VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – DERBY COUNTY vs BIRMINGHAM CITY
Like many supporters of the Royal Blue the expectations of a positive result from this encounter were high in my mind but that did not hide the nagging doubts that any away tie in the FA Cup brings regardless of the opposition. We had of course negotiated tricky ties against Forest following a replay and the Daddy of them all Everton whom I have to say I did not expect to get past at Goodison. After all that we couldn’t fail at Pride Park could we?
The 147 miles from home to a potholed muddy car park near the ground went without hitch. I travelled up alone for this one since Will had failed to get his act in gear in time to get a ticket before they were sold out. I rang him having just enjoyed a truly delicious hot roast pork bap with sage and onion stuffing; yes proper meat! I had a pint in my hand and was among the faithful throng and said to Will that I could not believe that he was not with us instead of being at home romancing his wife. “She wo’ appreciate it Will” I said “Sod off Baz” came the rather disgruntled reply. I promised to keep him posted although he was going to be sitting by the radio all afternoon; logic eh? He may as well as come to the game if he was going to ignore his missus anyway! 
Blues were back to the eleven that have served us so well over the last four or so months and for the first twenty–five minutes appeared to control the game well although there were no clear chances for either side. The poor weather had clearly taken its toll on the Derby pitch and the surface was in poorer condition than the one we have got used to at St Andrews. This made it difficult for the Blues to get their passing game together and may explain the greater use of the longer ball into channels and onto the pacy Jerome. Derby did play a high line encouraging this ploy presumably to squeeze the midfield and stifle Bowyer and Fergusson. These tactics started to pay off in the last 15 minutes of the half when Blues got sloppy and began to give the ball away cheaply. Derby were working very hard and gave us all a reminder of what it is like to play Championship football week in week out with an industrious, in your face, attritional performance which began to pay off with threatening crosses into the Birmingham box. The game plan appeared simple to get it wide, get it in and fight for the scraps.
It took half an hour for the first chance on goal when Bowyer getting his head down and going for goal from well outside the area. The shot lacked the power to trouble Bywater but the keeper needed to be mindful of the bumpy pitch which could have taken the shot in. This effort seemed to act as a catalyst for further chances as they came and went in a flurry. Christian Benitez connected with a weak header that was gathered easily and by far the best chance of the half fell to Jerome when his strike partner put him clean through for a one-on-one with the goalkeeper. His side-footed effort was well saved round the post for a corner but Jerome should have scored. This was for me a defining moment in the game because I believe that if this goes in Blues go on to win this match comfortably instead of the heart stopping event it became.
Derby buoyed by their fortunate escape grew in confidence aided by sloppy play from Blues to create one or two chances of their own just before the break. Stephen Pearson drilled a fierce shot into the chest of Hart standing at his near upright in the first half after a neat exchange of passes with Michael Tonge and then Shaun Barker was denied by an exceptional point blank save from the keeper that was cleared finally by Dann. Blues were lucky to get away with this and shouts of ‘wake up’ could be heard among the large contingent of away fans.
Like many, I had hoped that McCleish would get Blues refocused following what had been a careless, complacent and sloppy 15 minutes that a better team than Derby would undoubtedly have exploited. Unfortunately, the stuporous torpor continued and Blues allowed Derby too much play. Derby are what they are; a below average Championship side but they were working their socks off and were first to every ball at this stage and deservedly took the lead on 55 minutes. From a remarkably similar position to Bowyer in the first half, McEveley hit a highly speculative shot from over thirty yards across Hart who appeared to have it covered. He seemed to go down too early so when the ball kicked up wickedly off the pitch (I’ve seen ploughed fields flatter that this) over him into the roof of the net. Alex McCleish said in one of his interviews after the game that it looked like we were going out of the Cup and for the 18 minutes that followed the goal so did I. Derby’s tails were up now and they continued to harass our midfield. Changes were needed and they duly came on 65 minutes when the disappointing Benitez was replaced by Kevin Phillips and Fahey came on for the ineffective Larsson who had not had one of his better games. This seemed to wake Blues up and Derby started to defend deeper. However, we were not really threatening Derby’s rugged defence but corners and free kicks were stating to happen more. On 73 minutes there was salvation. McFadden’s in-swinging corner was won by Scott Dann whose powerful downward header squeezed in at the foot of the post despite the presence of a defender on the line. The 5,500 Blues fans erupted the previously taunting home fans silenced. The game was opening up now and both sides went full bloodedly for the win. Derby were now under the greater pressure as fatigue began to get the better of their valiant midfield still led by the classy Robbie Savage who, whatever we all may think of him, is a cut above anything else Derby currently have in their side.
Big Eck made the last of his substitutions on 82 minutes when McFadden got the hook for the oncoming Craig Gardner. This was to prove decisive. In time added on, a free kick given away by a tiring Derby defender was lined up by Gardner. He fired it in but I’m unconvinced he caught it as cleanly as he would have liked. The ball nevertheless came fast at Phillips standing round the penalty spot. The little fox in the box controlled it swivelled and sent a shot off in the direction of the goal in one flowing, instinctive movement only for the ball to thump against the foot of the post. What happened next seemed to occur in slow motion. The ball ricocheted across the goal spinning as it did so but agonisingly slowly. Unhindered the ball would undoubtedly have crossed the line to complete a truly brilliant strike but with two defenders nearby it would probably have been cleared. Liam Ridgewell who seems to be making a habit of being on the far post when needed lunged at the ball and from two inches crashed the ball into the net for the winner. The roar from the Blues fans was tangible and the fat bloke next to me hugged me like a long lost cousin; a dramatic end to a full blooded, no quarter given cup tie. There was still time for Joe Hart to redeem himself from his misjudgement earlier. Robbie Savage, of all people, cracked a wonderful thirty yards volley which dipped viciously and was destined for the top corner before Hart dived acrobatically to get both hand to the ball to send it over the bar to safety. It only remained for Phillips, Jerome and Gardner between them to play keep ball in the corner for the win. Another tricky tie negotiated for Blues. Derby will feel they deserved a replay and I have much sympathy with that view. They will claim that they had periods in the game when they were the better side but this is illusory. Savage, Tongue and Commons were excellent for Derby with our old player being the pick. However, despite their hard work and laudable unsettling of their Premiership opponents, they were never really good enough to hold on once they had got ahead. They were undone by the fact that they failed to defend two set pieces properly and that will cost you whatever level you are playing at.
Derby: Bywater 7; Hunt 7, Barker 7, Buxton 7, McEveley 8; Tonge 8, Green 6, Savage 9, Pearson 7; Hulse 6, Commons 8
Birmingham: Hart 6; Carr 7, Johnson 7, Dann 9, Ridgewell 8; Larsson 6 (Fahey 64 7), Ferguson 8, Bowyer 7, McFadden 6 (Gardner 82 6); Jerome 6, Benítez 6 (Phillips 65 
Referee: Martin Atkinson 7
Attendance: 21,843 (amazed that for a local derby with a quarter-final place at stake that Pride Park wasn’t packed. We did our bit though! 
)
Man of the Match: Robbie Savage worked tirelessly all afternoon and is still a stand out player despite the ravages of time. I enjoyed the incident when he inadvertently kicked the ball into the nether regions of the assistant referee in the first half. He behaved impeccably despite enormous provocation from the Blue Army and he only reacted once when he gestured towards us by rubbing his fingers together in response to “there’s only one greedy bastard!”
KRO SOTV
VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – BIRMINGHAM CITY vs WOLVES
Filed under: Blues News, Match reports, Matches, Reports By Bazza
Here is Bazza’s report on our dramatic win yesterday.
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This turned out to be a very sport filled weekend for me; much more than usual that is. I didn’t go to St Andrews much as I wished to, as I valued both my life and everything that I hold dear in the manhood department! I had on Saturday been invited to the England-Wales game at Twickenham with a prolonged and copiously liquid lunch beforehand by a mate of mine who happens to be a Viler! Despite that, Jeremy is a top bloke and I am very grateful to him that he was able to see past my lifelong affliction of being a Blues supporter. I’m delighted to say that England defeated Wales in their encounter in the Six Nations opener and I returned home happy not just because of the alcohol that I had consumed.
Mrs Bazza has become wise to Blues games being on the telly and had pointed this fact out to me in midweek. Her piercing stare told me that me saying that it wasn’t my intention to be away most of Sunday in Birmingham was probably a good and wholly safe answer! In all seriousness, I needed to spend some time at home and I was feeling a little tired and emotional on Sunday morning. I took the dog out for her walk to clear the head and settled down to watch the game.
Blues had the luxury of naming an unchanged line up for the 12th successive Premier League game, but recalled Phillips to the bench following his groin injury.
Blues started brightly and Ronald Zubar’s timely tackle prevented Lee Bowyer from opening the scoring after a couple of minutes before James McFadden’s drive was headed behind. Blues forced a series of corners in the first twenty minutes and Wolves looked in trouble with each delivery into the box. Cameron Jerome’s goal bound header was fortuitously headed clear by Michael Mancienne standing right in the centre of the goal where a defender would probably not have been expected where the keeper would normally be. Wolves rode their luck as they tried to ride out the pressure. Sebastian Larsson hit a rasping volley two yards over after 14 minutes before Hahnemann managed to smother at Jerome’s feet after Benitez’s knockdown.
Wolves began to settle after being under the cosh for the opening quarter of the game and Dave Jones registered their first effort, when his free-kick dipped over goalkeeper Joe Hart’s bar with 23 minutes gone. Doyle was then brought down just outside the area by Hart, who was cautioned, but Jarvis’ free-kick was easily cleared.
Wolves were showing confidence as they got into the game and Zubar should have put them ahead on the half-hour mark from Matt Jarvis’ corner but the defender planted his header wide with the goal gaping. Blues fashioned further good chances as Jerome fired at Hahnemann from an acute angle when he would undoubtedly have preferred to roll the ball square to Lee Bowyer coming in at pace. However, the midfielder wasn’t there having been deliberately tripped by Mancienne who should have been given a yellow card. This was one of the many decisions that Mr Probert and his assistants failed to spot. Scott Dann volleyed inches wide and it was inevitable that the missed chances by Blues would come back to haunt them.
Wolves took the lead three minutes before the break when Jarvis’ cross was deflected against the foot of the near post by Roger Johnson. Doyle was on hand to tap in the rebound from three yards for his sixth goal of the season. The score was against the run of play but Blues had paid for their continued inability to take the chances they keep creating in games. Blues should have had a penalty when Zubar shoved Liam Ridgewell in the back in first-half injury time.
Graham Souness at half time said that the reason the penalty wasn’t given was because the referee bottled it. He was right but I would just put it down to the general ineptitude of the officials who had given goal kicks instead of corners, corners instead of goal kicks, throw-ins the wrong way on too many occasions for so-called top flight professional referees.
Wolves started the second period the brighter buoyed by their score just before the break. It was a far more even contest but Wolves had the edge at this stage now they had a lead to defend. Benitez limped off after a tackle by Hahnemann to be replaced by Phillips as Blues struggled to break Wolves down, but they began to see more of the ball as Wolves began to defend deep. Nevertheless, Foley tested Hart from 18 yards before Adlene Guedioura unleashed a fierce 25-yard effort, which flew inches over with 13 minutes remaining.
It was difficult to see where a goal was coming from with only ten minutes to go when Barry Ferguson tossed a ball to the far post, which Craig Gardner who had come on for the jaded looking Larsson headed down for Phillips to tuck in at the near post. St Andrews and my living room were in raptures as the momentum swung in Blues favour.
One sensed that Blues could go on and win the game now and so it was to prove as Super Kev grabbed the winner five minutes from time when Stephen Carr was allowed to run from deep to tee up Phillips, who found the corner with a neat volley following an exquisite touch off his chest with six defenders around him. This was a truly class finish from the little maestro and Chucho would do well to learn from him as this was a salient lesson in how it should be done.
Blues were not at their best for this one but still showed enough resilience to pull off the win. Wolves did look the better side for twenty minutes or so of the second half but then wilted. Blues despite being under par deserved their victory.
Kevin Phillips stole the man of the match accolade in only half an hour and must be a candidate to start next week. Fergusson was once again the pick of the midfield. The defence was solid and a little unfortunate in the manner of conceding the goal.
As for Wolves, Doyle was by far their best player and troubled Johnson all afternoon. Jarvis was quick and presented a threat on the left and his cross for the goal was excellent which led to the telling deflection. Zubar had a good match going forward and was their most effective defender although he was fortunate not to concede a penalty when he blatantly pushed Ridgewell in the back.
Ward was truly awful and I can see why the Wolves fans think he is Mick McCarthy’s love child. He was arguably at fault for both our goals. Mancienne, I don’t rate and never have. He has played over one hundred games at senior level for QPR and Wolves on loan from Chelsea. He is supposedly a central defender who has latterly been used as a defensive midfielder. I have watched him in both positions and frankly he isn’t good enough at this level which is why I doubt we will see him breaking into the Chelsea side any time soon.
Apart from Doyle, Jarvis and Stearman when fit, Wolves have too many Championship players and that is why they are struggling for survival. I nevertheless hope that they do for the sake of Midlands’ football.
Blues: Hart 7 Carr 7 Johnson. R 6 Dann 7 Ridgewell 7 Larsson 5 Bowyer 6 Ferguson 8 McFadden 6 Benitez 5 Jerome 6
Subs: Fahey 7 Gardener 7 Phillips 9
Wolves: Hahnemann 5 Zubar 7 Craddock 6 Berra 5 Ward 4 Mancienne 4 Foley 6 Henry 6 Jones 5 Jarvis 7 Doyle 8
Subs: Guedioura 7 Surman n/a Ebanks-Blake n/a
Referee: Lee Probert 5
VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – BIRMINGHAM CITY vs MANCHESTER UNITED
The latest report from Bazza.
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The weather outside is frightful, the result of this delightful! Living as I do on the Surrey Hampshire border the snowfall this week has been very heavy and it is only the last day or so I have been able to get the car out at all. The neighbours in my road diligently cleared the road ourselves as there is no chance of the council coming to do it despite our high Council Tax burden. More snow was forecast and with the temperature at St Andrews -3 degrees Celsius and dropping to -8 by the end of the game I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and stayed at home in the warm to watch the game on the telly.
This was a truly fantastic result which in the end could have been a famous win. It was not looking that way in the early stages where United dominated the first half with the lion’s share of the possession making the Blues players chase shadows for the most part. When they did get it Manchester United pressed hard to retrieve it, a feature of their play that is often overlooked because of their overwhelming talents in other areas. Nevertheless, Birmingham’s willingness to throw their bodies in the way of shots and get their heads on crosses meant that despite all their dominance, United created only one moment of real danger in the first period. A misdirected header by Ridgewell was seized upon by Valencia whose exquisite cross found Rooney in the clear with only Joe Hart to beat. Rooney’s first touch was sublime his second saved by the keeper who spread himself to block the shot with his legs. This was a lucky escape and had we fallen behind at this juncture half way through the half the result would undoubtedly have meant end of unbeaten run. Blues hardly got out of their half until they won their first corner on 38 minutes, the result of a blocking of Jerome’s goal bound shot. The corner was incompletely cleared and headed back towards the goal by Bowyer. The ball ricocheted off the legs of Jonny Evans to Jerome who could hardly miss a gaping target from three yards. Against the run of play Blues were ahead and it was bedlam in our household as I and my two sons celebrated like headless chickens.
The second half was a more even contest with Blues more on the pace. Despite this a spell of pressure around the hour mark resulted in the resolute Blues backline finally cracking. There was a huge element of good fortune about the equaliser although no one could deny that United deserved their goal. Another blocked shot ricocheted to Evra on the left corner of the box. His fierce shot was sadly diverted into his own net by the luckless Scott Dann. There was a flag for offside against Rooney but subsequent pictures show Ridgewell was playing him onside anyway. Mark Clattenburg rightly awarded the goal having consulted his assistant. United didn’t really threaten us after this which surprised me as I was waiting for them to up the tempo and take the points with another goal or two. Remarkably it was Tomas Kuszczak in the United goal who had the most work to do making good saves from Benitez twice and Roger Johnson late on. Unfortunately the shots were all straight at him. A glorious opportunity was wasted by Jerome when we found ourselves three on two. The simple ball inside to Benitez or the straightforward cross shot were spurned and instead he over hit the dinked cross to Bowyer coming in at the far post and the chance was gone.
Six minutes from time Fletcher was dismissed for a cynical tackle on Jerome which prevented the striker engaging in a footrace with Evans as United pressed high up the pitch. He merely hung a leg out as the Blues centre-forward went by; it was deliberate, unsubtle and prevented a counter attack with United out of position. Despite Sir Alex’s whining afterwards the decision by Mr Clattenburg was correct and Fletcher can count himself fortunate that he wasn’t dismissed an hour earlier following a barrage of verbal abuse after he had already been booked for the foul on Bowyer. He was given a talking to instead despite that fact that Larsson was booked for speaking to the assistant regarding the United goal; no friendly chat there then! The young full back Raphael should have gone in the book as early as the third minute for clattering into the back of McFadden and was again warned for persistent fouling after about twenty-five minutes but it was deep into the second half before he was eventually cautioned for an identical infringement to the one ignored after three minutes! Sir Alex as usual, protests too much especially when things don’t go his way. However, even the red-nosed one had to admit that it was a good point for his team and the result was fair as indeed it was. I was watching the match in HD with the advantages that this brings to the enjoyment of the action; the down side is that you get detailed close up shots of the contents of the United manager’s mouth as he furiously chews his gum and the distraction of a forest of hairs festooning from each nostril – A little personal grooming would not go amiss Sir Alex; curbing the filthy habit of a lifetime of chewing gum with mouth wide open is probably asking too much.
The run continues and now represents a club record in the top flight of 12 league games unbeaten. This in itself is a magnificent achievement for which Alex Mcleish, his team and his players deserve their accolades. They are drawing and winning games they would have lost or drawn respectively two years ago and that is the difference between then and now. More of the same next week please – Bravo Brum!
KRO SOTV
VIEW FROM THE (Not so far) SOUTH – WIGAN vs BIRMINGHAM CITY
Bazza couldn’t make this game so here is my take on our day out to Wigan.
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By heck Wigan is a long way away. I left home just after ten o’clock and started the long drive up the M40 and M6. Traffic was pretty kind so I only got slowed up by three separate sections of 50mph average speed check road works. Well I say “works” but nobody was actually working on any of them so the only purpose they served was to annoy drivers. I still made the first 120 miles in 2 and a half hours but then took 45 minutes to travel the last mile. On arriving in Wigan I noticed that they have a sign that says “Home to super league rugby and premiership football”. Talk about tempting fate!!
The DW stadium is one of those identikit flat pack stadiums which reminded me a lot of the Madjeski in Reading. There is always plenty of parking and good facilities even for away fans but to me they lack a lot of the character of the traditional stadia. They did have the loudest pa system I’ve ever encountered at any sports ground which meant that the pre-kickoff singing of “Keep Right On” was less than successful. I was less impressed with the pre-match pie. I thought Wigan were supposed to have some of the best pies in the country but I personally prefer the ones at St Andrews (On the rare occasions that they haven’t run out by the time you get to the front of the queue!). It was a pretty big following for us but Wigan would have been disappointed with their attendance as I doubt there were more than 15000 there. I heard a few new songs and it was great to have a revival of “He’s got a pineapple on his head” aimed at Jason Scotland.
The match started pretty evenly but Wigan could have scored early on when Sharner, who was given too much space all afternoon, ran through the middle of our defence, rounded Joe Hart but then poked the ball wide. We didn’t seem to wake up until Rodallega caught Johnson in the face with a stray elbow which upset the Blues man rather a lot. Johnson thought it was deliberate but the ref thought otherwise and only produced a yellow. He should have been sent off just for wearing those silly white gloves that made him look like a magician. They created a few half chances before taking the lead just after the half hour make. Good work from Scotland set up N’Zogbia who hit a beauty into the top right hand corner of the goal. They could have added more but the half ended 1-0 with a Benitez snap shot being Blues’ only attacking moment. Chatting at half time we bemoaned our sides lack of pace and I suggested taking Larsson off who had been poor.
Blues must have had a good talking too at half time because they came out a totally different team. Jerome could have scored with a header just four minutes in as we started to control the game. Then on 60 minutes Blues were awarded a soft free kick and Larsson’s excellent delivery evaded everyone and ended up in the back of the net. Just five minutes later we went mad again as Bowyer’s long ball forward put Benitez in and his pace took him away from Bramble. The Wigan goalie managed to get a half stop on his finish and I thought that the shot had been saved before seeing it slowly bounce into the net. One fan got a little too over excited and joined in the celebration before escaping the stewards. I’m not sure what happened to him. Jerome had a decent chance but then it was super Seb time again. This one was in a perfect spot for him and he placed it brilliantly into the top corner, no flook this time. This led to an exodus of Wigan fans and a revival from their team. They did pull one back through Gomez although the free kick should never have been given as it clearly hit Johnson’s knee and not his hand. This made injury time a bit nervous but we held on for another three points. I got home just before nine after what had been a long but rewarding day.
The Blue Army marches on.
VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – BIRMINGHAM CITY vs FULHAM
Here is Bazza’s take on Saturday’s game
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Well the weather turned out nice again didn’t it? Well no but at least every other team in the country was in the same boat. I travelled to the game with my mate Will and he told me when I got in the car for the journey north that he was going to pick up his brother who owned a pub motel near Coventry Airport and from there pick up his Uncle Frank in Balsall Heath on the way through. Both turned out to be real characters and excellent company. The banter that ensued helped to lift the spirits for what was going to turn out to be a wet, windy and thoroughly miserable afternoon weather wise that is. Will’s brother, Chris and Chris’ wife, Gail made me very welcome when we arrived at their pub, The Oak in Kenilworth and I can thoroughly recommend the beer and the food. Apparently the pies are all home made and the best for miles around and I intend to try one next time I’m there. If the home made burger that I was served with for lunch is anything to go by it is something to be relished and I am grateful for the hospitality shown. A big thank you to Chris and Gail for the meal and drink and I can assure everyone that the fare was so much better than the repast I usually get at St Andrews although I am told on the grapevine that the new Queudrue Blue Curry is a bit of a hit.
It was lashing it down come kick off and the pitch was fast and slick with a stiff wind blowing across the pitch fortunately in the opposite direction away from the Kop where I was sitting. Blues started brightly and looked to out to entertain the assembled crowd of just under 24,000 but it was the visitors who threatened first. Bobby Zamora ran onto a pass forty yards out and charged towards the Tilton down our unoccupied left back berth going past the wrong footed Scott Dann. The move reminded me of the last time we played Fulham and Simon Davies scored from an almost identical run. He powered into the box and smashed the ball right footed into the far corner past the hapless Maik Taylor with nobody near him. On this occasion, if Zamora had done the same, he would surely have scored but he checked back onto his favoured left foot and tried to curl the ball into the far corner past Joe Hart. The attempt ended up embarrassingly wide crossing the by-line mid-way between the far post and the corner flag. There was only six or so minutes gone and this was a huge let off. Going behind on such a dreadful day would have made for a very difficult afternoon. As it was it was Blues who opened the scoring with a sublime finish by Lee Bowyer who lobbed the lofty Mark Schwartzer with a deft touch from James McFadden’s exquisite pass on 16 minutes. A truly wonderful goal and the sort of early lead we have all been craving. The trouble is that was it as far as this match was concerned as a spectacle; Fulham passed the ball around really well and we seemed to have no control in midfield for long periods. On balance I felt they had the better of things in the first half, a perception that was reinforced in the second period when we just ran round trying to get the ball and started to defend too deep. Zamora and Dempsey were a handful and showed good speed and movement and the Blues’ back line needed to be alert to prevent them breaching our defences.
Fortunately, Fulham for all their control and neat passing played in front of us and whenever we got it we kept trying to play long towards the willing but ineffective Jerome and Chucho. Barry Fergusson was tightly shackled by the Fulham midfielders who did a good job on him; Seb Larsson was subdued and inconspicuous throughout the game. James McFadden tried to get some impetus into our play but got pushed onto the back foot with everyone else by the Londoner’s wave after wave of attacks leaving Lee Bowyer as our stand out midfielder who worked his socks off as usual. The back four worked well again and repelled everything that Fulham offered with Roger Johnson and Scott Dann excellent once gain ably assisted by Carr and Ridgewell in the full back positions. The only attempt that tested Hart was a header by Clint Dempsey that was destined for the top corner only to be saved by the keeper on 68 minutes. This was to prove a match winning save and despite arguably our poorest performance at home this season the boys held on for a 1 – 0 win.
Roy Hodgson was disappointed not to have taken anything from the game and he has a point although his team did not leave with one as they probably deserved. However, there is no value in playing neat, slick football if you fail to create chances or indeed take one of the two that you do fashion. Credit must go to Birmingham who two years ago would undoubtedly have dropped points in this sort of game; that as I see it is the main difference between now and then. We look more solid and a whole lot more resilient even when we are not at our best as on this occasion. Roger Johnson appeared to take a knock near the end which seemed to restrict his movement but declined to be substituted by Carsley near the end. Alex McCleish only made one substitution which was Keith Fahey for Chucho. I found this baffling; not the insertion of a midfielder for an attacker; the need to wrest some control in the middle of the park was self evident but surely this is when Carsley should have been coming on rather than Fahey who is more of a playmaker? As for Roger Johnson, if he needed to be replaced why not bring on Gregory Vignal, a natural left back and move Ridgewell who isn’t from there to the centre-half berth where he is comfortable? Will says to me frequently on our trips “I dow’nt understand ‘is tic tacs at times I dow’nt!” I have to say that on this occasion neither do I. Never mind this was a great win and makes up for some of the times when we have played well this season and got nothing. On to the next one; some lot that play in Gold and Black I believe.
KRO SOTV
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