It’s great to have Bazza back after the absence of a few games. Kev
First of all Happy New Year to all members of the Bluenose nation and especially to those regular readers of my intrepid tales of following the Blues both near and far. On that subject I wasn’t able to go to the game on Boxing Day, not because I didn’t want to but because of family logistics and the fact that I value the parts of me that mark me out as a male of the species. I confess that I’m not sorry that I wasn’t able to attend since we got a right royal pasting from Derby who according to Chris, who did go, was because we came up against the best side we had played at St Andrews all season and sometimes you just have to accept that the other lot are better than you.
I watched the Forest game with my feet up in front of the telly and like all concerned was delighted with the win and a brace for Clayton Donaldson who was due a deserved goal or two. Believe it or not Will had muted that we might all go up to Blyth for the Cup game and was actively seeking tickets for us but then got flu followed by pneumonia and has been laid up all over Christmas and New Year. Get better soon mate if you are reading this. For obvious reasons Will was not joining me for the trip to Birmingham for our latest match as he’s still pretty poorly. I was on the phone to him this week when my receptionist, Juley came into my office with a welcome cuppa. I explained that Will was under the weather to which she replied, “Tell him if he’s looking for sympathy, he can find it in the dictionary between s**t and syphilis!” 😀 Friends will be friends!!!!!
Saturday was looking unpromising weather wise. It was wet, dank and windy and given that I was heading north, the mild temperature was forecast to drop precipitously. I caught the10.02 train from Blackwater to Reading and my connection to Oxford where I had to change again which was a bit of a bore but nevertheless arrived in good time around 12.25 in Coventry where Gayle, Chris’ wife was waiting to pick me up. It was back to the Royal Oak for a quick pint before picking up Little Jack and hitting the A45 from Baginton to the ground. We had plenty of time to catch a sherbet in the Royal George before getting into the ground where there was an excellent chicken balti with rice and nan bread at ‘The Cookhouse’ for lunch washed down with another sherbet. I was past caring about the cold weather at this stage and my mood was further enhanced by a goal for Blues after 68 seconds from a header from Clayton Donaldson back across a stranded Scott Carson from a right wing cross from David Cotterill.
It was 2-0 on 14 minutes following a sublime bit of skill by Andrew Shinnie on the edge of the box that allowed him to get his shot off against the foot of the post. Johnnie on the spot, Clayton Donaldson was there again to tap in the rebound. In truth the striker could have had four in the first 25 minutes as he found himself free 15 yards out on 8 minutes from a great pass from Jonathan Grounds and had merely to hit the target rather than plant the shot wide and later went round the keeper only to see his shot blocked by a defender on the line. Blues were all over Wigan and should by rights have been out of sight. However, they inexplicably allowed their opponents back into the game. It seemed to coincide with the substitution of Don Cowie by Ben Watson on the half hour for which I can only presume was an injury. It seemed to make a significant difference to the away team who started to play with more purpose and confidence and they deservedly halved the deficit on 36 minutes with a cracking goal into Randolph’s top right hand corner following a mistake from Jonathan Grounds who lost possession and then failed to get tight enough to his man, James McLean having got back goal side.
After the break, Wigan were the better side and frankly played Blues off the park for the first 20 minutes of the half when completely against the run of play Blues regained possession from a Wigan corner and Cotterill delivered a cross. Following a brave challenge by Demarai Gray which resulted in the winger getting a nasty bang on the head for his trouble, Clayton Donaldson applied the vital touch to Gray’s goal bound header for 3-1. After that Blues regained the initiative and control of the game and saw the rest of the time out comfortably and had another couple of opportunities to score which would have made the margin of victory even more emphatic. As it is, it was a good win against a team struggling for form though the middle third of the the game was the sort of period that a few short weeks ago would have seen us go under against this type of opponent. On the positive side, Blues stuck to the task, hung in when we were on the back foot and scored when the general flow of the game was going against us. Well done Birmingham, well done Gary Rowett, you did it again!
The Good: the first 20 minutes were excellent. Blues were all over Wigan like a rash and frankly it should have been 4-0 not just 2-0.
The Bad: Letting Wigan back into the game when they were on the canvas. Their goal, albeit the best of the four, was avoidable.
The Ugly: Liam Ridgewell, returning to St Andrews for the first time since his departure for WBA elbowed David Davies which may explain his substitution at half time. Fortunately for him, the officials missed it.
Birmingham City: Darren Randolph 7, Paul Caddis 7, Michael Morrison 7, Paul Robinson 7, Jonathan Grounds 6, Stephen Gleeson 7, David Davies 7, Andrew Shinnie 8 (Lee Novak 74, 7) Demarai Gray 7 (Wes Thomas 87, N/A) David Cotterill 7, Clayton Donaldson 9.
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, David Edgar, Callum Reilly, Nikola Zigic, Jonathan Spector.
Goals: Donaldson 2,14, 64.
Bookings: None
Wigan Athletic: Scott Carson 7, James Perch 6, Liam Ridgewell 5 (Martyn Waghorn 45, 6) Ivan Ramis (Leon Barnett 66, 6) Rob Kiernan 7, Andrew Taylor 6, Shaun Maloney 7, Chris McCann 6, Adam Forshaw 7, Don Cowie 6 (Ben Watson 31, 8) James McLean 8.
Subs not used: Lee Nicholls, Emmerson Boyce, Sam Cosgrove, Marc-Antoine Fortune.
Goals: McLean 36.
Bookings: McCann
Referee: Mick Russell 7; overall I felt the referee and his assistants had a solid enough game and got most of the decisions correct. They missed the serious incident of the elbow on David Davis by Liam Ridgewell which would undoubtedly have changed the game’s dynamics but no matter, the better team won over the piece.
Attendance: 16,117
Well I am obviously reading this as I have nothing better to do but thanks for the get well soon mention. For the first time in a long time I am really looking forward to the pilgrimage back to St Andrews when my wife will let me as both the football is better and will have been stuck in the house really bored and although I thought I would never get fed up of watching let land Daf and league cup final victories and defeats I must admit I am. KRO
Well you missed a great (eventually) trip to Blyth. It should have been their cup final but it was all an anti-climax for them. Arrived at the ground about 1:30 just as the team were arriving at the ground, it took Rowett about 15 minutes to actually get inside, stopping every few yards for the obligatory selfies.
What a first half, we should have been two nil up, still don’t know why the goal was disallowed and how did Zigic put that chance over the bar! Instead we were 2 – 0 down and it could have been 3 but for a great save by Randolph.
Rowett said he didn’t have to say anything at the break, it must have been the quietest rollicking ever because we never gave them a chance with the 3 goals in 7 minutes, special mention for Novak and Thomas for their pace and determination. The game just meandered along until the final few minutes when Blyth threw everything at an equaliser but again a fine save by Randolph ensured we won.
Fair play to all at Blyth, we were made very welcome and especially to their keeper who took the banter during the 2nd half and gave it back equally!
Hi. You may remember we met on the train on the way back from Ipswich last year. I didn’t think that Grounds was to blame for their goal in my view it was a woefully under hit pass from Robinson which let McLean get goal side of Grounds. Anyway good day at the office again, long may it continue.
First of all id like to say a huge thank you to Eze Group and everybody connected with Birmingham City for a great day out against Wigan. I nominated Homestart Northfield as a great charity to Eze group and pleased to say we were given 20 match tickets for all our hardworking volunteers. As far as the game was concerned I very much enjoyed the game and for about 20 minutes into the second half was a little concerned as Wigan controlled the game. It was until we got our third goal that normal service was resumed.
I feel so proud that despite all the turmoil over ownership issues and lack of funding that the Eze Group and Birmingham City are united in giving something back to the community. It is a huge boost to Homestart because not only of the recognition of hard working staff and volunteers but also helps to raise the profile of the charity. I only hope that the partnership between Eze Group and Birmingham City continues for many years to come.
Happy New Year southerners. I’m in Bexhill and the Blyth match would have been an even 800 miles round trip. By road or Bus it became a three day trip while the train got me to the game via Newcastle but the last train back was 17.37 and I would have missed most of the 2nd half to catch that.
Yesterday wonderful SE Trains and the not so good Virgin got me to and from St Andrews perfectly and coupled with a great result it was a perfect day. It was 13 months of travelling from here before I witnessed a home win. Now I travel not in hope but expectation
good stuff
Great read as ever Bazza. Get well soon Will,
@PaulUnderwood – it was Doyle 🙂 Rowett rang the changes, and only Morrison kept his spot that match 🙂 Randolph will be pleased with your praise though 😉
@A Hawkins – your praise isn’t isolated. Birmingham’s staff and those of well-chosen sponsors have been responsible for Birmingham’s name being held in high esteem across the city and beyond.
@Alan Watton – a 13 months journey isn’t a good advert for Virgin trains 😉