Here is Bazza’s match report from last night.

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I had an offer of a lift back from this game from my mate, Will who was up in the Midlands anyway on business. It made sense therefore to travel up to Birmingham on the train from work especially as the local roads are still not great and yet more poor weather, forecast. I caught the train from Guildford to Reading for the connection to New Street. It was good to be able to read the paper at leisure and the journey went without a hitch. A hot sausage roll and taxi from the station followed. The surprising thing was that the taxi dropped me easily right outside the Kop entrance on the Coventry Road a mere 10 minutes before the kick off. It was all too easy but never fear readers, the turnstiles’ staff came up trumps by complicating the entry to the ground meaning that I got in a few minutes late. I don’t think I missed much from the evidence of what I saw in the first half.

Blues fielded a full strength side whilst Forest made seven changes from the side that crushed the Baggies at the Hawthorns on Friday. It was just as well since the East Midlands side looked lively with neat passing and high tempo combined with quick pressure on the ball when not in possession which wasn’t that often to be honest. Blues looked sluggish and lack-lustre and too many passes went astray resulting in most of the play concentrated in the home side’s half. Camp in the Forest goal was in danger of dying from hypothermia, so little did he have to do. Joe Hart in contrast had to make at least two excellent saves to keep out McGoldrick and Tyson who in reality should have buried both chances. Blues allowed Forest far too much room to play their football and even our rock solid defence was showing signs of sloppiness and an air of the tie being a bit of a chore.

The teams went in goalless at half-time but if the score had been 2 – 0 or 3 – 0 to the men in red no-one in the home dressing room could have complained as Forest were by far the better side. The only thing that did strike me however, was how much energy the visitors had put into the half and I suspected that should the game stay all square deep into the second period that Forest would run out of fuel and they would certainly have nothing left should heaven forbid extra time be required.

Blues were livelier after the break and the contest became a little more even. A crowd of only 9,399 were still not treated to classic fare on a bitterly cold night however and when you consider that 1,700 of the frozen throng were Forest fans, the 22,000 who stayed away compared to Saturday didn’t miss a thing! It took one moment of class to settle this encounter on 61 minutes. A poor clearance from the Forest defence was seized upon by Barry Ferguson whose slick one-two with Chucho, who otherwise had a poor game, was finished beautifully by the Scottish international from 18 yards. His first time side footed effort curled round Camp into the keeper’s right hand bottom corner for an undeserved lead. Forest started to fade after this as Blues took more control of the game. As expected, their energy levels dropped and they were unable to press as efficiently as they had done. This gave Blues more space and time and their superior quality began to build on the established bridgehead. Blues then proceeded to miss several good chances; Jerome beat Camp when one on one but failed to impart enough pace on his shot allowing a retreating defender to clear his effort off the line. Camp saved brilliantly from Roger Johnson’s powerful header from a corner that looked destined for the net. Chucho who had a disappointing night shot weakly at Camp when well placed and Phillips who replaced him late on also failed to get hold of a similar effort. There were one or two breakaways that were squandered as a tired Forest side tried valiantly to bombard the Birmingham box only to have their efforts easily cleared. In truth Blues could have run out 3 – 0 or 4 – 0 with better finishing but this would have been extremely harsh on Forest who came to St Andrews and had a go. This game was not a classic and we have to be relieved that we got through it relatively unscathed without the inconvenience of extra time. Whether the prospect of a tough tie away at Everton will be worth it remains to be seen. One thing is for sure: Birmingham will have to play immeasurably better at Goodison Park if they are to break a winless record there stretching back 50 years. It is unlikely that Blues can or will play as poorly as last night and the watching David Moyes will know that. He won’t be losing sleep at the prospect of our visit though I suspect.

KRO SOTV

Birmingham City: Joe Hart 8, Stephen Carr 6, Lee Bowyer 5 (Keith Fahey 5, 63), Liam Ridgewell 6, Seb Larsson 7, Cameron Jerome 5, Chucho 5 (Kevin Phillips 5, 68), Barry Ferguson 8, Roger Johnson 7, Scott Dann 7, James McFadden 6 (Damien Johnson 6, 76).
Subs not used: Maik Taylor, Martin Taylor, Gary McSheffrey, Franck Queudrue, Damien Johnson.
Bookings Bowyer (45 + 1)
Goals: Ferguson (61)
Nottingham Forest: Lee Camp, James Perch, Luke Chambers, Wes Morgan, Lewis McGugan, Dele Adebola, Nathan Tyson, Gareth McCleary ( Paul Anderson, 81), Chris Cohen, David McGoldrick (Joe Garner, 67), Guy Moussi (Chris Gunter 73).
Subs not used: Paul Smith, Paul Anderson, Joe Garner, Radoslaw Majewski, Joel Lynch, Brendan Moloney.
Bookings: David McGoldrick (66)
Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire) 7
Assistant Referee (Tilton end) 5 Assistant Referee (Railway end) 7
Attendance: 9,399