View from the West – Birmingham City vs MK Dons

Adrian, (D’oh! from the forum), has kindly put together a match report in the absence of Bazza.

As Bazza was unable to make the mid-week game against MK Dons, I thought I’d offer an alternative slant on the evening.

I don’t get to games as often as I would like – it’s an eighty mile round trip and there are usually 4 of us, although tonight Heather was washng her hair or moping about The Latest being away for the week. Anyway, it was an ideal opprtunity for the boys and I to bond over a match, albeit not Man U or Chelsea.

After a rushed tea. we hit the road about 6.30 along the M54, which, for those that don’t know joins the M6 car park after a big sweeping right hand bend during which you have ample time to contemplate what is ‘just around the corner’. Usually a massive traffic jam, but tonight, thankfully it was moving well. We made good time and parked where I’ve parked for the last 40 years, by the Depot in Montague Street where Dad worked forever. No. 2 son brought up the fact that last time we parked there, we were late and I dumped the car on double-yellows. You can guess the rest of that £195 story……

On the walk up to the ground it was clear that numbers were down on usual, but that was to be expected and anyway, I hadn’t got tickets so we were cash-on-the-nighters and there would obviously be a big queue. It wasn’t that bad however, and the boys were thrilled that we ended up in Row 2 of Block 32 where they could see the whites of Beausejour’s eyes, but more of that later.

The team came up on the big screen and my initial impression was that it was good that we were going to see all the new signings. Only disappointment was for no.2 son in that Jerome (who I suspect is the only player he knows – I must do some more indoctrination) was not starting. I had to laugh at the girlie screams all around us when Nathan Redmond’s name was announced as a sub, and I said to the boys that there may be a good chance of seeing him, especially as there was quite a large piece about him in the programme which I had been cajoled into parting with yet another £1 for!

Anyway, the game kicked off and for the first 20 minutes or so was fairly uneventful. I was a bit distracted by the fact that the big screen was on and showing the game – I didn’t think that happened – so it took me a while to focus on the live action rather than that, although it was usful for getting a better perspective of the action at the Tilton Road end – the end MK Dons were attacking, and to be fair, there was just as much action at that end. During this time, the only memorable events were that we noticed Beausejour had on some lovely orange boots, Zigic got the ball stuck under his feet when he had a good opportunity to get a shot away, and that Michel went off injured to be replaced by Gardner. I didn’t see what happened but the decision to replace him was made straight away, so it may be terminal. He didn’t do much of note while he was on, but then again, nobody had.

Then, on 24 mins, the ball found it’s way, for maybe the first time of the night, to old orange-boots himself out wide on the left. He beat his man, cut inside and rather than shoot he laid the ball across to Hleb who tucked it away very neatly from the edge of the area. Cue relief all round. We had hardly had time to find our seats after the wild celebrations of the massive throng of just over 9000 baying fans (!) before another delightful dink to the back post from my new favouritist player ever allowed Zigic to break his duck. His personal relief was palpable, and to be fair to the crowd, they joined in with his celebrations. I hope that is the catalyst to greater things from Mr Tall.

This was rapidly followed by a 25-yard screamer from Gardner which effectively killed the game as a contest. If I was allowed, I’d have felt a little bit sorry for MK Dons at this point as they didn’t really deserve to be down and out at this point. The gulf in class had shown itself for exactly 6 minutes, and that was that.  The only major talking point of the rest of the half was a text from home telling me that the back drains were overflowing, there was sewage all over the patio, and what did I intend doing about it?  Sometimes, you really wonder about the Venus/Mars thing, but the final text from my lovely wife in the heated exchange read “why me?”. I responded “Because you’re worth it” and left it at that. Some nice tippy-tappy stuff, unfortunately from MK Dons rather than Blues, saw the rest of the first half out.

I’m struggling to recall anything of note in the second half, Blues were always in control for the most part, but that is not to decry the efforts of our opposition in any way. They were neat and tidy and played some very nice stuff without ever really threatening. That said, they did of course score one – IMO Johnson should have cleared, and they forced Maik into one full-length save which looked good on the big screen.

Beausejour was replaced by Valles after about 60 mins, shame really as we were going to vote for him as MOTM. Then, in a completely bizarre twist, Phillips came on for Hleb. I really don’t understand McLeish’s thinking here…..either bring on Redmond for Hleb and give the lad another taste of the action – if not when we are 3-0 up, when? – or take Zigic or Derbyshire off for Phillips.

Zigic and Phillips both missed good chances but they really didn’t matter, and the main thing for me was that no. 2 son had managed to stay awake throughout a night game for the first time, having been so entertained the last time I ventured to bring him to Stan’s – the 2 -0 defeat of Torquay a few years ago – that he slept through both goals.

To sum up before you all do likewise – a good professional if unremarkable performance. Some definite positives: very good showing from Beausejour; Jarinek looks competent and able to read a game; Hleb will decide the course of our season single-handedly, and Zigic needs to develop a backbone. Everybody else gets maybe a 7/10, except, surprisingly, Johnson who was very average at best. I really hope he’s not starting to believe his own press!!

All this, and the car was still where I’d left it!