At least Saturday morning opened up to a bright and beautiful spring day with welcome sunshine and the promise of fresh buds on shrubs that were awakening from their slumber. There is something about the appearance of the sun in a clear blue sky that lifts the spirits and fuels optimism for the hours ahead. This feeling is sorely needed after the disaster of result at Millwall and the abject performance at home against Middlesbrough on Tuesday. I spoke to Chris after the game and he was sounding as down as I’ve ever heard him. He was in the depths of despair and convinced that we are going down to League One. The reality is there are 27 points to be contested and we need eleven or twelve. The maddening thing is that most of us believe that we have a better squad this season than we have had for a while but we find ourselves in the mediocre position we have had to endure for most seasons since our relegation from the Premier League in 2011. We have to accept that we have not been good enough, consistent enough and resilient enough this season but I believe we should have enough to dig ourselves out of the hole we have dug for ourselves. We do not have to jump into said hole and we certainly don’t need to cover ourselves over with the soil.
Some people have been speculating that the owners should get an interim manager in until Tony Mowbray is well enough to return. Neil Warnock, Big Sam, Gary Rowett and Roy Hodgson have been suggested. There is no doubt that Blues can play so much better than they showed on Tuesday as they demonstrated at Ipswich and at home to Southampton and the suggestion is that with proper, experienced, galvanising leadership that potential could be unleashed. It is clear that Mark Venus is struggling to fulfil that role. The alternative is to look to the dressing room itself for leaders. Captain Dion Sanderson and John Ruddy are obvious candidates to provide the necessary inspirational leadership for the younger players. Whatever your opinion on the matter, as far as the players are concerned, the time for action is now! This is no time for self pity and bemoaning poor refereeing decisions and heaven knows we have had more than our fair share of late which have cost us dearly. Come on Blues; get the damn points!
It was a red letter day in one respect; the trains were running! Let’s hear it for Network Rail eh? Not only were they running but were actually on time and I was soon leaving Reading on my way north to Coventry for Will accompanied by Jack, little Will and Seb, to pick me up before proceeding on to St Andrew’s. Chris joined us later at the ground. On the way to the ground we called in at the Bull’s Head in Hall Green to partake of a pint and a large sharing bowl of nachos coated with guacamole, jalapeños, chillies and the like. Suitably fortified we went on to St Andrew’s timing our arrival inside just before kick off.
The fun stopped at this point. A great day so far was interrupted by a game. It was an afternoon not only of disappointment but of extreme frustration as a limited but nevertheless resilient Watford side mugged us and made off with the points. Having largely dominated the first period with good chances falling to Bacuna whose shot from a cut back was blocked, Miyoshi who sliced wide when well placed and Ethan Laird whose header from a corner clipped the crossbar, Blues contrived to gift Watford an early Easter present. Emanuel Aiwu got caught isolated and dallying on the edge of his area and got robbed of possession by Emmanuel Dennis who had the easiest task side-footing the ball past a helpless John Ruddy into the Tilton Road net on 43 minutes. It was a gift and may as well have been smothered in chocolate. There was still time for Blues to go to pieces and nearly concede a second within a minute but the sanctuary of the referee’s whistle saved Blues further blushes. The noisy away contingent were in raptures and frankly we did nothing to quieten them.
The second half saw Blues back on the front foot and we did in fairness create a number of opportunities which sadly were squandered. Ivan Sunjic had the best of them when inexplicably from about six yards right in front of goal he managed to put his effort wide. Miyoshi had a fierce effort well saved by Bachman, in goal for the visitors and missed another effort wide of the far post when well placed. Repeatedly, Blues got balls into the box which were cut out, blocked or misplaced as what would have been a deserved equaliser simply wouldn’t come. Lukas Jutkiewicz was brought on as Blues tried going more direct but the big man fell awkwardly from a challenge late on and hobbled off with a knee injury. The sub was therefore subbed but his replacement, Scott Hogan was not able to influence proceedings as the full time whistle intervened. I haven’t felt this disappointed and desolate in a long while. That is three 1-0 defeats in a row against frankly very ordinary opposition which speaks volumes for where Birmingham City are at the moment. We go into the international break only out of the bottom three by virtue of goal difference. There is a significant contingent that believes we are going down; lose to QPR in two weeks time and I think we might.
The Good: The company as usual of friends. What particularly cheered me up was on the way back on the train I hooked up with Tim and we were able to share the agony.
The Bad: Watford’s goal! Completely avoidable and the result of sloppy lack of concentration. Also the standard of some of the passing with Bacuna by far the worst culprit. Why is it that a highly talented, professional footballer cannot deliver a pass of between 5-15 yards accurately? Bacuna had at least three opportunities to put Jay Stansfield clear in the first half and either over hit the pass or misplaced it. It is frankly infuriating. If that boy could pass he’d be world class!
The Ugly: The prospect of League One and the real possibility that Lukas Jutkiewicz’s season my be over.
Birmingham City: John Ruddy 6, Ethan Laird 7 (George Hall 83, N/A) Cody Drameh 7 Emanuel Aiwu 5, Lee Buchanan 7, Ivan Sunjic 6 (Gary Gardner 83, N/A) Jordan James 6 (Lukas Jutkiewicz 72, 6 [Scott Hogan 90+7, 10 (never touched it!) 😀 ] Kojo Miyoshi 6 (Tyler Roberts 72, 5) Paik Seung-Ho 7 Juninho Bacuna 5, Jay Stansfield 7.
Subs not used: Neil Etheridge, Dion Sanderson, Andre Dozzell, Emmanuel Longelo.
Goals: None.
Yellow cards: None.
Watford: Daniel Bachman 8, Ryan Andrews 7, Ryan Porteous 7, Mattie Pollock 7, James Morris 7, Edo Kayembe 7, Tom Dele-Bashiru 6, Yaser Asprilla 6 (Francisco Sierralta 89, N/A) Giorgi Chakvetadze 6 (Tom Ince 79, 6) Emmanuel Dennis 7 (Vakoun Bayo 63, 6)
Subs not used: Ben Hamer, Jake Livermore, Mileta Rajovic, Albert Eames, JackGrieves.
Goals: Dennis 43.
Yellow cards: Chakvetadze 68, Asprilla 88, Bachman 90+4.
Referee: Matthew Donohue: 7; the man in the middle had a good game and kept the game flowing. There were no contentious decisions that anyone could point to console this sorry debacle.
Attendance: 21,266
Bazza KRO
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