Watto’s Report: Birmingham City 2-1 Blackburn Rovers

Ben Foster

My legions of fans who read my match report will have noticed a difference to the Blog in as much as it’s done later so I can take a more considered review of the goings on over the weekend’s football. I also can write with the joyous news that a couple of thousand Vile fans are suffering a slow trip back from the North East after getting gubbed 6-0 by Championship side.

Anyway enough of trivial matters as Blues managed to prize 3 points from their conflict with the surprisingly impressive Blackburn Rovers. We know how Sam Allardyce feels as Blues played half a dozen away games at the back end of last season where we gained nothing after dominating the opposition. That included the game at Ewood where their two chances were converted with Blues unable to score more than one from six opportunities.

Rovers were confronted with Ben Foster who put up one of the greatest displays of goal keeping seen at the hallowed ground. I am assured that his penalty save was the best since Gil Merrick made a similar save against Charlton Athletic in the 40′s.

Blues started with the line up that I recommended in last week’s Blog so I assume Alex is reading this stuff. The presence of the Giant Zigic made the play disjointed as it is tempting to go long with the giant man seemingly an easy target. When Blues did get the ball into areas to really cause damage then Mcfadden and Larsson’s delivery was poor.

The only chance of the first half was when Scott Dann headed goalwards from a corner only for Robinson to make an excellent save.

The opening fifteen minutes of the second half Blues took a bombardment from the giants in the Blackburn side. Nzonzi and Samba at the set piece took some handling and the impressive Kalinić ran Blues a merry dance.

The penalty awarded against Zigic when he tussled with Samba, was caused by Zigic’s naivety. Samba as guilty as Zigic in many ways but made sure that the ref saw the contact by tumbling to the floor. TV showed the offence clearly but it’s doubtful the ref saw the shirt tug.

Pedersen’s pen was hit with power and accuracy as it arrowed towards the top corner. Incredibly Foster threw himself to the left and pushed the ball onto the bar.

Within a couple of minutes Blackburn deservedly went ahead when a pin point near post corner was flicked in by Nzonzi. Blues keeper was clearly blocked off and was powerless to keep the header out.

This set back did stimulate Blues into some kind of action and after a corner was cleared Carr picked out Mcfadden on the left hand side of the box. Faddy made a superb cushion volley across the goal where Gardner volleyed home. A great finish, totally unlike anything Blues had previously conjured up.

The game opened up considerably and Foster made two more world class saves from Kalinic and the Croat hit Blues post with a header that should have been netted.

The winner did come and it was Blues who got it when Gardner picking up a pass from Ferguson found a little time and space and fired a super 25 yarder past Robinson’s right hand.

To close out the game Fahey and Bowyer relieved Mcfadden and the cramped up Gardner and Derbyshire took the place of Zigic. The ex Rover almost scored with his first touch when Blues broke and the new guy went one on one with Robinson. It was no fairy tale start but Derbyshire showed enough to show us why the manager was so keen to snap him up.

Blues may have stolen these points but the character of the team shone through again. Of course they cannot hope to win too many games with great come backs and there is a need to dominate games and set up a lead. It will come as the team is new, particularly in its spine. Foster looked more comfortable with his defence, Gardner added some energy and Zigic won’t come up against Giant opponents every week.

BLUES: Foster, Carr (c), Johnson, Ridgewell, Larsson, Gardner (sub Fahey 82 mins), Jerome, Ferguson, Dann, McFadden (sub Bowyer 78 mins), Zigic (sub Derbyshire 67 mins)

Subs not used: Taylor (GK), Murphy, O’Connor, Michel

Goals Gardiner (57, 71)

ROVERS: Robinson, Salgado, Samba (c), Nelsen, Givet (sub MB Diouf 73 mins), Jones (sub Emerton 64 mins), EH Diouf, Nzonzi, Pedersen, Olsson, Kalinić (sub Hoilett 84 mins).

Subs not used: Bunn (GK), Jacobsen, Judge, Morris.

Goal Nzonzi (54)

Booked: Larsson (Birmingham), Nzonzi, MB Diouf, Nelsen (Rovers)

Ref Michael Oliver; Its two years since this man gave the worst display of refereeing ever seen at St Andrews. He has not improved. Yes the pen was the right decision but if that kind of thing is going to be given then you have to give at least five pens per game.

Blackburn’s goal should have been disallowed for a foul on Foster. How come he missed that? We have suffered the token refs in our first 2 fixtures could we please have an official that at least shaves in future.

Attendance: 21,394 (Pitiful! I had to give up my Away Travel Club memberships for these people who can’t be bothered to show up for these types of games. Enjoy the Rochdale game from your living room!)

By Alan Watton

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