EZE Group, the major sponsor of the club this year, had kindly invited representatives of the various forums and blogs to this game and Kev had told me a little while back that he would be unable to go and asked if I would on behalf of Joys & Sorrows. I have a medical colleague who lives and works in Birmingham who is also an avid bluenose and season ticket holder and so I asked him along as we had been allocated two tickets. I traveled up from my local; train station via Reading to New Street arriving just after quarter past eleven. This gave us time for a leisurely walk down through Digbeth by which time we were ready for a pint. Andy and I are not ones to do things by halves and so another two or three followed whilst we stood outside in the sunshine. We arrived at the ground and entered the International Suite at 1 pm where all the other guests were assembled. The following two course menu followed:
Roast Root Vegetable Broth, pan-fried Pearl Barley
Poached Chicken, Parsley and gratinated Welsh Rarebit
~~oo~~
Free-range Chicken breast, Asparagus and Lovage mousse
puff-pastry croute, Curly Kale Potatoes, Palloise sauce
Sweet Potato fondant, meli-melo of spiced Mushrooms
Mediterranean Vegetable Studel, Cilantro dressing (V)
Very nice it was too and after another couple of drinks we took up our seats in the Directors Box. I declined the offer of the Executive Suite which I had procured in the raffle just before the game as I felt it would have been impolite to leave Andy as my guest outside; besides it was a beautiful summer afternoon and I think I preferred the fresh air anyway.
Jack Butland, bedecked all in yellow started his first senior game for Blues. Stephen Carr, Pablo Ibanez, Steven Caldwell and Mitch Hancox made up the back four. Nikola Zigic led the line with Wade Elliott in close support just behind him. Adam Rooney played in a wide role on the right with Peter Lovenkrands operating on the left. Magaro Gomis acted as the holding midfield player allowing the impressive debutant Ravel Morrison to roam centrally.
The game got off to a worrying start when after only four minutes, Stephen Carr went off with what Lee Clark said afterwards was “a little niggle in his thigh” as he crossed the ball. It sounds as if the change was more precautionary than necessary but obviously prudent with competitive action only a few days away. Will Packwood came on in his stead and I felt had a solid game deputising for the captain. Blues started brightly with neat, crisp passing on an immaculate looking St Andrews surface. Blues could have been ahead after just over 10 minutes after a lovely passing move set up Lovenkrands for a shot on the left side of the area but Bjorn Sengier, Antwerp’s goalkeeper saved well.
At the other end, Butland had to be alert to tip Nicky Hayen’s header over the bar and Blues were fortunate that Will Packwood’s courage in throwing himself in front of Omar Bennassar’s fierce close-range shot did not test the young keeper further. Blues were profligate with the chances they were creating and Elliott with a shot and Zigic with a header both missed when they should perhaps have done better. Antwerp actually had the ball in the net with an excellent header across Butland into the bottom corner of the Tilton net by the quick, mobile and clever Freddy Mombongo-Dues. Unfortunately for the Congolese forward he was offside and Blues had received a let off.
It was about this point that the beer was hitting my bladder hard and it was clear that half-time was too far away. I nipped out for my necessary comfort break and of course the inevitable happened. There was a loud cheer just as I was on my way back and Blues were one up. Apparently, Rooney delivered an excellent whipped cross from the right and Morrison met it with a diving header into the bottom corner.
Blues were caught sleeping three minutes later when Mady Panandetiguiri got in down their right far too easily and crossed from an acute angle. Butland on the near post had to either catch it or get it off the field for a corner. He did neither; he took all the pace off the ball but allowed it to plop behind him and Bennassar had the simple job of tapping the ball into the net from less than a foot out. This has to go down as young Jack Butland’s error I’m afraid and he must do better in the games to come. Sure, he is an immense talent and that became obvious during the Olympic campaign but he will make mistakes such as the one yesterday and the shot he failed to parry against South Korea for Team GB. We have to hope that they are infrequent and less costly.
The noisy away support who were superb all afternoon and frankly out sang and out chanted what little home support there was and they were in raptures five minutes before the break after Pablo Ibanez leaned towards a ball in an attempt to chest it to safety but clearly used his arm instead and Mike Oliver, the referee had no choice but to award a penalty. Mombongo-Dues deposited the kick into the top corner giving Butland no chance. Worse was to follow just four minutes into the second half when Antwerp were awarded another penalty. Once again it was a stonewall decision as young Mitch Hancox slid in on Bennassar and sent him clattering to the ground as the forward shaped to shoot. Mombongo-Dues placed his kick this time fairly centrally as Butland dived to his right. This is an area he could improve on; to my mind Butland has a tendency to go early and it gives the kick taker an easy option. Doyle by contrast does stay upright until the very last and it makes the taker of the kick make the decision. It is only an observation made from yesterday and the penalty shoot out against Korea but no doubt his coach will address this if my perception is considered correct.
Despite the 3 – 1 deficit, Blues were playing well and were still creating chances. Elliott missed a free header from Adam Rooney’s cross. The latter was unlucky not to score when he connected to substitute Nathan Redmond’s cross only to see his header turned over the bar by Sengler. Zigic and Elliott were agonising close to a fast cross through the corridor of uncertainty and any kind of connection would surely have registered Blues’ second goal of the game. Rooney found himself clean through a few minutes later but his attempted chip over the keeper drifted wide of the far post. This was a pity as he deserved a goal after a fine performance all afternoon. Playing like he did yesterday augers well for the season despite the missed chances; you have to be in position to miss them after all.
Overall, there is no need to be too concerned or despondent by this result. Blues played well in large patches of this game and were undone by a goalkeeping error and two penalty kicks. I was pleased with the performances of Ravel Morrison who looks a very good player, Will Packwood was solid throughout Peter Lovenkrands and Nathan Redmond impressed for the time they were on the pitch but the stand out player for me was Adam Rooney who should have had at least one goal if not two. Blues created enough chances to have won this game despite the defensive errors and with more clinical finishing an exciting and successful season lies ahead. The team will look different on Tuesday against Barnet, I have no doubt.
The Good: The hospitality shown by EZE Group. The Belgian fans; they made a hell of a racket despite there only being 838 of them. A fine turn out for a friendly in contrast to the home support which was disappointing.
The Bad: The loss of Stephen Carr early on; let’s hope it isn’t serious. The profligate finishing by Blues.
The Ugly: My hangover this morning!!
Birmingham City: Jack Butland 5; Stephen Carr N/A (Will Packwood 5; 7), Pablo Ibanez 6, Steven Caldwell 6 (Curtis Davies 45; 6), Mitch Hancox 6; Wade Elliott 6, Morgaro Gomis 6 (Hayden Mullins 74, 6), Ravel Morrison 8; Peter Lovenkrands 7 (Nathan Redmond 55, 7), Nikola Zigic 6, Adam Rooney 8.
Goal: Morrison (24)
Antwerp: Bjorn Semgier 7, Nicky Hayen 7, Justice Wamfor 6, Karel De Smet 6, Bruno Carvalho 6 (Prince Bobby 61, 6), Sebastjan Komel 6 (Lee Colin 67, 7), Mady Panandetiguiri 7, John Vermeulen 6, Freddy Mombongo-Dues 8 (Oumar Diouck 83, N/A), Omar Bennassar 8 (Honour Gombami 84, N/A), Dieter Van Turnhout 7 (Kevin Roelandts 69, 6).
Goals: Bennassar (27), Mombongo-Dues (pens 40, 49)
Referee: Michael Oliver 8
Attendance: 5,408 (838 away fans)
Very good.
Good to have you back mate!!
Thank you my friend! 🙂
Rooney “a fine performance”? I must have been at a different game. Having seen him since last season, I don’t think will ever be a goalscorer, but I will concede that he tries hard. I think Hancox would be a better player at left-sided midfield; he is too vulnerable as a full-back. Butland worries me if we are considering him as no.1. He makes vital mistakes & we won’t be able to afford those if we are to do well.
Yes AR, I’ve seen a number of negative comments about Adam Rooney’s performance which I feel are unfair and before people jump on the bandwagon here, he was playing in an unfamiliar role wide in a 4-3-3 and Wade Elliott was the main man behind Zigic. Rooney supplied the cross for the goal which I understand was a peach and he also placed another on Elliott’s head that the latter should have scored with. Rooney’s work rate was good throughout and OK he did miss the one on one with the keeper in the second half but as I alluded to in my article, you have to get in position to miss the chance and if he wasn’t involved in opportunities I’d be more concerned. Rooney has his detractors and nothing I or anyone else says will change that. I think Rooney will contribute far more this year than last when he was still finding his way in the English game. Cut the guy some slack and give him a chance. Players need to know they have the backing of the fans and they can then perform at their best. You may disagree with me but I genuinely felt that he had a decent game and there were members of the local press that agreed. I just give my opinion as I see it; if you feel differently write an article yourself. I’m certain Kev would be happy to post it.