2-0 down with Everton destroying us, the sleeves are rolled up and the battle commences. A deft Jerome flick pulls it back to 2-1 and early in the second half during sustained pressure – Gardner scores his first goal for the club and a beauty it was too.
I thought this was a really good game of football. At the end of the day, probably the right result although both sides had chances to win it. Actually to be fair to Everton, they could have been out of site if Hart hadn’t pulled off a number of very good saves.
We seemed to be asleep for the 1st 20 minutes, however made up for it in the 2nd half with some excellent approach play.
Barry Ferguson was superb today and my man of the match by a long way – despite Jerome being awarded it by some people.
This result should be seen as a positive, we came back from 2-0 down against a VERY good Everton side, and the fact we COULD have pinched it, shows the character we have in the side.
Well played Blues, actually well played both Blues. An entertaining game of football.
After the win in midweek at crisis club Portsmouth – we return to St Andrews to face an Everton side who appear to be improving week by week.
With key players like Arteta returning, Everton have gone on a decent run. Landon Donovan has been another player who has made a big impact. He is on loan from David Beckham’s previous USA club – LA Galaxy. Galaxy have insisted that his loan won’t be extended and so he is due to return to the States after our game. David Moyes has said he would like the player to stay, and there is a slight chance, as the American players are threatening strike action meaning Donovan could stay.
The Blues once again have pretty much a full strength side available with Parnaby and Phillips the only non long term injured to be doubtful.
On the forum we have been saying the last few games that Benitez needed to start, and there is no doubt that Jerome looks a better player alongside Chucho, so after our confident win in midweek, I’m hopeful that McLeish will start with the same forward line. Bowyer and Larsson are also available again.
This of course will be the 3rd time we have played the Blues from Liverpool this season. Earlier in the season we ran away giggling like school kids from Goodison Park, when we had one shot on goal and stole a point from Everton.
Our next visit however was more convincing. We knocked them out of the FA cup with a 1st half performance that was probably one of our best of the season.
As I have said, since then Everton have improved and are now only two points behind us. They have won 7 of their last 10 PL games. However, we have only lost 3 in our last 19 PL matches and are unbeaten in 10 home games.
I think it is fair to say that Everton are a stronger side, and will be confident after their thrashing of Hull last week, however I think this contest will be a tight one but I do think that Everton will shade it. I just think they have the momentum and although we have won the last two league games, we will be narrowly beaten by the other Blues.
Prediction Blues 1 v 2 Blues
Tags: Alex McLeish, Birmingham City, Blues, Cameron Jerome, Christian Benitez, david, Everton, Kev, Match, Players, Premier League
Here is another article by Dale.
You’re Alex McLeish. You have players like Michael, Gardner, Phillips and young Jake Jarvis at your disposal. You have guided your team to premier league safety with ten games still to play. What’s your next move?
The man himself has reiterated his desire to push as high up the table as possible before the end of the season. He has been quoted as setting 51 points as a new target. But with a team of regulars approaching their 35th game of the season legs and minds will inevitably start to tire. Or will they? With this in mind, does McLeish opt to introduce the likes of Michael and Gardner on a regular basis and try to draft in some fringe players to see out the season and give some invaluable experience to the young lads. Or does he maintain the stance of consistency and stick with his strongest team. The key to this is balancing both.
Nobody can deny the effort, desire and commitment the team has put in this year and the proof is in the pudding. 43 points with ten games to spare. This must have taken its toll, physically and mentally, especially on the starting 11 who went 13 games unchanged. But with the summer on the horizon, and possible transfer targets keeping a close eye on us, does McLeish look to make one last charge up the table and field his strongest team for the remaining games. Personally, I would like to see us finish as high as possible, making Blues a more attractive prospect for would-be signings. A top half finish would be an amazing achievement and in the position we are currently in, looks a certain possibility. Everton, Arsenal and Liverpool all travel to St.Andrews in the coming weeks along with away ties to Manchester City and The Vile so it is no foregone conclusion that a finish in the top 10 is guaranteed.
I believe McLeish is the type of manager with ambition and desire at the heart of his thoughts and will go for broke! He will start to implement one or two players into the team but the fundamentals of the starting 11 will remain. With this, the character and spirit of the team will rub off on the players coming in, rather than change the essence of the team with one or two with the winning mentality. A lot of what will happen depends on the players and if they fancy the fight now the war is over. Each individual player will react differently but I think we have enough “troops and winners” in our side to finish the season with a flourish.
McLeish now has a nice dilemma on his hands and the forthcoming weeks will tell us a bit more about the stern Scotsman and his ambitions for the club.
Dale Moon
Here is Bazza’s report from Tuesday night.
I went straight from work to Will’s place where I met his wife Julie for the first time. I introduced myself and said that yes, I really was the serial killer she thought I was given that Will had met me originally via the blog and therefore the internet. She thinks I’m joking so that’s all right then! 
Chris, Will’s brother had travelled down from Warwickshire for the game and to have a round of golf in the afternoon whilst muggings had to work. We set off for the short journey south to Portsmouth and managed to grab a pie and a hot drink in the ground. Will still cannot get over the fact that I hate Bovril and I settled instead for tea. We found our place in the stands and hoped we didn’t play like we did at the weekend.
What a difference from the events of Saturday? This was an impressive win following what must have been a bitterly disappointing defeat to the same team just three days earlier. Blues made four changes to the Saturday line up with Michel starting in place of Bowyer, Benitez was restored to the starting line up with McFadden demoted to the bench. Out also went Larsson who was replaced by Gardner and Fergusson took over from the rested Stephen Carr as captain, his place in the side being taken by Parnaby. The side had a better balance to it and as was the case at the weekend Blues dominated proceedings from the off with the essential difference that we looked dangerous going forward with Chucho adding that bit of spice that resulted in an early opener for Cameron Jerome in the 14th minute. A lovely touch through to the striker from his partner on the edge of the area gave Jerome the opening which he drilled low just inside the far post to send the assembled throng of noses wild with delight. Not only were we ahead but we were playing some slick flowing football in the middle of the park orchestrated by Michel who looked sure of touch, poised on the ball with an ability to pick a pass that always seemed to be delivered to the feet of a team mate! The stuff of dreams for a Blues side playing on this occasion in the white kit with the red penguin stripe down the front rather than the black strip that was still in the wash from Saturday. Portsmouth for their part were second best in the opening period and were opened up again when Benitez found himself one on one with David James in the middle of the goal with either side to choose to deliver the ball into. He chooses to dribble round the keeper only to be tackled by Hreidarsson. The frustrations of the travelling faithful were tangible as heads went into hands and expletives abounded. Nevertheless, within minutes the little Ecuadorian had made amends when a clever little back heel split the Pompey defence for Jerome to stroke the ball under the body of the diving James for 2 – 0. This score on 42 minutes was the least that Blues deserved and it could have been more such was the superiority that Blues held over their hapless opponents.
The second half was more one of containment of what Portsmouth had to offer which wasn’t a great deal to be honest and Blues should have added to their tally when Fahey delivered a cross too far in front of Jerome having carved Pompey open again. Dann missed a very presentable chance from fifteen yards placing his effort over the bar instead of the top corner and McFadden who came on late for the tiring Benitez almost caught James napping with a fierce shot towards the near post. Despite giving the eyes, James was equal to the save. The Pompey keeper was given a hard time by the noses behind him especially as he mimed the scooping out of a ball from the net just prior to the second half starting. We gave back with interest but the banter did descend somewhat into obscene chants about activities of his England team mate John Terry and what he may have done with James’ wife, sister, mother etc. We also sang ‘we’ll meet again’ and ‘we’ll never play you again,’ ‘Pay up Pompey!’ and many many more but my favourite of the evening was to the tune of the Conga ‘Let’s all have a whip round!’ Chris turned to me and said “Yow know why we know all the words of all these songs don’t ya?” “Why?” I said, “Cos we’ve ‘eard em sung to us so many times!” 
The only blemish of the evening was allowing Portsmouth a consolation goal in the 92nd minute when Kanu, a late Pompey substitute netted an inswinging cross to give us all a nervy last couple of minutes and Pompey, hope their performance did not merit. Fortunately, Blues held on comfortably enough but the margin should have been far greater than it was.
This was a very good win in the circumstances but before getting carried away with hyperbole, the quality of the opposition has to be taken into account. Portsmouth are bottom of the league for a reason and that is that they have lost 19 of their 28 games to date. They were outplayed by Blues last night which makes the loss to them on Saturday all the more frustrating. As I said in my last report, we lost it rather than them winning it with poor team selection and tactics in contrast to this game when the balance was correct, the ball moved slicker and the tempo was higher and we got in amongst them. I am still concerned that we still at times gave the home team too much space to play out wide especially in the first half and improvement will be needed against a resurgent and continually improving Everton who visit St Andrews on Saturday. We will pay heavily if this area is not tightened up on. There were things nevertheless to be encouraged about especially the performances of Michel, Gardner and Benitez. Jerome was also as excellent as he was awful on Saturday and took his goals well. It was sad to see Parnaby who had had a good game to the point where he limped off injured have to leave the field prematurely. He was ably replaced by Tainio.
Alex McCleish has intimated that we do not have enough firepower to challenge for a Europa League spot and I agree. Whilst the league standing may suggest we are in with a shout I think the realistic view is that we are not good enough yet but I am happy to be proved wrong. We have ten games left and before last night McCleish had set a target of 51 points or a point a game for the remaining fixtures. This may sound cautious but with away games at Sunderland, Blackburn, Manchester City, Vile and Bolton and at home fixtures against Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool, Hull and Burnley, I simply think he’s being realistic. Any more than 51 will be a bonus but I suspect whatever we finish up with will not be enough for a place in Europe. The facts remain that we need a centre forward who can deliver 15 goals minimum, fast wide men and a cover at full back down both flanks. Then and only then may we be able to compete.
KRO SOTV
At the recent supporters clubs forum, it was announced that the club would be looking at the tannoy system during the Everton game.
Here are the instructions if you wish to give your feedback, (taken with permission from the official site):
PA SYSTEM – WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Over the last few months we have been receiving feedback from supporters that the PA System is not performing to its best ability.
Therefore at this Saturday’s game against Everton (kick-off 3pm) we have engineers on site to monitor the sound levels to ensure the best possible audio is received in all areas of the stadium. Sound levels vary from an empty stadium to a full stadium so we need your help at the game to rectify this issue.
If you have any feedback about the PA system in your area please approach your nearest steward who will complete a questionnaire on your behalf. You will be asked your block, row and seat number, so please have this to hand.
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