Well, here we were, we had arrived at the last home game of the season never dreaming that we would be in this parlous position when sitting just outside the play offs in December. I am not going to dwell on the highly dubious decision that was made by the ownership and the fact that their choice of change of manager has proved absolutely catastrophic. The retrospectoscope is a marvelous instrument; you can see everything through it as clear as day and it shows everything that you could’ve and should’ve done but the problem with it is you aren’t allowed to use the retrospectoscope until it’s too late to act on its findings! As Oliver Hardy always used to say, “Stanley, that’s another fine mess you’ve got me into!”
Nevertheless, this game was going to be special. Fortunately, I had acquired extra tickets some time back and it was just as well given that the match is now a sell out. My brother Trev is over from his home in Austin, Texas for a University reunion and was anxious to take in a game if he could. Like me he’s an avid bluenose and I know he misses the football living in the USA and clearly is not able to come over too often so occasions like this are precious. Will had arranged to go up to Birmingham in a people carrier and my son Ben and I met Will and little Will at my place of work in Guildford. I had arranged for Trev to meet up with us at St Andrews as he had been at his reunion p**s up at the University last night. I had tickets for Will, Trev, Ben, little Will, little Jack ( all six foot of him!) Rob and of course myself. Chris was taking advantage of a hospitality package that he’d been given for his birthday so was not joining the hoi-polloi or the great unwashed! Can’t beat the Cookhouse I say! 😀 There was braised beef and sweet potato mash on the menu which washed down with a couple of scoops hit the spot.
Things went according to plan and having thrown Trev’s travel case in the boot we set off for the ground and some food and a pint. Today was really a must win and I know we’ve been saying this for weeks but it was now or never as I saw it. I certainly wasn’t pinning any hopes on that lot from across the expressway doing us any favours at Blackburn. On that subject, it is breathtaking that there are a body of Vilers who actually went on record in stating that they hoped that Blackburn would beat them to make it worse for us. Therein my friends lies the difference between us and them. I would never barrack for another team to the detriment of my own regardless of whether it benefited our fiercest rivals. If their support isn’t fully behind them their chances of succeeding have to be reduced.
It was so good to see St Andrews nearly full. The place was rocking as the Blues faithful made the sort of noise we’ve not heard in so long. Clearly the assembled ranks were only too aware what this game meant and the atmosphere transferred its way onto the pitch. Birmingham started brightly and it was clear that Che Adams playing up front with Lukas Jutkiewicz was going to be a handful for the Terriers rearguard. Jutkiewicz had an early shot that was too high but then on seven minutes, Che Adams powered past Hudson until the latter felled him in the box. Mike Jones, the referee instantly pointed to the spot and the crowd was on its feet. Jutkiewicz stepped up to take it but the kick was neither fish nor foul as it lacked the pace to beat Coleman or the accuracy to evade him. It was nevertheless a good save as the keeper smothered the shot and prevented any chance of a rebound goal. We all sat down deflated but worse was to come; on 23 minutes Che Adams went in for a 50-50 challenge with Martin Crainie which he appeared to have won. Crainie collapsed in a heap and the referee charged over to the incident brandishing a red card at Adams. It looked a hasty and poor decision but I have to reserve judgement. Rob told me at half time that the challenge was two footed and if this is the case, fair enough. My heart sank at this stage as like many I feared the worst. Here we were playing the team third in the league and we faced nearly seventy minutes of the match with only ten men, our best player off the pitch and a missed penalty to boot.
The sending off seem to galvanise the team and the crowd responded with lusty refrains of Keep Right On and the players rolled their sleeves up and worked harder. The defensive shape with Michael Morrison restored to the line up was good with Jonathan Grounds particularly noticeable. There was a ‘thou shalt not pass’ quality about us and the crowd fed off the effort being put in by the lads in blue. Set pieces were undoubtedly going to be our best chance of scoring and indeed on 41 minutes Blues obtained a corner which Gardner took. Morrison was just beaten to the header at the far post by his tracking defender but the header inadvertently was directed back across goal and the keeper and Jonathan Grounds was running in on the other post to bundle the ball in. St Andrews erupted and against all the odds Blues were one up.
I had a look at the stats and I was surprised to see that Huddersfield had nearly 80% of the possession in the game. I’m bound to say that it didn’t feel that way but it was interesting that when I spoke to Chris afterwards that he felt that Huddersfield had kept the ball so well and were the better side; I disagree with my mate on this I’m afraid. True, Huddersfield had plenty of the ball but they played largely in front of us and spent most of the game knocking the ball back and forth across the pitch. Blues had much less of the ball but used their sparse possession better and most importantly moved the ball quicker than their opponents which combined with our players putting their bodies on the line when they did defend made for a gritty and entertaining watch. Jacques Maghoma stepped up to the plate to provide some pace when Che Adams got his marching orders. He never stopped running and providing danger when we broke on them and on 76 minutes he surged into the box only to be felled by Dean Whitehead. After an unnecessary debate, Craig Gardner wrestled the ball away from other candidates for the job and dispatched the kick to Coleman’s right with the keeper guessing left. Was this salvation? Certainly for the day, as that belonged to Blues as they continued to keep Huddersfield at bay. Unfortunately, the fight has to go to the last day of the season following yet another limp performance at Blackburn by the pink and baby blue brigade. However, the matter remains in our hands but to be absolutely sure we have to win at Bristol City next week. The permutations are such that any result we achieve could keep us in the Championship but it’s best to rely on our efforts rather than the shortcomings of others namely Nottingham Forest and Blackburn.
The Good: Little Will’s first win! As Jasper Carrott always says; “You draw some, you lose some!” This had been little Will’s experience in his fledgling career of watching the Blues from near and far. He belongs now and is truly one of us! 😀
The Bad: Vile not bothering to put a shift in at Blackburn.
The Ugly: The sight of Viler fans who had actually purchased Blackburn shirts with lettering transfers whilst attending the game. Disgraceful behaviour; with so called supporters like that is it any wonder the rest of the football fraternity detests them?
Birmingham City: Tomasz Kusczcak 6, Emilio Nsue 6, Ryan Shotton 6, Michael Morrison 7, Jonathan Grounds 8, Mikael Kieftenbeld 7, Craig Gardner 7, David Davis 7, Jacques Maghoma 7, Lukas Jutkiewicz 6 (Josh Dacres-Cogley 90 + 5, N/A) Che Adams 5.
Subs not used: Kerim Frei, Jerome Sinclair, Stephen Gleeson, Adam Legzdins, Krystian Bielik, Cheik Keita.
Goals: Grounds 41, Gardner (pen) 76.
Yellow cards: Grounds 64, Davis 90 + 1.
Red cards: Adams 23.
Huddersfield Town: Joel Coleman 7, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis 5 (Nahki Wells 45, 6) Martin Crainie 6, Mark Hudson 6 (Aaron Mooy 67, 6) Tommy Smith 6, Philip Billing 6, Dean Whitehead 6, Harry Bunn 6 (Sean Scannell 67, 6) Jack Payne 6, Joe Lolley 7, Collin Quaner 5.
Subs not used: Danny Ward, Jonathan Hogg, Regan Booty, Christopher Schindler.
Goals: None
Yellow cards: Holmes-Dennis 32, Quaner 57.
Referee: Mike Jones 4: This experienced official had an absolute shocker in my opinion. He failed to give himself any thinking time after Che Adams’ challenge. It looked very harsh to me but I have to reserve judgement until I’ve seen the footage. The referee was very close to the incident and saw it clearly but as he ran over to the scene no more than four or five paces he was reaching for the ultimate sanction from his back pocket. This wrecked the game or so I thought and Blues were forced to play light handed for three quarters of the match which makes it all the more remarkable that they won. I wondered whether the referee was ruminating about this decision by awarding a number of free kicks our way for soft challenges in truth throughout and this is a point well made by Darren Carter on BBC WM after the game. Fortunately, Blues did not lose this match and possibly their Championship status as a result of the sending off otherwise I suspect the commentary would have been all about the referee and not the game.
Attendance: 26,914.
Bazza KRO
What are the options next weekend?
Kev explains here.
Great report as usual. To be honest Baz I really don’t care what the other lot say or do. Their result didn’t really matter. We did what we had to do and that’s all I’m bothered about. Let’s hope we can get the right result next Sunday to stay up.
I agree Kev but the integrity of the league depends on every team to give of their best regardless of the consequences of any result. On the subject of the tackle that led to the red card, I’ve watched the footage; it was a poor decision to send Adams off. The tackle won the ball cleanly, Adams was never out of control and there was no danger to the opposition player. Hopefully, the red card will be rescinded on appeal.
i agree with you Bazz the referee had a shocker for both teams but it was good to see Morrison back and fair play to him not hundred per cent fit but wanted to play. I had to laugh at the comics over the way cheer and sing when Blackburn score and then after the game turn on Bruce they don’t deserve a decent team they are pathetic. keep up the good work
Interestingly I followed the game through SSN. The reporter said that Adams had gone in off the ground and deserved to go. He clearly only saw it once. Adams did slide in but did so on the ground, under control and got the ball. I have every belief that the red card will be rescinded.
Good report Baz. The reason why Huddersfield had more possession than Blues, was because they had one man more to pass to, for 70 minutes. The majority of their passes, were either sideways of backwards. Bluea at last looked organised and even confident. The Adams tackle was not even a foul. The TV pictures clearly show him making contact with the ball and then the ball making contact with the Huddersfield players leg. No studs showing and he had not jumped into the tackle. The red card, clearly, has to be rescinded. Lets hope another weeks training and help from Harry, Steve and Paul, will bring the result we all want next Sunday.
Absolutely John. Everything you’ve said is spot on. For all of you that read my stuff regularly; thanks for the continued support. It means a lot that my musings are appreciated enough to be worthwhile writing.
great summing up baz as usual though you did fail to mention that it was their reserve team we were playing due to 10 changes ,,methinks things might have been something different ,,,,though it didn’t alter a great result with 10 men,,( I felt that he slid in rather than jumped in ,,though of course interpretation by the referee is everything ) next week we take on a Bristol city side who now have nothing but pride and home reputation to play for ,,,here lies the height of this seasons ambitions ,,the players that have got us where we are now will be asked to get us out of their shit ,,we can say what we like about zola but in truth the senior players should have stood up a long time ago ,,,thank goodness gary rowet left us with enough points or we would have gone a long time before rotherham…im not sure about steve cottrill seems another backwards step for me ..hes never done very well wherever hes been and is only supported by rednaps image ,,,,that said ,,heres to another victory next week,,,,thankyou again baz for keeping us so well informed
Phuket Zulu —- If you check Steve Cotterills record you will find it is quite good and in fact he got Bristol City promoted in 2015 with a record number of points !