We came for a point and we got it
We came for a point and we got it, writes Black Country correspondentGraham Speller. Making three changes from the dreadful display against Southampton earlier in the week, Curbishley sent his team out with the resolve to get at least a point from the match. We nearly nicked all three. Out went Euell, Jeffers and Rommedahl, and in came JJ, El Karkouri and, returning to his former club, Hughes.
Within the first ten minutes the confidence as growing that this was a different team than previously took the field. The defence coped admirably with a through ball from Savage, while raids down the left wing with JJ being particularly strong, led to two successive corners on the ten minute mark. El Karkouri was a source of strength in midfield and Murphy was starting to put some passes together.
An early free kick by Savage was easily dealt with by a five man wall and Perry gave Heskey little room to turn. Kish did well to head away a through ball within giving away a corner, while in midfield the battle was evenly balanced. Referee U Rennie overruled his assistant to unleash a verbal attack from TBBM to remind us why Rennie had been demoted to the lower leagues.
A good run by JJ left Savage on the floor, only for the attack to come to nothing. Either Lisbie couldn't get forward or he was playing to orders. Neither keeper had to make a serious save in the first 30 minutes. A number of corners conceded in the last quarter of hour before half time showed that the Blues were starting to dominate, but the defence held firm and they had difficulty in breaking us down. A foul by Kish just outside the box on the left wing put us under pressure and the free kick this time was accurate and true. Deano did well to stop the shot with his fists for a firm clearance.
A good run by Lisbie was all in vain as there was no one to help. A little disappoining as with just a little more ambition the game was there for the taking. Where were Jeffers and Rommedahl when you needed them? The one additional minute at the end of the half was played without any further action and at half time we were all square at 0-0 with the feeling that we could just nick this one. Quite a contrast to Monday's performance.
HT: Blews 0, Addicks 0
Blues started the second half raiding our left wing, winning throw-ins that were launched into the box but without any real threat, as the defence under the leadership of Perry was coping well. When they didn't clear Deano was on his game to pick up the pieces with clean catches at corners and saves at the feet of the raiding Birmingham strikers. JJ and Young combined well to give hope that a goal might come our way.
Murphy battled well in midfield and won a ball which fed out to JJ on the right wing. Reaching the by line JJ slipped the ball across the face of goal to a fast approaching Lisbie who failed to connect by inches. It confused the keeper who let it slip under his body for Young to slip it into the corner of the net.
The advantage was further enhanced when JJ was cruelly brought to ground in the centrre circle when making good progress towards their goal with a Blues defence that was stretched. For his trouble, Johnson was sent off. This enlivened the Blues side and Deano had to be sharp off his line to save from Morrison while a cross from the left wing flashed across our bar.
At the other end a good run by Lisbie won a corner and Murphy found Hreidarsson's head but he couldn't direct it towards the goal. JJ raided the left wing, made it inside the box and passed all along the goal line only for the ball to be cleared. Another goal at this stage would have secured all three points. A double substitution by Steve Bruce changed the balance and we conceded three corners in quick succession and, from the last, Yorke outjumped the defence to equalise.
This unleashed a chorus of 'S*** on the Villa' and as someone with an interest in education in the City, I wonder just how effectively the Literacy Strategy is being taught in our schools?!
At this stage it was difficult to understand which team is down to ten men and with fifteen minutes to go you just start to wonder if all the hard work will be undone. Substitutions by Curbishley brought Rommedahl and Euell on for El Karkouri and Lisbie in an attempt to redress the balance. Hreidarsson had a good run down the left and the resulting attempt flashed over the bar. Euell fired wide of the left hand post with his back to goal after being fed by JJ. Rommedahl played down the middle and confused both the Blues defence and us, and Murphy scooped a shot over the bar. The substitutions has shifted the balance back to us. Just makes you wonder what would have happened of they had been made earlier? 27,400 fans left the ground with an equal degree of satisfaction.
A good point to win, but perhaps with a little more ambition we might have nicked all three. After the debacle that was last Monday against Southampton, I'll settle for that.
Match analysis
The Silver Bone was given to the team performance as fears were beginning to grow that we would struggle this season on evidence up to this game. The match showed we were able to play at the level achieved last season and that a win against Blackburn at The Valley next week will show the revival is complete. Deano was back to himself. Young two goals in three games shows Luke Warm is hotting up. Perry a commanding performance. Fortune ok. HH another step towards cult status. Kish ok. Murphy best performance by far with tackles won and distribution starting to flow. El Karkouri bolstered the mid field really well. Hughes the sort of player Curbs loves, neat, tidy, skillful, but time will tell whether he can impact on a game to tip the balance. JJ best performance for a long time, won loads in the air and good runs into the box. Lisbie did well in parts but missing the last five per cent, needs to get another goal quick to strengthen his credibility. Euell can't pass, fouls when he tackles, the jury is out on this one. Rommedahl not enough time to have a great impact, an under used strength of the squad.
Hiss of the Match The steward who directed me to the home end! This did nothing to quell fears that an original broad South London accent has netamorphosed into a Brummie drawl!
Within the first ten minutes the confidence as growing that this was a different team than previously took the field. The defence coped admirably with a through ball from Savage, while raids down the left wing with JJ being particularly strong, led to two successive corners on the ten minute mark. El Karkouri was a source of strength in midfield and Murphy was starting to put some passes together.
An early free kick by Savage was easily dealt with by a five man wall and Perry gave Heskey little room to turn. Kish did well to head away a through ball within giving away a corner, while in midfield the battle was evenly balanced. Referee U Rennie overruled his assistant to unleash a verbal attack from TBBM to remind us why Rennie had been demoted to the lower leagues.
A good run by JJ left Savage on the floor, only for the attack to come to nothing. Either Lisbie couldn't get forward or he was playing to orders. Neither keeper had to make a serious save in the first 30 minutes. A number of corners conceded in the last quarter of hour before half time showed that the Blues were starting to dominate, but the defence held firm and they had difficulty in breaking us down. A foul by Kish just outside the box on the left wing put us under pressure and the free kick this time was accurate and true. Deano did well to stop the shot with his fists for a firm clearance.
A good run by Lisbie was all in vain as there was no one to help. A little disappoining as with just a little more ambition the game was there for the taking. Where were Jeffers and Rommedahl when you needed them? The one additional minute at the end of the half was played without any further action and at half time we were all square at 0-0 with the feeling that we could just nick this one. Quite a contrast to Monday's performance.
HT: Blews 0, Addicks 0
Blues started the second half raiding our left wing, winning throw-ins that were launched into the box but without any real threat, as the defence under the leadership of Perry was coping well. When they didn't clear Deano was on his game to pick up the pieces with clean catches at corners and saves at the feet of the raiding Birmingham strikers. JJ and Young combined well to give hope that a goal might come our way.
Murphy battled well in midfield and won a ball which fed out to JJ on the right wing. Reaching the by line JJ slipped the ball across the face of goal to a fast approaching Lisbie who failed to connect by inches. It confused the keeper who let it slip under his body for Young to slip it into the corner of the net.
The advantage was further enhanced when JJ was cruelly brought to ground in the centrre circle when making good progress towards their goal with a Blues defence that was stretched. For his trouble, Johnson was sent off. This enlivened the Blues side and Deano had to be sharp off his line to save from Morrison while a cross from the left wing flashed across our bar.
At the other end a good run by Lisbie won a corner and Murphy found Hreidarsson's head but he couldn't direct it towards the goal. JJ raided the left wing, made it inside the box and passed all along the goal line only for the ball to be cleared. Another goal at this stage would have secured all three points. A double substitution by Steve Bruce changed the balance and we conceded three corners in quick succession and, from the last, Yorke outjumped the defence to equalise.
This unleashed a chorus of 'S*** on the Villa' and as someone with an interest in education in the City, I wonder just how effectively the Literacy Strategy is being taught in our schools?!
At this stage it was difficult to understand which team is down to ten men and with fifteen minutes to go you just start to wonder if all the hard work will be undone. Substitutions by Curbishley brought Rommedahl and Euell on for El Karkouri and Lisbie in an attempt to redress the balance. Hreidarsson had a good run down the left and the resulting attempt flashed over the bar. Euell fired wide of the left hand post with his back to goal after being fed by JJ. Rommedahl played down the middle and confused both the Blues defence and us, and Murphy scooped a shot over the bar. The substitutions has shifted the balance back to us. Just makes you wonder what would have happened of they had been made earlier? 27,400 fans left the ground with an equal degree of satisfaction.
A good point to win, but perhaps with a little more ambition we might have nicked all three. After the debacle that was last Monday against Southampton, I'll settle for that.
Match analysis
The Silver Bone was given to the team performance as fears were beginning to grow that we would struggle this season on evidence up to this game. The match showed we were able to play at the level achieved last season and that a win against Blackburn at The Valley next week will show the revival is complete. Deano was back to himself. Young two goals in three games shows Luke Warm is hotting up. Perry a commanding performance. Fortune ok. HH another step towards cult status. Kish ok. Murphy best performance by far with tackles won and distribution starting to flow. El Karkouri bolstered the mid field really well. Hughes the sort of player Curbs loves, neat, tidy, skillful, but time will tell whether he can impact on a game to tip the balance. JJ best performance for a long time, won loads in the air and good runs into the box. Lisbie did well in parts but missing the last five per cent, needs to get another goal quick to strengthen his credibility. Euell can't pass, fouls when he tackles, the jury is out on this one. Rommedahl not enough time to have a great impact, an under used strength of the squad.
Hiss of the Match The steward who directed me to the home end! This did nothing to quell fears that an original broad South London accent has netamorphosed into a Brummie drawl!
posted by Wyn Grant at 11:28 AM
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