I had had to go up to Oxford early on with Mrs Bazza as we had some personal business in the town and it was an excuse for she whom I adore to torment no 2 son who lives and works there. We tried several times to contact our son, Ben but his phone was switched off and he wasn’t at his flat when we arrived so forlornly we picked up some of his dirty washing of which there was a considerable amount and left for Oxford train station where Mrs Bazza was to drop me off for my onward trip to Coventry to meet up with Chris.
Having allowed over half an hour for a two and a half miles journey, we sat in a shocking jam about half a mile from the station and in desperation I got out and ran the rest of the way. My days of running marathons or ten miles with pack and combat boots are long over and it was feeling like I was gasping my last that I stumbled onto the platform with barely 30 seconds to spare only to find that the train was delayed by ten minutes which had stretched to fourteen by the time it arrived. My oxygen debt by then repaid, I boarded the train and arrived at Coventry about 13.40. It was straight to the ground from there for a much needed pot of refreshment and cottage pie which was well received by Chris and me as we were getting very hungry. Little Jack turned his nose up and settled for a burger as there were no plastic hot dogs left; kids eh?
The game itself was a cracker and a fitting spectacle on what was Trevor Francis Day when the legend of both clubs received a Broad Street star. A bigger than recent times crowd, good flowing football, an opening goal from David Cotterill that would grace any game at any level, an offside equaliser on 84 minutes and a controversial, albeit correct, decision for a penalty with two minutes left for Blues’ deserved winner.
Blues started with energy and purpose and. After ten minutes were rewarded with one of the best goals I have seen at St Andrews in years. Cotterill cut inside on his left foot and from 25 yards out from an angle whipped a beautiful shot into the top corner in that it struck both the post and crossbar simultaneously before nestling in the net. Blues had a number of chances to increase their lead notably a looping deflection from a Caddis cross wide out on the right that so nearly dipped under the bar rather than striking it with the Forest keeper, Darlow well beaten.
It was always a concern as the match wore on that Blues would pay the price of not getting a second when so clearly on top and so it was that Forest looked to have grabbed a point on 84 minutes when a failed clearance was headed forward by Eric Lichaj to Britt Assombalonga to head past Randolph. I was in line with the move and the Forest player was clearly offside and was aghast when the linesman (I still call them that) failed to put his flag up. In recent times Blues have dropped points from such games and on many occasions come out with nothing to show for their efforts. This rejuvenated Birmingham side may have similar personnel to the one that lost so abjectly to Bournemouth but they are a different proposition now. Away fans need to be served notice that easy away days in the Midlands are a thing of the past and they cannot just turn up and expect three points, a belly full of beer, sing a load of taunts, take the p**s and the go home happy; no sir, no more!
There was some of the old buzz about St Andrews and the team sensed it. They dusted themselves off got after their opponents and barely two minutes after their setback earned a corner which was headed goalwards by Michael Morrison. A clear handball was seen by everybody except it seems the referee and his assistant who both gave a corner to the incensed consternation of the Birmingham players and the crowd. Then something extraordinary happened, the fourth official had clearly seen the incident and alerted the referee. To the credit of the man in the middle, he went over and conferred with his colleague and returned to rightly give the penalty and dismiss the offending Forest player Assombalonga.
By now there was nearly 89 minutes on the clock and Paul Caddis stepped forward and buried the spot kick into the bottom corner sending the Forest keeper the wrong way. Despite the six minutes of time added on, Blues saw the game out although there was a scary moment when the ball had to be cleared off the line from a looping header from substitute Tom Ince deep into time added on. A few weeks ago the penalty wouldn’t have been given and that chance would have gone in and we would undoubtedly have lost this sort of game. However, for all Forest’s protests the correct team won, a point conceded with good grace by Forest manager Stuart Pearce.
Gary Rowett has brought solidity, organisation, direction and a clear game plan to the Blues effort since his arrival. The team has cohesion and purpose for the first time in over 18 months. Randolph looked calm, secure, decisive and confident. I cannot describe the difference that Michael Morrison has made to the back four and Robbo looks back to his best beside him. Jonathan Grounds had one of his best games in a Blues shirt and seems to be coming into his own at left back. Caddis was excellent against a much bigger opponent and contributed greatly going forward. He was cool and precise with the penalty. Gleeson and Shinnie worked tirelessly in central midfield and although I still reckon that they need to work on upper body strength they were ably assisted by David Davis who broke up play well and then distributed.
Demarai Gray worried the Forest defenders with his pace until he tired in the second half and David Cotterill was excellent with his wide play, deliveries into the box and what a goal! Take a bow son; it was one of the best strikes I have seen in years and easily the best goal Blues have scored all season. Finally, if there is a better example of how to lead the line anywhere in the Championships I will gladly travel many miles to see it; Clayton Donaldson was superb and deserved better protection from the officials as the Forest centre-halves climbed all over him all afternoon and yet gave away very few free kicks. Nevertheless, the lad kept doing his job, holding the ball up flicking it off to players in better positions and could easily have had a goal in each half had it not been for excellent saves by the Forest keeper.
Well done Blues and thank you for making a match down at St Andrews enjoyable again.
The Good: The sublime finish from David Cotterill; a truly classy strike.
The Bad: The missed decision by the assistant for Forest’s equaliser.
The Ugly: I can’t think of anything to be honest; it was a great game preceded by good food, a nice couple of pints and a cracking atmosphere; what more can you want?
Birmingham City: Darren Randolph 7, Paul Caddis 7, Michael Morrison 8, Paul Robinson 8, Jonathan Grounds 7, Stephen Gleeson 8, David Davies 7, Andrew Shinnie 8 (Callum Reilly70, 7) Demarai Gray 7 (Lee Novak 70, 7) David Cotterill 8, Clayton Donaldson 7.
Subs not used: Colin Doyle, Neal Eardley, David Edgar, Guy Moussi, Koby Artur.
Goals: Cotterill 10, Caddis (pen) 89
Bookings: Gray.
Nottingham Forest: Karl Darlow 6, Eric Lichaj 7, Jamaal Lascelles 7, Daniel Fox 7 (Tom Ince 71, 7) Michael Mancienne 7, Michail Antonio 7, Henri Lansbury 7, Chris Burke 6 (Jamie Paterson 63, 6) Ben Osborn 6, Matt Fryatt 7 (Dexter Blackstock 80, N/A) Britt Assombalonga 7.
Subs not used: Kelvin Wilson, Jack Hunt, Robert Tesche, Dorus de Vries.
Goals: Assombolomba 84.
Bookings: Lascelles, Antonio, Lansbury, Ince.
Sent off: Assombolomba
Referee: Geoff Eltringham 7: Overall I felt the referee did OK but I felt he was far too lenient with the Forest defenders who repeatedly fouled Clayton Donaldson but gave relatively few free kicks. He was let down by his assistants one for meekly going along with the refereeís mistake with the handball and agreeing a corner and the other missing the fact that Assombalonga was offside when he scored; I have seen TV footage of the incident since and my initial impression that the award of the goal was a poor decision has been confirmed. On the plus side the referee made good use of the advantage law and was man enough to take the advice of his fourth official, admit his mistake and ultimately make the correct call for the penalty kick. The Forest fan who complained on local radio afterwards about the fourth official is misguided. The correct decision has to be upheld to preserve the integrity in sport and I am certain that had the decision been in favour of Forest his tune would have been very different. Stuart Pearce once again showed immense class by stating that the ultimate decision was correct that that his team simply didnít play well enough; a refreshing attitude from a manager in the aftermath of what must have been a disappointing outcome for his club.
Attendance: 18,595 (2,901 away)
The incident when he booked the wrong substitute for keeping the ball away from Donaldson was a bit ridiculous aswell! It was no wonder he missed the hand ball when he couldn’t tell the difference between somebody wearing a hat and somebody not…
Thought the ref was poor throughout gave free kicks for any sort of contact
I gather the Forest fans are upset with the way the penalty was awarded, (although from what I’ve read they don’t disagree it was a penalty).
The whole thing was very odd. I’d love a qualified ref to explain it – but my understanding is that the 4th official is allowed to inform the ref if he has made a wrong decision, as long as the game hasn’t restarted. He seemed to call the ref immediately, and to be fair to the ref, he changed his mind apparently realising he’d made the wrong decision.
We definitely deserved to win the game, again I know the Forest fans expected more – but we aren’t the same side as only 4 weeks ago. We showed more passion and commitment than Forest.
I agree with Bazza, Pearce deserves credit for being magnanimous after defeat. He showed his class with that response.
As far as Blues, onwards and upwards.
A very enjoyable read.