Bazza’s take on what was, quite frankly – a miserable evening

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The match was televised and had everything riding on it because of Sheffield United’s win and Burnley’s draw in the matches that had kicked off at 3 pm. My son and I decided our place for this one was at St Andrews and not in front of the telly at home with a few tinnys. Mrs Bazza couldn’t understand this of course but as my regular readers will know by now, she doesn’t possess the football gene and cannot possibly have any inkling about what it means to a football fan whose team stands on the brink of promotion to the Premier League with just one more win.

We travelled the 125 miles as usual listening to Radio 5 Live as the results that could have made the task ahead that little bit easier went against us. St Andrews was much fuller than of late and the atmosphere was a lot more like it. Nearly 25,000 made the sort of noise not heard at our place for a long while and it felt good. There were very few Preston fans and far less than I would have expected. The effect of television probably played a part but perhaps the few that did make the trip had come in hope rather than expectation. Their chances of making the play offs were slim and they would have to win both of their remaining games to stand any chance.

The game kicked off and both teams started brightly with Blues on the front foot especially the first 25 minutes. Despite this, Preston nearly opened their account with a cross by Mellor from the left that evaded everyone and hit the far post. Chris Sedgewick following up lashed the rebound into the side netting. A lucky escape but Blues also had their moments but perhaps not so clear cut. Franck Queudrue was rightfully booked for attempting to score from a corner with his hand rather than his head after 27 minutes and was very fortunate not to concede a penalty for handball just before the interval. Overall a 0 – 0 scoreline was fair at half time although if Preston had been ahead it would have been difficult to complain as they had had the best of the few chances both sides created.

The second half continued in the same vein with both sides playing high tempo entertaining football on a hot afternoon. Sean St Ledger had a free header from six yards which he put well wide when it was easier to score. That was a massive let off and I started to think that maybe just maybe it would be our day after all. Then it came; James McFadden, Blues best player by a country mile, put in an exquisite cross into the Tilton penalty area. Keith Fahey’s header was perfect and was slammed into Lonergan’s bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. The old ground erupted and the noise levels rose to deafening heights. I felt we would probably go on from there and win the game and everything was going according to plan until Lee Bowyer got into a wrestling match on half way with Lee Williamson about seven minutes after we had scored. I confess that I didn’t see the incident as I was following the ball that was at Cameron Jerome’s feet just outside their box. A double red card and it’s a ten a side game. Sadly, Preston coped better with the enforced changes to their formation than we did and they exploited the extra space better. Nevertheless, the equaliser came out of nothing but what a strike! McKenna hit his shot with such venom and pace from thirty yards that it was past Taylor before he could react. Despite this he got closer to it than I thought. The crowd did their best to lift the team who responded by a renewed assault on the Preston goal. Jerome had a headed goal chalked off for offside and a couple of minutes later in a similar position six yards out missed our best chance by blazing the opportunity over the bar. One or two other half chances came and went but with two minutes left Preston were awarded a free kick thirty yards out. Wallace curled a superb shot over the wall striking Taylor’s left hand post before nestling in the opposite corner.

Wallace received his second yellow card for stripping off his shirt in celebration. The Birmingham Post described this rule as ridiculous. I disagree; the players know that a booking is inevitable for this and yet they still do it! Can you imagine the late Brian Clough allowing his players to continually needlessly get booked and miss vital games? Wallace will now miss a game which could be pivotal in Preston’s season. If I were a manager I would warn my players that if they picked up stupid yellow cards for things like this I would fine them a week’s wages and any pay for games they missed as a result. They would soon stop.

Both Preston goals were of incredible quality and each would grace any match played anywhere in the world. To be on the receiving end of one such effort is unfortunate; to get two of such quality in the same match is downright cussedness!

I am like every other Blues fan right now – heartbroken. The journey back for my son and me was as you can imagine muted. However, my lad said to me that it wasn’t all over and we’ll just have to go and win at Reading next week; ah the optimism of youth! He’s right of course; it isn’t all over although it feels it. Perversely, we could still go up even if we lost at Reading! However, Reading would have to not win at Norwich and Sheffield United would have to lose at Crystal Palace. This scenario is unlikely but eminently possible so cheer up bluenoses! What happened against Preston was not a catastrophe; we lost a game of football. This reminds me of the words of Rudyard Kipling:

If you can dream – and not make dreams your master;
If you can think – and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;

Rather apt at this time I feel. The same poem ends gloriously like this:

If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!

Whatever fate has in store for us next Sunday, I’ll be there with my fellow supporters doing my bit; all I ask of the players is they give of their very best; nothing less will do.

KRO SOTV