As usual, here is Bazza’s take on the game!

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One of my indulgences is to have cable TV which includes ESPN and therefore I was able to settle down albeit nervously to watch the match last night. The preamble to the game was of course all about Liverpool with very little mention of the team they were to play. However, it’s what we have all come to expect so moving on, the same team that faced Manchester City with the exception of Tainio for the suspended Fergusson was fielded in a 4-1-4-1 formation. I was delighted to see Jerome and Benitez persisted with and not to have as I had expected a 4-5-1 frustrate them at all costs system employed. The Reds had a pretty powerful line up regardless of the absence of Torres from injury and Gerrard who was on the bench. Liverpool started brightly and their movement and slick passing was soon in evidence. Worrying signs appeared early in the piece down our left flank where Glen Johnson terrorised the hapless and totally out of depth, Liam Ridgewell. The enforced deployment of an accomplished centre-back in the left back berth is being exploited by every team we play but in Glen Johnson aided and abetted by Rierra and Kuyt, Liverpool had the ammunition to make it count. Johnson who was easily the best player on the pitch was going by Ridgewell with ease and with only McFadden, not noted for his defensive qualities, for support I feared the worst and it duly came on 13 minutes. Johnson provided the initial cut back and following two brilliant saves by Joe Hart a looping cross back across goal was hammered into the roof of the net by Ngog so hard and fast that the ball was catching fire throughout its short flight. It is probably a blessing that Ridgewell did not manage to get his head in the way of the volley as I fear that it would have ended up in the net with the ball. Things got worse for Birmingham after this with the loss of Tainio a couple of minutes later. He was replaced by Lee Carsley who received a welcome that only a former Everton captain can receive from the Scouse army.

I was expecting an avalanche but to Blues credit they dug in and settled down to the task. A free kick forty yards out on twenty-six minutes was clipped into the box by McFadden who thus far had made little impression against the excellent Johnson going forward. Roger Johnson’s flicked on header was pounced upon by Chucho Benitez who headed the ball down into the bottom corner past Reina who was just in time to be too late; Liverpool’s vulnerability to set pieces and their continued problems from their zonal marking system plain for all to see.

Blues grew in confidence and despite the fact that the contest continued to be fairly one-sided with massive amounts of possession going the way of the home side, Birmingham were nevertheless containing Liverpool and making more forays forward themselves. One of these sporadic attacks nearly resulted in a second goal for Blues when Jerome sent Benitez through. The Ecuadorian had more time than I think he realised and attempted his strike with his left foot from twenty five yards but sliced it well wide when if he had cut back onto his right he would have had a far better angle to beat Reina who was stranded. Just after this, the injured Riera was replaced by Steve Gerrard; a sight that undoubtedly filled the travelling supporters with dread as it certainly did me! I thought that this was bound to dramatically change the game but little did any of us realise in what way. The half time whistle was a matter of a minute or so away when Jerome picked the ball up forty yards out and took a touch before unleashing his shot that dipped viciously over Reina into the roof of the net. I was up off my sofa “YEEEEEEESSSSSSS!!!!” Mrs Bazza came into the room with a cup of coffee for me and in her usual understated way said “What’s happened?” “We’re winning!” I blurted out. “Oh, I see,” she matter-of-factly said as she left the room. “Well you could at least look happy even if it was just for my sake; we are beating Liverpool!” My beloved reappeared in the doorway gave a quick false smile and disappeared again. Mrs Bazza has no concept of the important things in life! As long as Cameron Jerome lives, he will never score a finer goal than that one. A truly wonderful strike and the best by a Blues player since Seb Larsson’s wonder goal against Spurs two years ago.

I think we all knew that the second half was going to be a very long one as Liverpool threw the kitchen sink at it but when Stevie G headed a glorious chance against Hart’s left hand upright and wide I began to wonder whether it was going to be our night. Apart from the odd set piece we offered very little threat and seemed content to try and defend what we had. The plan so very nearly worked. Two points were eventually relinquished when a poor decision by Peter Walton, the referee gifted Liverpool a penalty they didn’t deserve. Steven Gerrard dispatched it for the equaliser but David Ngog should be thoroughly ashamed of himself this morning although he probably isn’t as most professional footballers have no shame. He clearly dived when Lee Carsley’s challenge came in and the latter didn’t touch him. It was a blatant piece of cheating and it is disappointing to have points go away from us like that. I would much rather Stevie G had netted his chance than lose the equaliser to such shabby antics as Ngog’s. Does this brilliant, richly talented, young Frenchman realise that he has permanently alienated not only every Birmingham fan but many neutrals that love their football and were watching the game last night? Does he not understand that his reputation at the age of twenty is now tarnished irretrievably in the eyes of fellow professionals who will brand him ‘a diver?’ Does he not comprehend that every Premiership referee and assistant will be watching for a repeat of this behaviour?

One only has to take the example of one Cristiano Ronaldo to see what the wages of sin are. I can think of several occasions when that player has been denied a penalty that should have been given because of a reputation preceding. Ronaldo has cheated in this way so often that he isn’t given the benefit of the doubt by officials any more; it is sad but self induced and these things should be pointed out to Ngog today by his manager and his senior professional team mates but I’m not holding my breath. Another example is Diego Maradona; what is he mainly remembered for? Yes, the ‘hand of God’ instead of his pace, power, fabulous dribbling ability, superb touch and his ability to score goals almost at will. He was without doubt one of the top three greatest players of all time the other two being Pele and George Best in my view. The great men of football are remembered not only for their abilities on the pitch but for the way they conduct themselves both on and off it. Great players don’t need to cheat, they let their ability win at football and if those talents are found wanting on a particular day they accept it with dignity and prove it in the next match. Look at the esteem with which figures like Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Bobby Robson, the late Bobby Moore, Sir Tom Finney, Bill Shankly, Jock Stein, Stan Cullis and our own Gil Merrick are held? There are of course many others too numerous to mention but these men and I use that word in its truest sense, are just some that spring immediately to mind.

Blues could have crumbled having conceded the equaliser and with twenty minutes left I didn’t think we would get anything out of the game. However, despite having all the possession and laying siege to our goal, the Reds could not breach our defences again. Scott Dann and Roger Johnson were truly immense once again. Ridgewell was more comfortable after Vignal came on in place of James McFadden who apart from the free kick which lead to our first goal had a disappointing night. Chucho was also substituted by McSheffrey late on. Again, I felt that his goal apart he didn’t have a great match and was more guilty than most for giving the ball away far too cheaply.

Let’s face it we were battered for most of this game and had it been a boxing match the contest would have been stopped. However, Blues stuck to their task, worked hard and by grit, determination, excellent defending and a little bit of luck at times hung on for a creditable draw which they richly deserved. True, they could have had all three points but for the penalty decision and one could argue it would have been a steal but every fan up and down the land can remember instances when his or her team have been defeated by inferior opposition who have been largely outplayed. That is football and the reason why it is the wonderful, exciting and exasperating sport that it is.

KRO SOTV