I think we have to spare a thought for all those affected by the extreme wet weather over the last few days especially yesterday which saw double the amount of rainfall for September in a single day. The Midlands was particularly badly affected and I cannot imagine what it must be like to have a couple of feet of water filling your living room. Having watched the news I went and checked today’s train times fully expecting to see major disruptions along my journey route. To my surprise, there didn’t appear to be any and having turned up with plenty of time to spare at Blackwater, my train was on schedule which is always a good start. It was a bright sunny, if chilly, morning in total contrast to this week gone by and I hoped it augured for a good day.
With five victories in the league on the bounce, the expectation levels continue to rise which in a way concerns me. I don’t hold with this “we’re going to p*** the league” thing. I feel it shows lack of respect and it must be in Chris Davies’ mind that he has to keep the players focused, professional and lacking all traces of complacency. The players are human beings; they must realise that they are part of the best squad in League 1 and they must know that they should have the better of every team assembled in front of them but as Reading and Walsall showed when we played them, winning is not a foregone conclusion.
It was good that we managed to keep a clean sheet last time out at Rotherham. I was forced to listen to the game on the radio given that like many I had no chance of getting a ticket. I tried to get one for the Charlton game but they sold out in a matter of seconds of me logging on. I don’t see how you are supposed to increase your away ticket eligibility priority when you cannot get tickets to do so. Still it is the way of it and those of us in this particular boat will just have to accept our lot.
The train to Reading went without hitch and I caught my connection to Coventry to meet up with Chris, Jack and Seb. We went straight off to the ground in order to get food, drink and soak up the atmosphere in the fan park. We met up with Will and little Will who had come up by train to New Street and had caught the new shuttle bus from the station. After some chicken curry and chips we went into the ground for a pint in the Box 2 Box bar.
Another bumper crowd filled the arena and it looked as if the Posh supporters had taken up their full allocation. The away side started the better and took the lead after only four minutes when a pass to Peacock-Farrell was chased down by Ricky-Jade Jones who got to the ball which the keeper had allowed to roll across him before clearing. The ball was only a yard out and the Posh player was simply too quick for the dallying Peacock-Farrell who conceded yet another goal for which he has to bear full responsibility.
Things got even worse for Blues during the first quarter of an hour which seemed to be a carbon-copy of the game against Wrexham when we got off to a slow start. The difference this time is that we were two down with only sixteen minutes on the clock. Under pressure from a Posh side buoyed by their early lead, a corner was conceded on the Main Stand side of the Tilton which was routinely delivered to the near post by Katongo on to the head of Fernandez for the visitors. It was a cracking header from a huge leap but where was the defence? Peacock-Farrell must once again share some responsibility getting beaten at the near post but woeful marking and it was 0-2. As with the Wrexham game, Blues appeared unphased and set about the comeback.
They started to get their high possession passing game together and went close when Emil Hansson got in on the left and delivered a lovely cross right on to the head of Lyndon Dykes whose powered header was cleared off the line just under the bar to the anguish of the home crowd. Blues were back on the comeback trail not long after however, when Hansson once again found himself in a great position to deliver a cross which this time was volleyed in from six yards by Willumsson to ignite the capacity crowd. Blues probed and pummelled the Posh defence for the rest of the half but despite two-thirds of the possession and a number of half chances couldn’t fashion parity before the break.
It was time to take a break and head for the loo. At my age I’ve learned to never pass up the chance of a comfort break whether you feel you need one or not! I’ve found that I don’t get much warning nowadays and I prefer not to experience urgency especially when it is half way through the second half with Blues threatening and me in the middle of a packed row! There was also an ulterior motive for my visit to the facilities. I had resolved to combine it with seeking out our own Kev Ball who along with son, Jordan had travelled up from Devon to the game and was way up in Kop corner right up at the back. The main difficulty was getting across the Kop to the other side from me through the packed crowd. However, I did manage it in the end and it was good to touch base with Kev and Jordan who like me were quietly confident that we could turn things around having conceded two soft goals.
It was soon time to return to my seat and it wasn’t long before the equaliser arrived after the restart. I have to say that there was a huge element of good fortune about it. Willumsson had moved into central midfield with the replacement of Dykes and Hansson with Keshi Anderson and Scott Wright adding new energy and dynamism to Blues play. Willumsson’s lovely lay off to Jay Stansfield who had been fairly quiet up until now, allowed the young striker to pivot and shoot. The shot wasn’t on target but Oscar Wallin’s attempted block ricocheted off the defender looping up wide of the helpless Jed Steer in goal. Who cares how they go in? The Tilton and the rest of us erupted and it was 2-2 on 49 minutes.
The home crowd were now baying for blood but after a flurry, Peterborough seemed to establish some stability. However Blues kept up the high possession pressure and both Wright and Stansfield went close with fierce shots that were only prevented from registering by minor deflections. Finally on 66 minutes, a cross from the left from Iwata appeared to have eluded a cluster of waiting Blues forwards but Krystian Bielik’s determined run to get to the ball first saw his header buried into the top corner for 3-2. The comeback was complete and now it was time for game management. A fourth goal would have made things a little more comfortable from the viewer’s standpoint but Blues controlled the game well enough to go top of the league.
It was a good win and an exciting comeback but please Blues, don’t keep giving teams a head start eh? It not great for the nerves!
The Good: Excellent comeback and good result against one of the teams that are probably going to be playoff contenders. We played good football once we got going.
The Bad: The goals we conceded! They were awful, especially the first. I hate to say it but Bailey Peacock-Farrell is becoming a liability. He is costing us goals virtually every game. Ryan Alsop must surely be in contention to claim the gloves.
The Ugly: The rubbish and overflowing bins strewn around the surrounding streets outside St Andrew’s. It’s simply disgusting, a health hazard and an attraction for rats and other vermin. The local council need to take note!
Birmingham City: Bailey Peacock-Farrell 4, Taylor Gardner-Hickman 7 (Alfons Sampsted 79, 6) Krystian Bielik 8, Christoph Klarer 8, Alex Cochrane 7, Paik Seung-ho 8 (Marc Leonard 88, N/A) Willum Willumsson 8 Tomoki Iwata 7, Emil Hansson 7 (Scott Wright 45, 7) Alfie May 7 Lyndon Dykes 6 (Keshi Anderson 45, 7) Jay Stansfield 7 (Alfie May 78, 6)
Subs not used: Ryan Alsop, Scott Wright.
Goals: Willumsson 24, Wallin 49 (og) Bielik 66.
Yellow cards: Dykes 35, Stansfield 73, Leonard 90+1.
Peterborough United: Jed Steer 6, Jack Sparkes 6 (Sam Curtis 74, 6) Oscar Wallin 6, Jadel Katongo 7 (James Dornelly 50, 6) Emmanuel Fernandez 7, Archie Collins 6, Hector Kyprianou 7, Kwame Poku 6, Donay O’Brien-Brady 7 (David Ajiboye 79, 6) Malik Mothersille 6, Ricky-Jade Jones 7 (Abraham Odoh 79, 6)
Subs not used: Nicholas Bilokapic, Cian Hayes, George Nevett.
Goals: Jones 3, Fernandez 16.
Yellow cards: Fernandez 29, Sparkes 33, Kyprianou 82.
Referee: Thomas Kirk 7; I thought the referee had a decent game. What I liked was that he stood no nonsense from players trying to buy free kicks. I did feel he could have been a little firmer with the time wasting tactics and by rights I felt there should have been more than four minutes added on at the end but you could argue that the perpetrators got their just desserts since in the end it was losing side’s time that got wasted. Chris Davies got booked for complaining about the antics in this regard and whilst he had a point, he has to abide by the laws of the game like everyone else and dissent must not be tolerated.
Attendance: 27,206
Bazza KRO
Kev Addition
Another excellent report Baz – this was my first game for some time. It was great to see the ground full and the new fanzone is exceptional. The other zone by the George also looks really good. I absolutely love the murals.
Had some lovely food and a couple of pints. Also met Paul Devlin and Ian Atkins. I’m not going to give any “match report” comments, but just add some thoughts on the actual match – mainly because Baz has covered that superbly!
I will say that it’s brilliant to see that “never say die” attitude. We appear to have superb team spirit and with goals throughout the side, we never look out of the game. I would say that Peterborough looked a good side and played well in the first half and look like they will score. The issue for them is that their defense looks vulnerable. When CD changed the formation to expand our play, they didn’t have an answer.
The future’s bright – the future’s blue!
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