Here is Bazza’s latest match report.

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No doubt everyone reading this will have already read a number of detailed accounts of the story of this match which of course ended in a very creditable 1 – 1 draw. However, the implications of this result run much deeper than the single point added to the 33 we had before the match. The strange thing about this game was that it was the first time for months that we as supporters of Small Heath Alliance had turned up to a game on the back of a defeat. Some of the pundits in the media seem pretty determined to talk up our demise before it has even happened. Mark “I think Liverpool will win 2 – 0” Lawrenson for instance has said that Birmingham could easily go on a long run of defeats just the same as they have been on a run of wins yadda yadda yadda! Liam Ridgewell’s equalizer just as the five minutes of time added on was being announced carried far greater importance than just the gaining of a point; it prevented back to back defeats and the sounds of early mumblings of “I told you so” from armchair experts like Lawro. This game also brought into sharp focus something that we have all known for a while; namely the need for a top quality striker.

In the car after the match, Alex McCleish came on the radio and announced that the Pavlyuchenko deal was “dead in the water.” I had thought that it was probably going ahead after the weekend following inevitable talks between the respective club representatives at St Andrews on Saturday. It was pretty clear that Spurs were never going to allow the Russian to join our ranks before the game for obvious reasons but a deal hammered out just before the deadline seemed to make sense. The announcement was disappointing to say the least unless it represented brinkmanship in calling Spurs’ bluff to get them to see reason and settle for a fee less than they paid 18 months ago but generous nevertheless for a 28 year old who has hardly played for them. At the time of writing however, it really does appear that the deal is really dead and all the other targets we’ve been hearing about for the last few weeks are unlikely to happen either. This is depressing given the two sitters missed by Chucho on Saturday plus the excellent chance that the normally reliable Bowyer missed in the first half.

I have kept telling myself that it is a matter of time before Chucho scores and he’ll then go on a run for us. After this game even I am beginning to lose patience with the mercurially talented Ecuadorian who propensity to shoot straight at the goalkeeper when well placed is becoming exasperating. Moreover, his best chance with the game only a few minutes old, was more a pass back than a shot! Contrast these gilt-edged opportunities with the smartly taken goal that Defoe scored on 69 minutes and there lies Birmingham’s problem. An attempted header by Crouch fortunately flicked off his brow to his strike partner who instinctively, quick as a flash, smashed the ball back across the goal from whence it had come into the bottom corner to give Spurs the lead their overall control had probably deserved. It was a top class finish but the irksome thing about it was that it was about the only thing Defoe had contributed all afternoon and the chance came from a throw in awarded to Spurs that rightfully should have been given the other way. Just after this set back Benitez wasted the second of his one on ones with Gomez and I thought I was going to be reporting on the second defeat in four days that is, of course until our makeshift left back popped up with a volley at the far post that most strikers would have been proud of. At least the last twenty minutes of the game provided some excitement with the delivery of the goals in what was a pretty poor quality game otherwise; Alan Hansen described this encounter as ‘a minger’ and he was spot on!

Harry Redknapp was naturally disappointed with the concession of the equalizing goal and he was right that Spurs did not defend the crosses from Carr and then McFadden well enough. He felt that this was two points dropped and Spurs deserved all three points in a game his team largely controlled. However, he doth protest a little too much; surprisingly Birmingham had 55% of the possession according to the MotD stats. Admittedly, Spurs did use their possession better, they were the better side for long periods, Bentley did run Ridgewell ragged, Bale gave Carr a busy afternoon on the other flank and Modric was all swagger and poise in the centre but Blues were resolute, stuck to the task and restricted Spurs to only two decent chances apart from the one that Defoe deftly converted. Modric missed by a whisker in the first half following good work by Bentley and Crouch missed a complete sitter when Defoe’s heavy touch when well placed presented him with Spurs’ best opening in the second half. However, despite Tottenham’s better play Blues had by far the better opportunities to score and should have won this game before half time. Harry Redknapp would do well to reflect on this rather than moan about the points that got away; there are better teams than Blues who will not be so profligate and the defensive frailties that Spurs clearly have mean that in my view they will not occupy the fourth place they crave come May. As for Blues, I sincerely hope that a new striker is secured before 5 pm today because otherwise I suspect the season will fizzle out into less than it could be which will be a shame after our best showing in the top flight for over fifty years.

KRO SOTV