Bazza is back with his VFTS, this time about as south as you can get!
“It’s a funny old game.” Jimmy Greaves used to say that on Saturday lunchtimes when he hosted the Saints and Greavsie football preview show on telly years ago with another ex-legend, Ian St John. Jimmy’s famous quote is as applicable today as it was then since how can you explain how a Birmingham side that were so abjectly awful just a short week ago could go away to the League leaders so full of confidence, flair, energy and running and seemingly sweeping all before them and win!
No one, least of all me expected anything but a comfortable defeat and I’d predicted 3-1 or 2-0 at least and if we had played anything like we did last week much worse. I picked up a work colleague and fellow bluenose, Matt at Witley train station on the way through to Will’s place on the Surrey/Sussex border. We set off at about 3 pm when civilised folks are just settling down to watch their respective teams play but Saturday was going to be a busy one for the new students at Brighton University apparently and so the kick off had been moved but at least we weren’t to appear on SKY TV and thus be jinxed as we always seem to be whenever we are brought to the fore. At least out prospective humiliation could take place without the nation watching.
We had the weird experience of having to drive past the ground enduring busy traffic as we did so before proceeding several miles out to Brighton Racecourse to pick up a park and ride. We arrived back at the ground just before 4.45 pm and in time therefore for a pie and a pint. What’s this? A pie, well baked with a decent filling in it! A burger for Will that quite clearly contained meat that was recognisable as having started out as coming from a farm animal whose provenance was not in question and to cap it all, a decent pint of Harvey’s, a Sussex brew well worth the money and delivered out of pipes that are obviously well maintained. What with warm water to wash your hands with in the gents and hand driers that worked it was all too good to be true; a far cry from Stans this!
The AMEX Stadium is a modern, purpose ground with excellent views all the way around and I can see why the home fans are upbeat and happy with life. It helps that they have owners, manager and players who are pointing them in the right direction. As I say, I was expecting nothing but another win for the locals to celebrate. Will was a little more optimistic and called a draw and Matt felt we would play better but still come out losing by the odd goal. None of us picked the win.
Butland was in goal, Will Packwood came in a right back, Paul Robinson at left with Cauldwell and the restored Curtis Davies in the centre of defence. Lita ploughed a lone furrow up front with Burke, Fahey, Elliot, Spector and Lovenkrands forming a five man midfield. Well what went right this week that went so catastrophically bad last? Blues worked harder for a start off, they defended from the front and as a unit. We made it difficult for Brighton to pass the ball forward into their midfield and although Brighton played it out wide and were attractive on the eye, we made them turn and play backwards or square often enough to nullify any penetration they may have wished for from Dobbie starting in place of the injured Craig Mackail-Smith. Buckley gave Packwood a torrid time but the youngster stuck at his task and didn’t buckle under the pressure.
The other Blues players reacted to any danger when it presented itself and the ball was dispatched from the pitch at the first whiff of trouble meaning that although Brighton enjoyed a lot of possession and endless streams of throw-ins and corners, particularly second half, they couldn’t get through us. Sure, there were one or two moments when the ball flashed across our penalty area from raids down our flanks but they were too few and lacked accuracy to trouble Butland in our goal. The young keeper held everything required and made important saves without ever being fully extended. Blues scurried around and tackled, tracked runs, stopped crosses coming in, blocked shots and did all the basic things well. In conclusion that was the reason for the stark difference between the Barnsley game and this one; basics.
Defend properly and keep a clean sheet and you always have a chance of winning any game since it isn’t rocket science you only have to score one goal and what a goal it was after 27 minutes. A headed clearance from Gordon Greer was picked up by Chris Burke 25 yards out. The ball sat up invitingly and the winger crashed the ball past Tomasz Kuszczak who despite getting a faint touch on the ball could not prevent its path into the roof of the net. The assembled Blues fans went wild including us. A mate of mine sent me this picture which shows yours truly bang in the middle with Will on the left of the picture and Matt on the right!
The link for the original photo is here: BCFC.COM
Blues could have been 2-0 very soon after when a lovely through pass by Burke to Lita put the loanee forward clean through. A clean strike would surely have made it two but he scuffed the shot and Kuszczak gratefully saved easily. These were the best two chances of the game. After that it was huff and puff from Brighton without real threat. I remember one glancing header in the second half that went narrowly by Butland’s far post but the truncated perspective that we had from the other end of the pitch made this difficult to judge as was any judgement of their individual players so this week I will not attempt to score their performances although Buckley and Bridge stood out as their best performers and as a team I thought Brighton looked a decent outfit and didn’t play badly in my view. This makes Blues performance over the piece a good one particularly defensively where the team were excellent and about time to. Playing like this we can climb to a level in the league more in keeping with most people’s expectations at the beginning of the campaign but the hard work and commitment has to be maintained; Cardiff on Tuesday will be an equally tough assignment.
The Good: The goal; fantastic strike and virtually past the keeper before he could get across enough to block.
The Bad: There wasn’t any in my view but the even better was the standard of catering and facilities at the AMEX. Well done Brighton; there’s more to getting crowds of 26,000 plus every week than just the football; Blues, take note!
The Ugly: The prospect that we faced at half-time when the floodlights failed. After a delay of 15 minutes extra half-time break, a whip round was organised, the electric bill paid and the game was back on. 😀
Brighton: Tomasz Kuszczak, Gordon Greer (C), Dean Hammond, Adam El-Abd (David Lopez 61), Ashley Barnes, Stephen Dobbie, Inigo Calderon, Gary Dicker, Liam Bridcutt, Wayne Bridge, Will Buckley (Kazenga LuaLua 72). Subs not use: Lewis Dunk, Casper Ankergren, Ryan Harley, Marcos Painter, Torbjorn Agdestein.
Goals: None
Booked: Greer
Birmingham City: Jack Butland 7, Jonathan Spector 7, Steven Caldwell 7, Curtis Davies 8, Paul Robinson 7, Chris Burke 7, Will Packwood 7 (Hayden Mullins 81, N/A), Wade Elliott 6, Keith Fahey 7, Peter Lovenkrands 6 (Nathan Redmond 69, 7), Leroy Lita 7 (Marlon King 88, N/A).
Goal: Burke 27 minutes
Booked: Elliott
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Darren Ambrose, Nikola Zigic, Mitch Hancox
Referee: Oliver Langford: 8 The Brighton fans will undoubtedly disagree but I felt the officials remained strong throughout and didn’t give in to desperate appeals for free kicks and penalties from Brighton and antics from our lot either. He allowed the game to flow and got the big calls right. Bazza
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