VIEW FROM THE SOUTH – BIRMINGHAM CITY vs WEST HAM UNITED

Took the dog out for a walk first thing and the first wildlife I saw were two magpies sitting together on the path. We’re in luck I thought. I called Will to tell him. Will was unable to join me for this game as he had promised his little girl that he would take her to a bonfire that evening. Apparently he had had a fireworks party in his garden the night before and when I asked if his little girl had enjoyed it he said “No, she was terrified; she got really scared this year for some reason.” So I said, “So, you are going to miss the game to take your child to an event that is going to scare the wits out of her!” He said’ “I know but I promised!” Kids eh?

Jonny and I got in the car and set off for Baginton to meet up with Chris and little Jack who was coming to the match in Will’s place. Now for those of you that don’t know little Jack has never seen Blues score let alone win but we’ve all kept telling ourselves that that jinx has to end some time doesn’t it? We made excellent time, grabbed a pint and set off to the ground. A pie and another pint and we are all ready for action or not as the first half turned out to be. The most noteworthy thing that happened was the sprinklers came on after three minutes soaking the players and referee and the biggest cheer occurred when they were turned off again.

Blues set up with a similar formation to the Blackpool game with the usual back four with a central three midfielders in front of them comprising of Larsson, Fergusson and Fahey with Hleb playing just behind Zigic and Jerome. The problems became apparent early on when Larsson who had been told to tuck in didn’t overlap with Carr down the flank meaning our full backs were providing our only means of width. We were playing far too narrow and it was far too easy to defend against which in turn meant no penetration and no tempo. Hleb is clearly used to La Liga pace but players there are technically accomplished, comfortable on the ball and accurate of pass. They move the ball quickly and allow the round thing to do the work. We just played tippy-tappy in front of the opposition before giving it away cheaply. Fortunately, they weren’t good enough to exploit us in the first half and a sterile 0-0 was all the proceedings warranted. The only time either keeper was troubled was in the 19th minute when a first time side-footed volley from Carlton Cole was brilliantly saved by Foster onto the far post. The Blues keeper was fortunate to see the ball cannon off the upright across the goal to safety. Apart from that, that was it!

It had to improve in the second half and it did; for them! We continued to give the ball away and a pass into midfield from Johnson was cut out by Boa Morte just inside the West Hamm half. He delivered the pass of the afternoon to Piquionne who didn’t have to take a steadying touch but instead drove the ball across Foster who was not set and beaten by the surprise of the early shot; lovely finish but dreadful play from Blues’ point of view; only three minutes in and one down and showing no sign that the mediocrity that epitomised our play was likely to alter, surely a change was required? No, true to form we waited for the all too traditional hour before anything was done; by then of course we were 2-0 down and deservedly so. West Ham outplayed Blues for this period of the game and their second goal was well worked but too easily conceded. This time Scott Parker who had been given far too much space and time all afternoon, fed Cole in the inside left position; he picked out Behrami, who made no mistake with a thumping effort. Again lovely goal but where was our dozy defence? Even worse could have occurred as Obinna crashed a fierce shot against the crossbar; 3-0 would undoubtedly have been game over.

Finally changes were made to Blues’ line up; Gardner came on for Hleb and Beausejour for Fahey and Larsson and the Chilean went out wide as a more standard 4-4-2. What a difference! Suddenly there was tempo, movement and threat and on 64 minutes a free kick from Larsson to Zigic’s head was seized on in the six yard box by Jerome who netted from four yards. The Hammers were not looking so poised and assured now and the equaliser followed on 72 minutes when another free kick was punched out by Green into the path of Agent Ridgewell who gleefully slid the ball back across him into the far corner of the net. 2-2 and Blues were now looking the most likely winners and when you consider the rubbish we had played for the first hour few would have believed it. Jerome burrowed through again ten minutes from time and was unlucky to see his goal bound chip come off the knee of a defender to hit the frame of the goal to make the turnaround complete. There were chances at both ends with Blues having the better of them in what was now an exciting pulsating game but in the end both sides had to settle for a point apiece.

In summary despite the excellent fight back this has to be considered a poor result for Blues. We simply have to beat the teams we should beat at home and meaning no disrespect to West Ham they definitely fall into this category as do Wigan. Draws against these teams at home is not good enough and we now have far tougher fixtures coming up. We got into the mess we did because we were too narrow, too one paced, too predictable and too inaccurate with basic passing. When you consider what Blues achieved in half an hour; just think what would have happened if they had got at the visitors from the off? Avram Grant was moaning after the game that West Ham should have had a penalty near the end for a shirt tug by Beausejour. He has a point but the initial grab was outside the box although the pundits on MotD chose to freeze the action with the West Ham player in the area; we rarely get an impartial hearing from that source so no change there but Grant can have few complaints really. Avram Grant has the face and voice that can make Mr Happy suicidal so when he’s whingeing it is not a good look. Overall the result was in the end fair but I would be thoroughly cheesed off if I was a Hammer’s fan. We know how it feels after the Bolton fiasco.

The Good: The final half hour of the game.

The Bad: Our passing, lack of tempo, lack of penetration and predictability in the first half especially. We contrived to make West Hamm, the bottom of the league side look good.

The Ugly: On the way home a West Ham fan called 6-0-6 on Radio 5 Live and complained that their fans were spat on and had coins thrown at them from the higher levels of the Gil Merrick Stand. If this is true this sort of behaviour is not only unacceptable it is dangerous and has no place in any ground anywhere in the world. I for one unconditionally condemn the morons who do this sort of thing.

KRO SOTV

Birmingham City: Foster 7; Carr 8, Johnson 6, Dann 6, Ridgewell 7; Larsson 6, Ferguson 6, Hleb 5 (Gardner 59, 7) Fahey 5 (Beausejour 59, 7) Zigic 5 Jerome 7 (Bowyer 89, N/A)

West Ham United: Green 5, Gabbidon 6, Parker 8, Cole 7, Boa Morte 7 (Dyer 83, N/A), Upson 6, Behrami 7, Ilunga 6, Piquionne 7, Obinna 7 (Kovac 90, N/A), Jacobsen 6

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