Blues face exit in spite of Euro comeback
Features, Match Center, Match Reports, News | admin | November 4, 2011 at 12:24 pm
Blues are looking at Euro disappointment as the final fixtures shape up. The similarity with Blues situation and their final day exit from the Premiership is uncanny. Blues must avoid defeat at Braga, an unenviable task and beat Maribor. Wins by the Portuguese side and by Bruges in their next games will leave them able to carry out a draw to eliminate Blues.
Just as they left themselves in a position to be manipulated out of the Premiership so with the big two face to face in the last match they are hardly likely to risk elimination for our benefit.
All this is very sad as last night’s game was nothing short of miraculous. Blues were edgy throughout the first half but went close with a Murphy free kick which rattled the corner of the goal frame and Zigic headed wide from a superb Fahey cross. For all their composed football Bruges had hardly troubled stand in keeper Doyle.
Blues committed the worst sin in football on 38 minutes when Meunier was allowed to control a corner and volley impressively for the opening goal. Things got worse when a ball given away by Beausejour was swept forward and Akpala, who was offside, side footed home.
The packed St Andrews was stunned but Manager of the Month Chris Hughton did what he has had to do too many times this season and that was inspiring a comeback. Zigic, who had not had the best of nights controlled a high cross and his volley was blocked. The ball ran to Beausejour who fired home with his ‘swinger’ of a right foot.
Blues were now rampant but survived a shot rattling the post before Hughton threw on King, Wood and Burke for Zigic, Elliot and Rooney. Beausejour suddenly came to life and was hauled down by Donk, the former Baggie, for a penalty. King converted to make it 2-2.
The game was end to end for the final fifteen minutes and both sides were happy to hear the whistle. Blues will have to dig deep now as a defeat in the next game in Braga will almost certainly lead to Blues exit. The European adventure has been just that, an adventure. I for one want as much of it as possible. Chris Hughton I believe feels the same way.
By Alan Watton
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The end is nigh! Were all going to die one day! My glass is half empty! I think my wife maybe having an affair! My jobs not safe! Get the idea! Just enjoy what we've got and chill out! KRO!
Wow.. bit negative isn’t it?? Instead of congratulating the team, fans and all involved in last night’s incredible comeback you put the knockers on it all by saying we’ve basically got no chance of qualifying? On current form I’d back Blues to qualify every time… anyone thinking otherwise needs to take a good look at themselves.
What a disgraceful article! Blues currently sit joint top with 7 points and have every chance of qualifying. This is so negative!
be positve!, we are no more facing euro exit than brugge or braga
look at the table u twat we are 2nd call urself a fucking blues fan
Lovely piece! Well written!
Both sets of fans deserve a mention especially 22.5 minute “stand up if you love the Blues 23rd minute applause for Brugge player followed immediately by Keep Right On was brilliant I hope it came across well on TV
It sounded great from here in Preston, bought a tear to my eye last night and at the away leg just wish i could have been there for the fantastic atmosphere! KRO!!
hate negative fans this article should be taken off the internet
This is utter rubbish. Blues manipulated themselves out of the prem by losing most of the last matches. Nothing like last season at all, great fun, great excitement and it really doesn't matter if we win lose or draw.
Your entitled to your opinion, but you know fuck all. Best get yourself off to Switzerland
This webpage is always negative
Talk about sensationalism…tryin to grab a headline…well you’ve got it for all the wrong reasons. A real Bluenose would not write tripe like this…I wont be visiting this site again and hope a loada proper fans join me on that
Hang on a minute guys. Watto is only being practical. The chances are that Braga will beat us and Brugges will prevail in Slovenia. They are both excellent sides and even the most optimistic must surely see that. Brugges play Braga on the last evening and anything but a Braga win assuming we do our job and beat Maribor will mean our elimination. I’m going to Portugal and thoroughly looking forward to it and I hope against all hope that I’m able to report on a positive Blues result on joysandsorrows. No one is a more passionate Blues supporter than me but that doesn’t mean I’m not prepared to consider very real possibities which is all that Watto has done. He’s not being negative he’s being realistic. As for you Matt, there is simply no need to be so rude and offensive to a man just expressing his views. I respect yours but not your way of expressing it so leave the foul language out of it when you come on a forum like this eh? KRO SOTV
Hang on a minute guys. Watto is only being practical and stating a view that is obvious to anyone prepared to face up to the reality of the situation. Given the quality of Braga and Brugges that we have already seen it is obvious that Brugges are highly likely to beat Maribor and we may well lose in Portugal. This leaves us to win at St Andrews against Maribor and the other two to play. Anything but a Braga win will mean our elimination from the tournamant. Watto is not being negative but merely realistic. I am going to Braga for our next game and thoroughly looking forward to it. I hope against all hope that I will be able to report a positive result for Blues on joyandsorrows but accept that the likelihood is that I won't. It won't stop me enjoying every minute of the trip though. No one is a more passionate Blues supporter than me but that doesn't mean I'm blind to the distinct possibility that we may lose any given game of football especially against really good sides like Braga. As for you Matt, there is simply no need to be so rude and offensive to a man expressing his view. I respect your but not the manner you have chosen to express them. Leave out the foul and abusive language on a forum such as this next time eh? KRO SOTV
Apologies to Matt; it is Lee who submitted the offensive comment.
Zigic had a good game – always involved. It wasn't the subs that changed the game but the half time talk.
Still in it.
Fantastic logic. But then again, it's a fine line between being an idiot and a genius.
what a div