It’s Good Friday already and time certainly does seem to go faster as you get older. My old Dad once chided me for wishing I was older as a kid. “Never wish your life away son, it’ll pass you by soon enough!” How right he was. Easter brings with it the final run in of the season and those involved in promotion or relegation scraps it is a vitally important time. Our opponents today have just been plunged into one with a six-points deduction this week for financial irregularities. I wasn’t particularly happy about it, not only because I don’t want fellow fans dealt a bad hand but there is the little matter that if teams get a setback like this it can galvanise a squad as well as be a blow to morale and typically it always seems to be us that has to put that theory to the test. Whilst recent developments have rendered us relatively safe, I wouldn’t mind another win to add momentum to our season’s finish but also take us over the magic 50 points to be absolutely secure.
It was a bright sunny morning in Blackwater and Mrs Bazza found a couple of simple DIY jobs for me to do which took all of half an hour. Cutting some shelving to fit in our new kitchen cupboards. One or two chores followed and it was soon time to make for the station. Reading is the closest League club to me and after the 23 minutes journey from Blackwater, arriving at about 13.30 there was time for a quick pint in The Three Guineas. I was Billy No Mates again this week. Will is moving house and Chris, little Jack and little Seb are all in France still. Poor excuses if you ask me but there you go!
Whilst enjoying a pint in the Three Guineas, I met four fellow Blues fans in the form of Craig, his son Tom and Tom’s mate, Morgan, accompanied by his little 12-years-old brother Beau. Tom was sporting the iconic red top worn by the legendary Kevin Phillips when he slotted the winning goal at the Madjeski the year we got promotion on the very last day of the season. I remember it well despite the fact that nearly all the assembled company from Birmingham were viewing the match through a beery haze. That was a great day and Tom was clearly hoping that the wearing of the top would bring us luck. Craig mentioned the great Barry Bridges from the late sixties and wanted to know if I was present when he scored the overhead kick against Arsenal in the Cup. I was indeed and remember it as clear as day; it is simply the greatest goal I have ever seen before or since and something I will never forget. I have many great memories of following the Blues (a few not so great also!) and many were discussed over a couple of scoops. It was soon time to get up to the ground and with five of us we decided to pile into a taxi rather than struggle onto the bus.
A quick visit to the little boys’ room and it was off to my seat high up in the stand. I am bound to say I had the most glorious view of the pitch from where I was on a lovely spring afternoon. A picture of my vista is shown. The game started at the appointed hour of three o’clock (which seemed very strange being a Friday) and Blues got off to a bright start and looked to take control of the game early on. That was of course until a poor piece of defensive tracking. In fairness the move from Reading down their left came to Cesare Casadei who gave Colin the eyes and slipped a pass to Lucas Joao whose accomplished back heel to Andy Carroll standing in splendid isolation about fifteen yards out. The ex-England man made no mistake with a beautiful finish, curling the ball round Ruddy into the far top corner giving the Blues skipper no chance. This was Reading’s one and only attempt in the whole of the first half and after 7 minutes they were ahead.
Blues were rattled by the early set back and tried to make amends quickly but only succeeded in trying to force the play with ambitious cross field passes that only made for easy defending and loss of possession. However after the first 20 minutes Blues started to settle down and the midfield started to play simpler shorter passes with consequently better results. The pace of Hall, Chong and Khadra was beginning to trouble the hosts and with excellent hold up play from Lukas Jutkiewicz bringing his supporting players into the game Birmingham began to take control. The play from Blues was a lot better and a well worked flowing move of at least a dozen passes ended with Reda Khadra pinging a fast, flat, pinpoint cross from the left onto the head of Lukas Jutkiewicz whose header from ten yards gave Joe Lumley in the Reading goal no chance on 29 minutes. Blues probed and prodded at the Reading rearguard but the home side showed stubborn resilience and the sides went to the break all square.
The second half was largely dominated by us and I feel that we could and should have won this game. We had two glorious chances from a similar position to where Andy Carroll scored but instead of shooting, our players elected to square the ball to team mates which is fine as long as the passes are accurate which of course they weren’t! In fairness Birmingham did go for it but as the game got into the last ten minutes, it petered out and it became obvious that both sets of players settled for a draw. Frankly, Reading are a poor side, lacking in confidence and I look upon this as an opportunity missed to secure three points. As it is, it’s onto to Stoke City at St Andrew’s on Easter Monday.
On that note may I wish bluenoses everywhere a happy and peaceful Easter.
The Good: Meeting new friends, Craig, Tom, Morgan and Beau. The excellent view of the game.
The Bad: The ball watching and lack of tracking for Reading’s goal. You cannot allow quality players like Andy Carroll time and space in your penalty area to pick a spot and shoot; there will only be one outcome.
The Ugly: Reading’s prospects going forward. They have dropped into the bottom three despite their point and I fear their six points deduction may cost them.
Reading: Joe Lumley 7, Andy Yiadom 6, Amadou Mbengue 7 (Kelvin Arbefa 90+3, N/A) Tom Holmes 6, Naby Sarr 6, Jeff Hendrick 6, Cesare Casadei 6, Tyrese Fornah 6 (Femi Azeez 70, 5) Yakou Meite 7 (Nesta Guinness-Walker 82, N/A) Andy Carroll 7, Lucas Joao 7. Not used: Bouzanis, Dann, Ehibhatiomhan. Craig.
Subs not used: Dean Bouzanis, Scott Dann, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Michael Craig.
Goals: Carroll 8.
Yellow cards: Fornah 68.
Birmingham City: John Ruddy 7, Maxime Colin 6, Marc Roberts 6, Kevin Long 7, Auston Trusty 6, Tahith Chong 5 (Jobe Bellingham 93, N/A) Krystian Bielik 6, Alfie Chang 6, (Jordan James 93, N/A) Reda Khadra 7 (Jobe Bellingham 69, 6) Lukas Jutkiewicz 8 (Scott Hogan 69, 5) George Hall 6 (Hannibal Mjebri 70, 5)
Subs not used: Neil Etheridge, Harley Dean, Juninho Bacuna, Jordan James.
Goals: Jutkiewicz 29.
Yellow cards: Bielik 72.
Referee: Scott Oldham 6 (Jeremy Simpson 77, 6) We had the unusual situation where the referee had to be substituted. Chants of “you’re not fit to referee!” were witty and ironic as Mr Oldham clearly had a muscular issue. However, I thought both officials refereed the game competently and I can’t think of any particularly contentious points. Tom Holmes was all over Lukas Jutkiewicz and could have been sanctioned more as a result but apart from that Jukey still gave a man of the match performance.
Attendance: 16,084 (1,946 bluenoses)
KRO Bazza
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