Yesterday it fell to me to be the designated driver since Will was without a car. I picked him and little Will up at Guildford train station just after 10.00 and we we soon away down the A3 to the M25 and M4. To my surprise, despite the rain, the M25’s usual reputation, whatever time it seems you are on it, we made excellent time. We even had time to stop on the way for a coffee before parking up at Warwick Parkway station to catch a train to Bordesley. We met up with Chris, Jack and Seb who were on the train having got on at Leamington. We were early and there was plenty of time for a couple of pints which were supped with relish in the Moseley Arms. From there we walked down to the ground to grab a steak and kidney pie prior to kick off.
Leicester have not had the best of weeks. They have just been docked six points for financial fair play breeches which has left them perilously close to the relegation places in 20th only outside the bottom four on goal difference. They are also without a manager having just sacked their coach after a run of wretched form. Some were of the opinion that this could affect the Foxes adversely but I always feel cautious when other teams have misfortunes such as key injuries or suspensions or perhaps a run of poor form or as in this case turmoil off the pitch. These things can go one of three ways; firstly no difference at all, secondly there is a plummeting in morale and things go from bad to worse and finally, the players roll their sleeves up and adopt a “it’s us against the world” mentality. I’ve watched enough football following the Blues to take nothing for granted and I was expecting a tough match. Despite everything that has happened to Leicester in recent times, they have quality players who on their day can cause other sides problems if there are any signs of complacency.
Blues got off to a fast start and Ibrahim Osman was giving the Leicester rearguard problems from the off. The Leicester defensive unit looked nervous and tentative as they attempted to play out from the back. Pereira dithered on the ball about 35 yards out and was robbed by Osman. The tricky winger is the sort of player that if he gets ahead of you there’s no catching him. With the hapless defender in his wake, the Ghanaian bore down on Asmir Begovic in goal for Leicester and although the keeper got a touch on it, he couldn’t prevent the ball finding the back of the net with barely three minutes on the clock. Leicester were rattled and there for the taking but as so often this season Blues failed to press home their advantage. Too many square and back passes, too many touches and not enough tempo allowed a shaky Leicester to gain composure, find their feet and get into the game and so it was for the next 15 minutes Blues lost control and the away side gained confidence. The home crowd were starting to get edgy and with good reason. A corner from the family stand side was only partially cleared by Paik and this allowed Fatawu to chest the ball down and drive a beautiful volley high just inside Beadle’s left hand upright. Lovely goal which had been coming and I’m bound to say, deserved. Blues woke up and regained control and looked to have regained the lead from a free kick when Phil Neumann headed in from Paik’s delivery. The goal was chalked off by the offside flag. I thought the assistant on the far side had got it right but Chris insisted that a defender on far side was playing him on. I understand that he was correct.
Leicester having got themselves into the game contrived to shoot themselves in the foot when they were reduced to ten men eleven minutes after they had scored. Bobby De-Cordova-Reed put in a reckless lunge at Osman who was continuing to plague the Leicester defence. From the moment it happened, I think the referee had made up his mind but sought confirmation. As he came over you could see him ask his assistant, “red or yellow?” The assistant nodded and mouthed, “red!” Out came the card, off went the Leicester midfielder. It took a while for Osman to recover from the challenge and we started to get a bad feeling that he was seriously injured and that his afternoon was at an end. A relieved cheer greeted the appearance of Osman rising to his feet. Gradually, his gingerly movements became more fluid and the speedy winger was able to continue. Blues had some close moments meets with Ducksch chipping against the bar and Carlos Vicente bringing a good save out of Begovic. As it was 1-1 was the way of it at half time.
The intensity from Blues was a lot better with much more zip in the pass and increased emphasis on forward momentum. The problem with the final third decision making continues however and it took until the 67th minute for a touch of class from Ducksch with a beautifully weighted pass through to Jay Stansfield was converted into the far corner just inside the post in front of an ecstatic Tilton. It was an exquisite finish to end a lovely build up. The assist and finish would grace any match at any level. I felt the margin should have been a lot wider but poor decision making with the final delivery is costing us.
The Good: The result despite the fact that we weren’t at our best. Special mention has to be made of Leicester’s goal; it was a beauty and the pick of the three, good though Jay Stansfield’s effort was.
The Bad: The loss of control in the first half. Blues made heavy weather of this game. This was a match that could and should have been won at a canter. It was better in the second half but so it should have been against opposition a man light. The failure to kill teams off when on top remains a concern.
The Ugly: The tackle by Decirdova-Reed; it was a shocker and deserving of the sanction it received.
Birmingham City: James Beadle 6, Tomoki Iwata 7, Phil Neumann 7 (Bright Osayi- Samuel 62, 7) Christoph Klarer 7, Kai Wagner 8, Paik Seung-Ho 6, Jhon Solis 7 (Tommy Doyle 62, 7) Carlos Vicente 7 (Patrick Roberts 62, 7) Ibrahim Osman 8, Marvin Ducksch 6, Jay Stansfield 7 (Auguste Priske 75, 6)
Subs not used: Ryan Allsop, Briar Bateman, Jonathan Panzo, Kanya Fujimoto, Kyogo Furuhashi.
Goals: Osman 3, Stansfield 67.
Yellow cards: None.
Leicester City: Asmir Begovic 7, Ben Nelson 6, Abdul Fatawu 7 (Dujuan Richards 77, 6) Stephy Mavididi 6 (Harry Winks HT 6) Bobby De-Cordova-Reid 4, Joe Aribo 6 (Divine Mukasa 77, 6) Patson Daka 7 (Jordan Ayew 77, 6) Ricardo Pereira 5, Oliver Skipp 6, Jamaal Lascelles 7 (Olabade Aluko 71, 6) Luke Thomas 6.
Subs not used: Jakub Stolarczyk, Victor Kristiansen, Louis Page, Jeremy Monga.
Goals: Fatawu 21.
Yellow cards: Aribo 5, Begovic 84.
Red card: De-Cordova-Reid 32.
Referee: John Busby: 7; Good solid unfussy refereeing throughout. He got the major decisions correct and can’t be blamed for ruling out Neumann’s goal which was probably onside on review. He has to trust the view of his assistant. In fairness it was very tight. The sending off of De-Cordova-Reid was spot on. It was a good job Osman’s foot wasn’t planted be use otherwise that was a broken ankle. It was a horrible tackle.
Attendance: 27,886
Bazza KRO
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