Dazed Review – Birmingham Away

The Dazed Review – Birmingham Away



ff to a game which very few people had us down as winning before the beginning of the season and even less so since the start we had, we were buoyed with two new signings up front and the impending return of Captain Ash ? was going to prove an interesting game no doubt about that one !!

The game starts and to be honest we were quite easily the better team, we controlled the play and even from his first touch you could see that Bridges had something about him that we have been missing ? indeed it was him with the first chance who made it look easy as he danced through the defense and was unlucky not to score as the keeper saved it, from that corner some good play ended up with the ball to Ashbee of all players but he could not convert and the ball went wide , what a dream that would have been for Ashbee especially if he had scored that one !!

We carried on I would say pretty much dominating the play and you could see the home fans getting frustrated but just as they were they got a goal !! Mcsheffery broke down the left and crossed in for DJ Campbell to sneak in when he really had no right to and pop it in the back of the net ?

This disheartened the players and fans and Birmingham started to stamp their authority on the game, they had a number of chances leading up to half time as Bendtner, Campbell both had chances, the latter hitting the post but we held out to half time with our only other chance coming from Marney whose shot never troubled their keeper ?

Half time – Birmingham 1-0 Hull City

Second half started as the first ended with Birmingham having the better of the play and they deservedly got a second when Bendtner got a goal ? after that they hit the post but we started to get back into the game when Bridges, Forster and Fagan combined to lay onto Livermore who`s sweet finish got us the goal that we had started to deserve

Bridges started to stamp out his authority on the game and laid off for Marney whose weak shot hit the side netting ? this seemed to spark us into life and it was Bridges who next was unlucky to score when he lobbed the keeper only for it to be cleared off the line ?

France then came on for Ashbee who went off to a standing ovation ? we carried on the pressure and came close through Forster who hit the post although Birmingham looked very dangerous on the break and came close on a couple of occasions ? especially once when Myhill had to be at his best to save from Campbell who was lively throughout the game ?

Parkin then came on for Marney as we looked for an equalizer and he should have done better after he had beat the offside trap well only to hit the post although their keeper did cover the goal well as the Beast advanced ?

Welsh then came on for Bridges as Bridges signaled he had felt something and did not want to risk an injury ? he did not do too much but really did not have time to do much ?

Parkin got booked for the second time for leaving his leg out as he challenged for the ball ? his size went against him but he should not have had his leg out that much to be honest ?

The tempers were raised and it could have ended up a nasty end to the game but the game ended and in a way I felt that we should have had a point all in all!! let`s hope we play like this more often as the strikers were creating chances and we all in all looked much better I would say ? we definitely need to convert performances to points now though !!

Birmingham 2 – 1 Hull City







Anyway Player Ratings



Myhill – 6? Kicking was not too bad and a couple of vital saves towards the end of the game as we were trying to chase the game ?



Dawson – 6? Not as influential as in recent weeks but remained solid throughout ?



Turner – 6? Grew in confidence as the game went on after being partly at fault for the first goal ?



Collins – 6? Pretty much the same as Collins, Coles will definitely along with Delaney replace these two I think although these two are more than adequate backups ?



Ricketts – 7? Had a lot to deal with Mcsheffery against him and 90% of the time did well although both goals came from that flank ??



Marney – 4? Stinker of a game on the left, I`ve said week in week out he needs to get his shooting boots on but he must have changed his boots cos these were going further and further away than previous weeks :-d you just knew that things were not going his way to be honest ? maybe give him a game away from the limelight to recoup and restart his season, especially when we have welsh waiting in the wings to do a similar job ?



Ashbee – 7? Good debut after so long out through injury, very commanding and very good alongside Livermore, did tire towards the end but you could expect that, good to have you back Ash!!! Passing was wayward though but again he can be forgiven for that I guess



Livermore – 7? Carried on his own personal good form and worked well with Ashbee, sweet finish to get us the goal after a superb move ? just to see him in the 18 yd box shows that we have replaced Andrews with a better player tenfold ?



Fagan – 6? Very busy at times and terrorized the defense and the keeper by chasing down everything, nice to see the Birmingham fans give him a nice ovation as well ? needs to work on his crossing though ?



Forster – 8? One half of the new signings and he looked good , he will get goals there is no doubt about that one ? very strong, got good pace on him and worked well with Bridges ? unlucky not to score when he hit the post and had a hand in the goal ?



Bridges – 9? Never have a seen such a good debut by a player ? this guy is the real deal, Barmby IMO is nothing compared to this guy ? every time he had the ball you knew he was going to either beat at least two players or lay off the ball pin point to someone else for them to create a chance ? A deserved MOM for yesterday and ran the game as a whole at times ?



Subs



Parkin – 4 ? Came on and we hoped for impact , boy did we get it , unfortunately in the wrong way ? should have scored when one on one and two silly challenges got him sent off ?



Welsh – 6? Not on long enough to impact, only on as Bridges I thought must have felt a twinge and did not want to risk it ?



France – 7? Pick of the subs, seemed to enjoy the way we were playing more as we were on the floor all the time when up front, played very well and should start the next game ?

Top Tiger? Bridges without a shadow of a doubt



Tigers Tail? Marney sad to say ? needs to pick up his game to show us why we paid £500,000 for him, give the lad time though and I hope and reckon he will prove it to us ?



Parky`s Performance? 7/10 Picked his team with a purpose and really must wonder what the hell he has to do to get his first win, I can see though that when we get it plenty more will follow, confidence is a funny thing after all eh ?



Ref Watch? 6/10 one of the better ones this season so far to be honest ? looking back on Parkins challenges you can see why he was sent off to be honest although I admit some other refs would not have given it ?



Crowd Watch? 9/10 Away fans did us proud once again, loud and proud of our team ? went slightly quiet towards the end of the first half but came back second half and nonstop got behind our team ? well done to you all , you deserve a pat on the back every one of you ?



Where to from here ??Points!!! We need points and quickly now ? you can say its only 6 games in blah de blah and I agree it is still very early and I am not panicking yet but we are putting performances in and now these need converting into points, Yes I admit Birmingham away before the start of the season would not be seen as one we would have expected anything from but after watching the game I feel we should have got something from it ? let`s start with Leicester away on Tuesday and turn the performances into points!!!