It was an early start to catch the 08.02 train from Blackwater station to Reading. I was making a trip up to my 92 year old Aunt’s house in Four Oaks. Poor Aunty’s had just been discharged from hospital following a fall when she had broken her shoulder and with no one but my disabled, spinster cousin to look after her, I felt it would be remiss of me not to check in on them. When I left the house, it was remarkably still and mild with none of the lashing rain and gales we had been promised; at least not yet! I walked down to the station, renewed my lottery ticket at the newsagent and arrived in plenty of time. Although there were less people about than usual, there were still a couple of early intrepids on the platform despite the hour. In the gradually improving light, Blackwater station still seemed dank and desolate nevertheless as the wind was picking up and worrying the plastic bin bags as they flapped violently. The first part of my journey completed I arrived at Reading to change to my next train to New Street before finally boarding the Lichfield service through enemy territory to Butlers Lane from where it was a short walk to my Aunt’s house. After a cup of tea, a pleasant chat and the delivery of a few bits and pieces Mrs Bazza had sent for Aunty and my cousin, it was soon time to head back to New Street.
I had arranged to meet Chris and little Jack in the Royal George and I got there around 1 pm and they were still to arrive. I contented myself with a pint and watched some of the lunchtime game in the warm as the conditions were getting horrible outside. On the way, Chris called me to say that it was only 50-50 that he was going to be able to make the game because of work commitments at the pub. All I could do was wait and hope that he could get enough preparation done to be able to attend. My usual companions unfortunately were unable to arrive and after suitable further refreshment it was time to get into the ground for a hot beef bap with salad and relish at the Cookhouse washed down with another pint. What I didn’t relish was the trip back into town for the train back afterwards but that was for later. I felt the weather conditions were going to have a significant effect on the match and whichever team adapted best was likely to prevail. Both teams were in a vein of form and Sheffield had inflicted our heaviest defeat this season on Boxing Day and had been the only side so far to score more than two goals against us. I didn’t make it to that game but by all accounts we played poorly and got out of the game what we put into it which was nothing; the St Andrew’s faithful expected much better on this occasion!
The pitch was looking sodden and the rain was lashing down near to kick off. My late Dad always said that it didn’t matter who you were playing, the wind and the rain were great levellers. It was to be hoped that Blues would use the conditions to their advantage. Sheffield Wednesday started brightly and looked the shaper of the two sides in the first five minutes but a foray into their half resulted in a good save by Westwood but with only six minutes gone he was down with what looked a serious injury and the game did not recommence until nearly 17 minutes on the clock. He appeared to have collided with a team mate and was clearly concussed. The stricken keeper was replaced by Lewis Price who was called upon to save well from Donaldson when put through by Toral. The forward really should have put Blues ahead but after one or two close calls for the visiting defence Blues scored in the ten minutes of time added on at the end of the half. Morrison chased a seemingly lost cause and from his block on the clearance the ball ricocheted across the six yard box into the path of Donaldson who this time made no mistake.
The second half started brightly enough and Donaldson had a great chance to put us 2-0 to the good from close range but his shot was well blocked by Price. The follow up looped up in the air and whilst the chance was awkward, Buckley missed the rebound. The chance had come about when Maghoma had robbed Ross Wallace dallying on the ball wide on the right. The winger burrowed into the box and set up Donaldson who the shot straight at Price when a foot either side would surely have registered. This was to prove a vital moment. The game became far too open in my view and whilst this added to the entertainment spectacle it did nothing for the nerves. Sheffield Wednesday were showing a lot more enterprise in the second period and were the better of the two sides after Blues had been the better in the first. Despite Sheffield Wednesday pressure, I still felt we were in control but on 77 minutes beautiful interplay between at least five players resulted in Gary Hooper taking a touch to his right and lashing a scorching 25 yard drive in off the crossbar. This was a truly beautiful goal and won SKY Sports goal of the day later in the evening. Instead of regrouping and clearing their heads Blues went into panicky, headless chicken mode and from a superb right wing cross from Forestieri Hooper was on hand again to send the 3,000 plus Owls fans who had now woken up into raptures. Blues huffed and puffed after that but the damage was done; it was too late and a defeat had been carved out of victory and they had only themselves to blame.
In truth Blues should not have lost this game. The fact is that Sheffield Wednesday were the better side; overall they have better quality players but Blues had the game under control with only 13 minutes left. I think the critical point for us was when Toral left the field to be replaced by Fabbrini when perhaps someone like Davis would have been a better choice? Fabbrini, talented though he is, was arguably at fault in the lead up to both Wednesday’s goals. He gave the ball away cheaply on both occasions, fell to the floor claiming free kicks and Wednesday scored two excellent strikes that would grace any match but it was unnecessary to just throw the match away when with better game management Blues could easily have taken all three points and definitely should have got one. I felt Davis would have broken up play, disrupted Wednesday’s rhythm and have been more suited to the heavy, slippery conditions. Add to that the squandering of clear chances that should have resulted in a two or three goal lead prior to the visitors scoring and you have the recipe for defeat from a won position. Blues for their part played well but got done by a more polished team. It clearly demonstrates that although we still harbour hopes of a play off place we are probably a little short of that and better teams like these will find us out even if we do make it.
The Good: The quality of the match, considering the appalling conditions, from both sides.
The Bad: The chances we missed. The weather, it was horrible. Finally and most importantly, the injury to Kieran Westwood, the Wednesday keeper. I am sure I am not alone in hoping that he recovers soon with no serious side effects.
The Ugly: The Vilers I had to endure on the train home from New Street. Their foul mouthed antics were not appreciated by the majority of travellers a lot of whom were women and young children. There were Transport Police Officers on the train who did nothing to curb these cretins. It is unusual to have a home game the same Saturday afternoon as them and of course they beat the mighty Norwich; you would have thought they had won the league the way they were carrying on; still it was their biggest win of the season; bless!
Birmingham City: Tomas Kuczcak 6, Paul Caddis 8, Michael Morrison 6, Paul Robinson 7, Jonathan Grounds 6, Stephen Gleeson 6 Maikel Kieftenbeld 7, Jon Toral 8 (Diego Fabbrini 71, 5) Jacques Maghoma 7 (Viv Soloman-Otabor 83, N/A) Will Buckley 7 (James Vaughan 81, N/A) Clayton Donaldson 6.
Subs not used: Adam Lezgdins, Jonathan Spector, David Davis, Ryan Shotton.
Goals: Donaldson.
Yellow cards: Morrison, Vaughan.
Sheffield Wednesday: Keiran Westwood N/A (Lewis Price 18, 7) Sam Hutchinson N/A (Lewis McGugan 22, 8) Gary Hooper 9, Tom Lees 7, Kieran Lee 7, Jack Hunt 7, Ross Wallace 7, Aiden McGeady 6 (Atdhe Nuhiu 61, 8) Barry Bannan 7 Fernando Forestieri 7.
Subs not used: Jose Semedo, Joe Bennett, Jeremy Helan, Lucas Joao.
Goals: Hooper (2)
Yellow cards: Wallace, Pudil, McGugan.
Referee: James Adcock 7: I thought the referee had a good game. He was no more than five yards away from any incident requiring a free kick and I felt he got the penalty call by Fabbrini towards the end correct; our player was looking for it when things were getting desperate. I heard quite a few moans and groans about the man in the middle after the game but this is frustration and disappointment talking in equal measure. We lost this game because we failed to control it when leading. We lost because we switched off for three minutes or so and allowed one of the most creative players in the league time and space. Finally, we lost because we missed our chances to put the game to bed before they scored; none of these things are the officials’ faults.
Attendance: 20,302 (3,047 Owls fans)
Bazza KRO
A decent report, Bazza, but you’ve inadvertantly rated an Owls player who didn’t play. Keiran Lee hurt his back in the warm-up and was replaced before the game by French centre-back Vincent Sasso, with Sam Hutchinson moving to midfield. When Westwood and Hutchinson had to be replaced early in the game after their simultaneous injuries, Wednesday had lost three key players at a very early stage: shocking luck. When our skipper then gifted Blues the lead in ghastly fashion the travelling Owls were as low as a snake’s belly. So it was some win for the Wednesday in those circumstances. And – as you say – tremendous goals.
All credit to your ground staff for the game being finished in that relentless downpour.