View from the South –Chelsea vs Birmingham City

It’s a strange thing that Will and I were prepared to travel all the way up to Sheffield in the last round of the Cup to watch the game first hand but decided that the much shorter trip to Stamford Bridge was a bridge too far and that we would play golf instead. So it was that we met up with Chubbs and Stuart, another couple of mates of ours for a round at Chiddingfold Golf Club at just after eight o’clock. Rain was expected later so we knew we had to get a move on and get round if we didn’t want to get wet and of course we wanted to get down the road to Will’s local village club where the match was being shown on the telly.

Will had called in on the way to a local café that produces egg, sausage and bacon baps to die for and not only that the eggs are runny. Now I don’t know about you, but I love a runny egg in my sandwich and tucked in with gusto. Our tee off time was 08.10 and we had to get a shift on so breakfast had to be devoured rather quicker than I would have ideally liked. As I crammed that last of my meal into my mouth I stood on the tee addressing the ball just at the moment when half of my sandwich disappeared down my trachea. Coughing and spluttering and moving away from my ball, sympathy was of course non-existent and much mirth, guffawing and laughter greeted this development along with an increase in the amount of background piss taking. Recovering my composure I did manage to hit a reasonably straight drive down the first fairway and we were off down the course. My breakfast sat there like a rock for the first hour or so but gradually the discomfort abated and an enjoyable game was had by all and we were blessed with the rain holding off until we had finished. Will, Stuart and I went off down to Northchapel village club to watch the game.

It appeared that we had a number of the reserves in for the game up against a strong Chelsea line up and to be honest we didn’t have any great expectations for this game and just looked to enjoy the game, have a bit of fun and just hope we gave a decent account of ourselves. Doyle was between the sticks with Carr, Davies, Ibanez and Murphy forming the back line. Elliott occupied the problem left sided area with Gomis, Fahey and Mutch in central midfield with Nathan Redmond out wide completing a five man midfield. Adam Rooney was to plough a lone furrow up front and overall as things turned out he did an admirable job giving Luiz and Cahill a fair bit to think about.

Blues, playing in yellow, made a good start but had to cope with the loss of Stephen Carr who limped off with an ankle injury following a heavy challenge after only 12 minutes. Spector came on in his stead but it didn’t disturb Blues any as they kept Chelsea quiet and threatened twice from corners. The first time, the hosts were lucky that a rebound off Carr who was still on the pitch at that stage went just wide of the post but on the second occasion they paid for sloppy defending. Jordon Mutch swung over the flag kick from the left and a headed flick on cleared the static Chelsea defenders. Curtis Davies was clearly impeded as he tried to apply the final touch and Adam Rooney had an air shot as the ball eventually reached Murphy at the far post. A volley off the side of his left foot past a despairing Cech was dispatched crisply into the back of the net.

Will and I were up and leaping about to the chagrin of the assembled Chelsea fans who had also gathered in the club for the game. Some were churlishly saying that we should enjoy our moment because normal service would soon be resumed and it has to be said they appeared correct when Chelsea were awarded a penalty within a couple of minutes. Ramires burst into the area and Wade Elliott stuck out his foot to tackle. The contact was minimal but definite and down Ramires went. It was the correct decision but I have seen these denied by a number of referees this season on the grounds that Ramires made a meal of it. However, I’ve no complaints but there was no chance we were going to be lucky since the referee was Martin Atkinson after all; he invariably awards a spot kick against us doesn’t he? Remember that travesty of a decision last year at the Emirates when Chamakh went down in about four instalments and the time he gave the one at four sheds for a perfectly timed tackle on Agbonlahor by Scott Dann to cost us the game on both occasions?

Mata stepped up and placed the ball to Colin Doyle’s right but the keeper pulled off an absolutely superb save and tipped it onto the post and out. Will and I were up and cheering again and continued to bait the Chelsea fans behind us. We joined in with the 3,000 Blues fans who could be heard loud and clear singing “you’re getting sacked in the morning” and choruses of “who are ya?” and we even managed “I hate Villa more than yow” between the two of us! 😀

Whatever happened from here on in we were determined to have a shed load of fun and we honestly didn’t much mind the final result because as far as we were concerned we’d won already and were showing up our illustrious opponents who cost about £200 million with a team costing barely £6 million. Doyle continued to excel as he put David Luiz’s free-kick over the crossbar. Sturridge went close with a spectacular volley but the half drew to a close with an excellent defensive performance.

Fernando Torres who had looked anything but a £50 million striker was replaced by Didier Drogba. Chelsea were clearly rattled and the intent seemed to be to try battering ram rather than finesse. Whilst Chelsea improved (they had to after the dross they dished up in the first half) they hardly pulled up any trees and so they then introduced Salomon Kalou for the ineffective Mikel as Chelsea desperately tried to find a way back. Blues threatened a second as from another corner Redmond was found in similar fashion to the first goal at Sheffield United. Unfortunately, on this occasion the youngster fired over.

Blues continued to look comfortable and good value for their lead. However, in the 62nd minute, Chelsea drew level through a wonderful header by Sturridge. Blues were undone by the one piece of class exhibited by Chelsea all afternoon. Branislav Ivanovic’s who was to my mind arguably Chelsea’s best player on the day, delivered a peach of a cross from the right. Sturridge’s header was sublime and delivered just inside Doyle’s right hand post. Sometimes you just cannot legislate for quality like this and Chelsea’ blushes were spared.

The home side went for the kill but Blues are nothing if they are not resilient and rode the storm despite Mata, Drogba, Malouda and Sturridge all getting forward in search of a winner which they hardly merited. Redmond could easily have won it for Blues three minutes from time when he got clear in the inside-left channel. The 17 year-old had three choices; hit it first time with his left foot before Cech could get set, cross it square for substitute Jake Jervis who would have had a tap in or turn in side and try and curl it round Cech with his stronger right foot. He chose the latter and Petr Cech made an easy save. Nathan Redmond has the potential to be every bit as good as the legendary Trevor Francis but his decision making in these instances has to improve as does his left foot work. You cannot become truly top class if you are not proficient with both feet and work is required on the training pitch in this area. The opportunity to beat Chelsea on their own ground was right there and I believe with the square ball, Jervis would have been the hero this morning.

Nevertheless, Blues achieved a magnificent result with a patched up side and no one could have argued if they had indeed won. A replay was the very least that Birmingham deserved and it was fitting that Lampard and Drogba, so deadly from free-kicks just outside the box wasted such an opportunity in the final minute of the game. It would have been daylight robbery had they scored and Chelsea and their manager Andre Villas Boaz can be count themselves fortunate that they have a second opportunity on March 6 at St Andrews. Despite their poor performance, they have to still be considered favourites to eventually progress but who knows this season has so many parallels with the 1968 season when a Fred Pickering header won the game for Blues against a better Chelsea side than the one on show yesterday in a quarter final tie at St Andrews and we beat Arsenal in the fifth round after a replay that year!

Whatever happens in the replay, Will and I were proud Brummies yesterday and in a one off game the lads have a chance. Looking forwards to the draw! 😀

The Good: The egg, bacon and sausage bap.

The Bad: The indigestion I got from devouring it too quickly.

The Ugly: The looks on the faces of the Chelsea fans that far outnumbered us in the Northchapel village club in West Sussex. 😛

Chelsea: Petr Cech (C) 6, Branislav Ivanovic 8, Gary Cahill 5, David Luiz 6, Ryan Bertrand 6, Ramires 6, John Obi Mikel 4, (Salomon Kalou 57, 5), Raul Meireles 5, Daniel Sturridge 7, Fernando Torres 4 (Didier Drogba 46, 5), Juan Mata 5 (Frank Lampard 83, N/A).

Subs (unused): Henrique Hilario, Jose Boswinga, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda.

Goals: Sturridge (62) Bookings: Cahill (55), Luiz (90+2)

Birmingham City: Colin Doyle 8, Stephen Carr (C) N/A (Jonathan Spector 13, 6), Curtis Davies 8, Pablo Ibanez 8, David Murphy 7, Nathan Redmond 6, Jordon Mutch 7, Keith Fahey 7, Morgaro Gomis 7, Wade Elliott 6 (Chris Burke 83, N/A), Adam Rooney 7 (Jake Jervis 71, 6).

Subs (unused): Jack Butland, Steven Caldwell, Callum Reilly, Akwasi Asante.

Goals: Murphy (20) Bookings: Mutch (34)

Referee: Martin Atkinson: 6 The temptation is to give this official 3/10 purely because he is Martin Atkinson but in all seriousness he was at the top of his game yesterday and came up to average.

Attendance: 36, 870 (approximately 3,000 Blues fans – who were truly magnificent! They could be heard loud and clear all game.)

Bazza KRO

KRO SOTV