moment now as we have the FA Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend, and a Wembley date the Sunday after. Nothing really went our way tonight and credit where its due - Newcastle simply wanted it more than we did, although we had enough possession to create, we just didn't.

Winning three on the bounce just isn't our thing anyway...

Full Time: Birmingham City 0-2 Newcastle United