Blues new hero Redmond gets the fans off their seats

Nathan Redmond burst on the European scene tonight with a display that reminded one of TF at the time of his early Blues career. Having gone close early on the guy sat next to me said that we had found the new Francis. My retort was that Trev would have netted. Nathan put himself right alongside the great man when he took up the ball 40 yards out side stepped two defenders and fired a pile driver home from 25 yards. Blues fans had suffered for twenty minutes as the visitors had dominated the game peppering Blues goal. Myhill was forced into a couple of saves and the Blues defence was fully stretched.

Redmond’s strike ended the visitor’s ambitions and David Murphy headed a corner home a few moments later to double the lead.  With Burke and Redmond pulling the Nacional defence all over the place Blues looked a potent force but the front two woods and Rooney were careless in front of goal.

Blues were totally dominant throughout the second half and Woods and Rooney wasted chances before a divine run by Redmond saw a right foot curler wrap the post.

With a 4 on 2 break late in the game Burke and carr set up woods for a tap in. The on loan striker deserved his goal after some hard work but he and Rooney must up their strike rate.

This was vintage stuff and the Hughton 4-5-1 formation differs from the O’Eck version in that the two wide men operate the length of the pitch and the middle players are allowed to pass beyond the centre circle.

The near 30,000 crowd seemed to like the Hughton plan and the European night atmosphere. The visitors stand over a division higher than Blues and face Benfica on Sunday. Blues face Watford.

The game was a real boost for fans who fear that they may not have a club by Christmas. On this form it will take a financial irregularity to get us out of Europe. Our football is plenty good enough.

By Alan Watton

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