Watto’s Preview: Derby County vs Birmingham City (FA Cup)

In round four Blues were forced to go to Everton and win at a place where they had not won in 52 years. Everton were in such good form that their manager was awarded the January Manager of the month. When was a manager thus awarded when the month included a defeat at home by Birmingham City? I don’t begrudge David Moyes his award because Blues were top draw that day and the performance at Goodison was the best witnessed by Yours Truly in 50 years of FA Cup disappointment.

Unlike our close neighbours who habitually get paired with one dead beat side after another Blues face another away trip to the Championship’s inform Derby. The Rams spanked Newcastle and Nottingham Forest in their last two home games and secured an away draw a Sheffield United when Robbie Savage rolled back the years with a wonder goal.

While the old Baseball ground was never a happy hunting ground for Blues, the comparatively luxury of Pride Park has seen them undefeated. Three visits and three different Managers have been removed soon after Blues have come calling.

If Blues display at Everton was impressive they certainly have not repeated it since with only a ground out win against struggling Wolves to show for their efforts. When Blues score they do not usually lose. Without Benitez, whose scoring record is poor, Blues look a little pedestrian in the final third of the field. Kevin Phillips is still a great goal scorer but rarely nets when he has to do the donkey work for ninety minutes. Benitez returns to the squad tomorrow and may start.

At West Ham Blues revamped midfield did pretty well and were probably had the better of the hosts. Alex has seven top class midfield players who he can rotate without weakening the side but without the finishers to benefit from that superiority in midfield Blues season is in danger of petering out.

This is not a pop at the board for not signing a striker. The evidence of what is available in January was there for all to see at West Ham. David Sullivan signed the none scoring, injury prone Benni McCarthy and the useless Mido. Added to that was a Brazilian who was not even good enough to start before them. Thankfully we have rid our club of ‘barrel scraping’ purchases.

Two defeats in eighteen is not a bad record and it has been based on scoring at least one goal when away from home. The Cup does not allow the luxury of even one defeat so he pressure is on the front two to score. Derby will be fired up, Robbie Savage will look 25 again and the crowd will expect their side to win. In many ways this game is a bigger test than the Everton game. Illogically the underdog has an advantage in that they do not have any pressure on them.

The Blues fans are desperate to win this game and make a mark on the FA cup for the first time. The Manager and players need to grasp that fact and grasp the opportunity of immortality.

By Alan Watton

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