Here is Bazza’s take on the day. (Don’t forget to read my version of events too!)

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The final game of the season was upon us and Sunday morning had arrived. I was up early as usual and was soon walking with my dog through the local woodland. I was leaving nothing to chance and kept my head down for the whole time determined not to catch site of any single stray magpies that would spell doom! I don’t know why I put any emphasis on that stupid superstition but I do and it was incredibly important on this day of all days.

To say that I was nervous was an understatement as any of you who read my post last week will know. The logical angel on one shoulder told me that Blues were the only team among the three contesting the final automatic place that could win the prize regardless of what the other two did. The devil on the other shoulder was taunting me saying that Reading had to win at home some time and with so much to play for it would be today. Besides, Sheffield United are going to win and where will that put Birmingham and Reading then eh? The angel stepped in soothingly by saying that Sheffield will not get the win they need at Palace, it will be a draw. Blues will prevail. I have to say my gut feeling was that both matches would be drawn and it would end up as you were.

The early kick off meant that the time to set off was imminent in pretty short order. Reading is actually my nearest major football team from the top two divisions (Aldershot are actually the nearest Football League club) and the journey is only a ten minute run from my local station. As I stepped out of Reading Station there was a loud rendering of ‘Keep Right On’ coming from my right. The Three Guineas pub had been invaded and occupied by hundreds of noses. They were obviously in good cheer and so I thought ‘a right turn it is then!’ Acquiring my first pint, I joined the assembled throng outside the pub where we all proceeded to sing all the old favourites loudly to the amusement of some of the locals. Those that weren’t happy were quickly taken the piss out of. We were watched closely by the local Constabulary who appeared to accept that we were all there to have a bit of fun and kept their distance whilst clearly seeing to their collective duty.

Some were in fancy dress such as King Richard the Lionheart, his Queen, Berengaria, Chubby Brown, 118, a bloke dressed up as a Texas Cowgirl and one or two others sporting blue wigs. Santa failed to make it but hey ho. ‘King Richard is a bluenose’ was of course a must as well as similar homage to Chubby Brown. There was even a rendering of ‘God Save Our King’ directed towards our Crusader monarch and it became clear that whatever happened the faithful were determined to have a great day.

So it was that we got on the buses going to the Madjeski Stadium. The singing and chanting continued and the bus was soon rocking and bouncing like a car on a Saturday night with a courting couple inside. Fortunately, the authorities let it be and we were soon disembarking at the ground just in time for kick off which brings me neatly on to the match itself. Many if not all of you reading this will have seen the game either alongside myself or on the telly so I won’t get too detailed. Blues playing in all red, attacked the end where we were in the first half. I don’t know who won the toss of coin but I suspect it may have been Reading. I recall it was the other way round last year and they probably didn’t want Birmingham kicking that way in the second half towards their raucous supporters in case it gave them a perceived advantage? If this was the case, it backfired since the men in red started brightly and had the edge in the first 15 minutes. It was fitting therefore that Blues took the lead on 18 minutes 38 seconds! (I now know that from the telly) A corner by McFadden was punched unconvincingly by Hahnemann back to him. The ball was redelivered, this time to Phillips. A beautifully deft header was put in the path of Keith Fahey who steadied himself and drove the ball across the keeper towards the far corner. It should have been a regulation save but incredibly Hahnemann allowed the ball to squirm through his grasp into the net. The suitably lubricated Blues fans were ecstatic and lifted the roof off. The rest of the half was reasonably comfortable with Blues in control.

I expected a lot more from Reading but fortunately, it didn’t come. Reading had moments when they appeared to threaten the opposite goal to us and there were a couple of crosses that flashed across our six yard box but with no one in touching distance. Taylor had only one shot to save all half, Jaidi and Taylor were colossal pillars of strength throughout the match, Carr was reading the game beautifully and taking care of Kitson when Reading tried to put the much taller man against him. Djimi Traore had a good game at left back making up a solid platform for the boys ahead of them to build attacks. Jonty and Carsley in midfield were awesome. McFadden was back to his mercurial best and was simply different class and with Fahey on the other flank picking out pass after pass the hosts were getting outplayed for large sections of the match. Jerome lead the line excellently and with the wily old fox, Phillips’ movement we were offering threat.

The second half began similar to the first and I was once again surprised to see how muted Reading appeared. It all seemed too comfortable and I was waiting for the wheels to come off. On the contrary, something amazing happened; we scored a second goal in a game! On the hour, an excellent run by Fahey ended with a perfect pass to Phillips, who unlike the first half when similarly placed, stroked the ball past Hahnemann’s left hand just inside the far post. The ground went silent as Phillips latched onto the ball which then seemed to take an eternity to make its way into the net. It was like one of those Hollywood movies when the sound goes and all that can be heard is the beating of a heart as the action proceeds in slow motion. The silence was shattered by a roar from our end of the ground. This was it! Surely, the Premier League now beckoned? “Concentrate Blues!” I remember yelling. Yes I know; I’m used to it. We all know what happened next!

A minute later Howard Webb gives Reading a free kick near the touch line on their left flank. I was dead in line with the touchline and the ball was out for a throw by a clear two feet before a shoulder charge by Traore on Hunt. The contact was legal in any event but the principles of the game are that a preceding event must stand irrespective of what happens after it e.g. the reason Phillips wasn’t awarded a penalty at Charlton because he was offside before the offence. We have been the victims of so many abysmal refereeing decisions that it wouldn’t be normal if there wasn’t going to be at least one more. From the free kick, Matejovsky picked up the ball in the box, turned inside too easily and fired a good shot across Taylor into his left hand corner. This naturally lifted Reading and they bombarded us for the next few minutes. Phillips was replaced by Bouazza, McFadden by Larsson and Jerome by O’Connor as Blues shut up shop. There was still time for O’Connor playing on his own up front to crack an excellent drive against the foot of Hahnemann’s right hand post and across the goal with seven minutes to go. There were six minutes of added time due mainly to a nasty clash of heads earlier in the half between Phillips and Hunt leaving the latter covered in blood and the former booked (why?). It was a long time for the faithful to endure but at least during it we had the luxury of knowing that Sheffield’s game had finished 0 – 0. Reading hadn’t looked like they were going to score another goal let alone two and besides the time was up and the celebrations could begin.

A fantastic result, a brilliant day and a thoroughly deserved reward at the end of it; a convoluted route to get there but in the end at least it was a sprint over the line rather than a stumble. The analysis can come later. Now is a time to savour the moment as Alex McCleish rightly points out. Thank you Alex, thank you to the players and thank you fellow noses for being so entertaining and remaining collectively among my most loyal friends.

KRO SOTV