Apologies for the lateness of the post, family commitments over Easter weekend. Happy Easter to all our readers.
Another pleasant morning greeted me when I arose at 06.30. Having washed, dressed and got outside a hot cup of coffee, I arranged my train ticket to Coventry on line and took Mrs Bazza a restorative cuppa.
It seems an age since the electricity and atmosphere of Wembley last weekend. I won’t dwell on it too long but I will say that Will said to me after the game that although disappointed, he wasn’t gutted and I think that probably reflects the feelings of many. Peterborough deserved their victory since we couldn’t find a way to score and they took two of the chances open to them with a brace of cracking goals. They had a clear game plan which was to defend low, break up the play, press for their lives and disrupt our rhythm. When they got it they looked to break quickly and incisively. They carried out their plan to the letter with frequent stoppages and taking time over set pieces. They did a number on us and performed the classic smash and grab. We weren’t good enough and it simply wasn’t our day as evidenced by the offside call when we did find the net and a great save from Steadman from Jukey near the end. Congratulations to the Posh but I wouldn’t swap places with them!
We go into the game against Crawley already crowned Champions of League 1 which was the objective from the start of the season. There has been much talk of the record points haul and rightly so since maintenance of motivation is essential as is a solid finish to the campaign. There is no doubt that Chris Davies will want to give some game time to some of the fringe players but nevertheless maintain results. Another aim I would like to see is to remain unbeaten at home for the whole season. This, I believe, will stand us in good stead for our upcoming Championship season in our 150th anniversary.
I mentioned earlier that I had arranged my train ticket? Not long afterwards, Chris sent me a text saying he was going on the train himself. Jack was working and Will and family were staying over in a hotel in Shirley to spend Easter with the family. In short there was no one to drive unless Chris drove himself and he said that he may as well join me and be able to have a beer or two. Best laid plans of mice and men and all that! It was no problem to book a separate ticket from Coventry to New Street so all was sorted.
The trains were running surprisingly on time for Good Friday and Chris and I were soon enjoying a convivial couple of pints in Wetherspoon’s on the station before catching the shuttle bus down to the ground. Special mention goes to Andrew and Sean, fellow bluenoses whom I met whilst awaiting Chris’ arrival. We met up with Will who had brought the whole family to this match; wife, Julie, little Will and daughter, Annabelle. Annabelle was described by Will as ‘reluctant’ and given the way this match turned out I’m not surprised!
After a pie and a pint in the Box to Box we ascended to our seats. I’m afraid this game failed to live up to the billing. Against a poor Crawley side, Blues failed to score for the second game running although they should have done at least three times in the opening 20 minutes. In the first two minutes, Jay Stansfield who was the best player on the pitch was fed in by Tomoki Iwata’s pass but Blues’ top scorer was thwarted by stand in keeper for Crawley, Toby Steward. Stansfield was unlucky not to register moments later when cutting in from the left flank his fierce right footed shot cannoned off the post. Ben Davies headed over when he really should have placed the effort on target, Keshi Anderson had a shot well saved by Steward but the miss of the match was by Willumsson who inexplicably missed a free header right in front of goal from a pin point cross. Willumsson seems to have a 50 pence piece head at the best of times but this was a sitter. The only chance of the half for Crawley came just before half time when a drive by Hepburn-Murphy needed Allsop to save.
Blues started brightly in the second period but failed to carve out the gilt edged chances they had had in the first period. Blues could easily have lost this game when Ryan Allsop nearly presented Hepburn-Murphy with a gift of a goal with a loose pass straight to the Crawley forward but the wing man fired over from 18 yards with a rushed effort. Gavin Holohan, a substitute for the visitors forced a good save out of Allsop near the end giving emphasis to the jeopardy that Blues seem to be giving themselves by not taking their chances when clearly on top. Paik Seung-ho had a chance to bag a winner right at the death but once again Steward saved to leave the home faithful frustrated at an opportunity missed and two points dropped. A poor game that will not linger long in the memory.
The Good: The fact that we didn’t get mugged by a poor Crawley side. It was good to see Lee Myung-Jae make his debut and he did a decent job as replacement for Alex Cochrane.
The Bad: The chances we missed in the first half.
The Ugly: The game.
Birmingham City: Ryan Allsop 7, Ethan Laird 6 (Taylor Gardner-Hickman 70, 7) Christoph Klarer 7, Ben Davies 7, Alex Cochrane 6 (Lee Myung-Jae 70, 7) Tomoki Iwata 6 (Marc Leonard 57, 7) Paik Seung-ho 6, Keshi Anderson 6, Willum Willumsson 5 (Luke Harris 56, 6) Jay Stansfield 8?, Alfie May 6 (Lukas Jutkiewicz 82, N/A)
Subs not used: Bailey Peacock-Farrell, Grant Hanley.
Goals: None
Yellow cards: Stansfield 75, Harris 81
Crawley Town: Toby Steward 7, William Radcliffe 6, Dion Conroy 6 Charlie Barker 6, Jack Roles 6 (Antony Papadopoulos 91, N/A) Panutche Camara (Max Anderson 73, 6) Liam Fraser 6, Bradley Ibrahim 6, Jeremy Kelly 6, Rushian Hepburn-Murphy 7, Kamari Doyle 5 (Gavin Holohan 62, 6)
Subs not used: Tola Showunmi, Benjamin Tanimu, Tyreece John-Jules
Goals: None
Yellow cards: Barker 23, Ibrahim 75.
Referee: Ruebyn Ricardo: 7: The referee had a better game than many of the players. This was a dire watch but the man in the middle tried to let the game flow. Sadly I think the effects of a long season has taken its toll.
Attendance: 27,325
Bazza KRO
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