Blues Match Zone

Blue Murder in Barnsley

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Over the space of 72 hours Birmingham have probably all but squandered the chance of automatic promotion coming from their own efforts and not through another team slipping up.

Following Saturday’s defeat to Burnley, a number of team changes were made. Sadler and Larsson were not even in the sixteen, with the reappearance of Bruno N’Gotty at right back, and Stephen Kelly mystifyingly filling the left back position.

Fabrice Muamba returned to central midfield, partnering Damien Johnson, with McSheffrey and Vine on the wings. Jerome and DJ Campbell made up the front pairing.

From the start, the team seemed disorganised, chaotic even, and although they covered a lot of ground, it was meaningless effort and there was little in the way of creativity or concerted attack.

A few chances were created, but what was a free-scoring team a relatively short time ago now seems unable to find the back of the net.

Most opposing managers now seem to have worked out that stifling McSheffrey is the best way to prevent goalscoring opportunities, which immediately forces Blues into playing the long ball.

During the course of the game, Birmingham had two reasonable penalty shouts turned down; one for a handball and one for a foul on DJ Campbell, but it should have been possible to win the game without having to call on this sort of opportunity.

As it was, the chances that did come along were squandered, with Muamba, Jerome, Bendtner, Vine and DJ Campbell all misfiring.

Without Clemence, again the midfield was lacking in cohesion and the wherewithal to supply the ball that could be turned into a goal.

Barnsley took the lead fairly early in the second half and Birmingham were forced to chase the game. Bendtner was bought on for Vine, and later Danns and Gray for Johnson and N’Gotty, but there was still no incisiveness to produce an equaliser, let alone a winner.

The end of the game was further marred by a very unseemly brawl involving players, substitutes and coaching staff which resulted in Danns and Hassell being sent off for violent conduct. There are likely to be further ramifications of this breakdown of discipline, and the overall effect on the team can only be guessed at.

At the very least, Birmingham now have an uphill struggle if they are to do any better than the playoffs. On current form they might find it difficult even to hold on to a playoff place.

Next up are Southampton for one of Blues’ two remaining home games of the season. A better performance has to be found from somewhere or the large investment made by the Board this season will have been utterly wasted.

Manager Rating
Back to the exasperating tactics of last season; players out of position; lack of a Plan B when the supply was McSheffrey was cut off. Attacking substitutions were made but the team was in such a chaotic state they failed to make any impact.

Opponent Rating
Capitalised on Blues’ poor form. Set his defence up well and demonstrated that Barnsley are able to pull their socks up after a poor result. Now out of the relegation places and could well survive.

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