View from the South – Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

I suppose it couldn’t last forever; the weather I mean. It started tipping it down just as I arrived at the station where there was a long queue for the ticket machine; which works at the speed of our midfield on a really bad day. In the end I had to bin the idea of buying a ticket and just get on the train. It was a change from the usual routine on this occasion. Instead of catching the train to Reading for the change to the Midlands, I got the train to Guildford where I was being picked up by Will – who was taking his six years old son, little Will, to his first game – so this was a red letter day! 😀

We departed Guildford eventually at just after 11.30 and made our way north via A3, M25 (a car park as ever!) and M40 reaching St Andrews just after 2.30 pm. Chris and little Jack have gone away on holiday so it was just the three of us.  There was a welcome pork bap with stuffing and crackling at the Cookhouse and – suitably fortified – it was off to our seats.

Blues started brightly enough and carved out the first chance with a shot from Shotton after good work by Donaldson to set him up but the attempt was too high. However, Wolves rapidly settled and to my mind were finding pockets of space in midfield far too readily. Jed Wallace tested Kusczcak with a well hit shot from the edge of the area. This should have served as a warning of things to come; a warning that was not heeded!

Blues did attempt to press forward however and were certainly showing more attacking intent than in the game against Cardiff on the first day of the season but defensively the home side looked anything but secure, mainly because midfield was far too open for the visitors. From a Blues corner, Wolves broke quickly, mid-way through the half and were at the half way line with a four on one break! Wolves really should have scored from this opportunity but fluffed their lines and allowed a great tackle by Morrison getting back goal side to prevent a certain opener. (**RUSS – I think it was Spector, but it was a great tackle either way!**)

Immediately after this scare it was Blues who took the lead somewhat against the run of play again following a corner. The ball came out to Gleeson whose right wing cross was flicked on by Morrison to Che Adams making his first start for Blues. He took an excellent touch and buried his cross shot into the bottom corner from eight yards.

Despite the welcome lead, Blues continued to look insecure and Wolves were undoubtedly playing the more controlled and better football. A mistake by Shotton on half way let in Bodvarsson who drove forward to the edge of the area and shot. His attempt was once again well saved by Kusczcak for a corner on 28 minutes. The game continued end to end but Wolves created the greater number of chances with attempts by Coady, Mason, Wallace and Doherty. Ikeme had to palm a looping header from Donaldson over the bar and Cotterill attempted an ambitious shot from a free kick from 35 yards just before the break which was high and not so handsome. On balance, Blues were thankful to go into the break 1-0 to the good and it was to be hoped that Gary Rowett would do something about our midfield and shaky defensive unit since we looked wide open.

Sadly, any hope that we might get tighter was quickly extinguished when Wolves deservedly equalised on 47 minutes. Far too much space was afforded for a ball threaded into the inside left channel to Joe Mason who turned inside, bamboozling Cotterill and Spector who were poor all afternoon (**RUSS – except Spector’s aforementioned block 😉 **) and crashed a glorious right footed shot across the keeper to the far post for 1-1. It was a cracking goal and if we had scored it the St Andrews faithful would have been drooling.

The writing was now on the wall and the confidence obtained from getting back on terms led to Wolves taking the lead from a corner on 61 minutes. Blues failed to win the first header and the ball alighted at the feet of Danny Batth who capitalised from Kusczcak’s save of the original header reacting first for the easiest of tap ins for 1-2. Blues were in trouble and just in time to be too late, Gary Rowett made a change bringing on Robert Tesche. This was understandable to try and solidify the midfield in front of our colander of a back four but his substitution of Che Adams who was looking easily our best player was bizarre and greeted with howls of derision by the home crowd. No doubt Gary Rowett will explain his reasoning in the days to come but it baffled everyone around me.

Further changes were made on 75 minutes with Jack Storer replacing Jonathan Spector and Greg Stewart, our new recruit from Dundee, coming on for Jacques Maghoma. Blues were certainly more vibrant with both additions suggesting that something may yet be salvaged from a match we had been largely second best in. Then on 83 minutes having turned Kortney Hause beautifully only to be fouled for a free kick in a promising position 25 yards out, the young forward had the red mist descend. He promptly head butted the Wolves defender and had a red card to go with the mist! This momentary act of utter stupidity cost Blues any chance they may have had of getting back into the game. The free kick came to naught and with it, Blues’ last chance.

The final ignominy was delivered with a minute left when sloppy work in the middle of the park from Blues’ tired midfielders led to Jed Wallace with all the time and room in the world to slide a pass into the inside right channel for Bodvarsson to crash home a well struck shot across Kusczcak as easy as you like for 1-3. A thoroughly comprehensive and wholly deserved victory for the men in old gold and black. They were the better side throughout in my opinion.

I dread to think what Norwich City will do to us next week if we play anything like this. I mean no disrespect to Wolves who played extremely well in this game. They exploited our obvious shortcomings and made use of the vast acres of space we afforded them in the middle of the park. Most Championship teams would have prospered in such circumstances. Good though the visitors were, on paper, the Canaries look a stronger side than Wolves and our near neighbours cut through us with ease. There is much to sort out on the training ground before next Saturday, methinks.

The Good: The goals; all four were well taken. Adams looked good and the home support clearly felt he should not have been the one substituted for Robert Tesche. Stewart also looked lively when he came on.

The Bad: The whole midfield performance; we never had control of the match from start to finish and even when Blues went ahead I never felt we could stay solid and manage the game. We were lucky to get to half time one up and having done that, the lack of action during the break to rectify matters cost us and it was a case of when – and not if – Wolves were going to score.

The Ugly: Storer’s stupid actions in getting himself sent off. Talented he may be but if he is going to behave like this, he will rapidly become a liability.

Birmingham City: Tomasz Kusczcak 7, Jonathan Spector 4 (Jack Storer 75, 2), Ryan Shotton 5, Michael Morrison 5, Jonathan Grounds 5, Stephen Gleeson 5, David Davis 5, David Cotterill 4, Che Adams 7 (Robert Tesche 62, 6), Jacques Maghoma 5 (Greg Stewart 75, 7), Clayton Donaldson 6.

Subs not used: Adam Legzdins, Paul Robinson, Viv Solomon-Otabor, Mikael Kieftenbeld

Goals: Adams 24 min.

Yellow cards: Davis 78 min.

Sent off: Storer 83 min.

Wolverhampton Wanderers: Carl Ikeme 7, Dominic Iorfa 6, Danny Batth 7, Kortney Hause 6, Matt Doherty 7, Conor Coady 7, Jack Price 6 (Prince Oniangue 65, 6), Lee Evans 6 (Dave Edwards 22, 7), Joe Mason 7, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson 7 (George Saville 91, N/A), Jed Wallace 7.

Subs not used: Joao Teixera, James Henry, Helder Costa, Andy Lonergan.

Goals: Mason 47 min, Batth 61 min, Bodvarsson 89 min.

Yellow cards: Price 41 min.

Referee: Keith Stroud: 6: Fair enough performance. Got the red card decision spot on. No excuse for what Storer did whatever the provocation.

Attendance: 18,569.

Bazza KRO.

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9 Comments on View from the South – Birmingham City v Wolverhampton Wanderers

  1. Well as a Wolves supporter I have to say that was an excellent performance from the Zenga boys. I do somehow have a feeling that we have been lucky in the respect that we have new owners and a new manager who has taken these players and have given them a kick up the backside !! imagine if the donkey (Jackett) was still in charge alongside Moxey and Morgan I seriously doubt that we would have won that game, more likely it would of been a reversal of the same score. we are of course still in the honeymoon period and things can soon change but hopefully this will be our season to get back in the big league. Anyway hope all goes well for the rest of the season for you and maybe you can get promoted alongside us to where we all belong.

  2. Fair comment Karl. We can only hope to gain some small revenge at Moulineux. Not likely on yesterday’s showing though. Thanks for the good wishes, yes, for the good of Midlands football it would be great to see Wolves and Blues in the Prem next season, perhaps with Derby or Burton 😉

    Keep Right On 🙂

  3. Bazza what a great post. As ever well written, accurate and descriptive. Better than any newspaper report! Kim

  4. Bazza, I was only wondering this morning what had happened to your match reports, so pleased to see your back from the close season.
    I always look forward to your informed and objective reflections. Thanks for taking the time to post your blog.

  5. well said baz nice comments from Karl Storer was stupid but I hate when players go down and you think they have been shot. Rowett needs to look at how we play at home teams have worked us out. kro

  6. I have several notes of thanks to make. Firstly to Russ for correcting me regarding the tackle that stopped a certain opener for Wolves. It was indeed Spector who provided the block but he was poor for the most part otherwise. Secondly, thank you all for your kind remarks. It is gratifying to receive feedback and that there are some who actually read my musings. Thank you all for taking the time to comment.

  7. Great match report Bazza. Whenever we play Blues this is always where I stop in to get a balanced opposition perspective.

    Wolves displayed the greater appetite throughout and as you say, we overran the midfield for most of the game. Have to admit I’m licking my lips every time I see David Davis in your lineup. He can tackle and get around the pitch, but rarely does much to influence proceedings. Alongside him, I can barely remember anything Gleeson did. With such limitations in the middle of the park it was no surprise to see you going direct to Donaldson.

    There’s an argument to say this worked, as prior to the opening goal the ball was bouncing off the big forward into dangerous areas and Adams always looked dangerous. His powerful first half run that drew a foul and latterly, his smart finish showed what he’s about. His pace and energy in the final third will make him a key performer I’m sure.

    You can criticise the back four but I didn’t see a huge number of mistakes from your defenders. As you suggest in the report, it was more the midfield went missing and the likes of Coady, Wallace, Mason and Price had a field day.

    Bodvarsson is a real difference maker for us. As you’ll have seen Saturday he competes strongly for any ball into him and has a knack of emerging with possession from tight spaces. Can also carry the ball and shoot decisively. Rowett said he was interested before he came to Wolves and I can imagine plenty of other Championship clubs were too. I think if he’d been playing for Blues instead of us, the game would have panned out differently.

    You had players out of course and are still trying to bed in others, but that Blues team on Saturday had lower midtable written all over it. There’s no focal point, leadership or obvious plan. I’d be ecstatic if you turned up at Molineux with that eleven for the return fixture but imagine it will be a very different setup by then.

  8. Thomas is correct, midfield is our problem and I think it needs a shake up. I lost count of the number of times we gave the ball away which set up Wolves attacks. The first step would be to bring Kieftenbeld back for Davis.

  9. welcome back bazz I missed you all these long months …I watched the game from sunny Thailand …I felt the first 20 mins we were good value …then the lights went out …ok 1 0 half time …a few bollockings and we settle the second half doesn’t every manager say ..keep it tight for 15 mins then branch out ??obviously nobody was listening and we got cold slapped again early doors,,after that we were always second best …I don’t get to see many game over here so was particularly disappointed there was every possibility had we won we would have been top now the shite are above us I can feel a long hard winter coming again…yes Norwich bode badly for us next week….would like to see stewart given his chance alongside Donaldson next week…che average game needs to up his fitness …storer should be hung upside down in the showers under the cold water ….lets hope that were bought out sooner than later ….great rep bazz as always

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