Hallelujah! Blues return to winning ways

BLUES 1 FULHAM 0

Hallelujah!

The football gods have been conspiring against Gianfranco Zola and his Birmingham City players recently. After ten winless games, you’d be forgiven for forgetting what a win feels like – indeed you wouldn’t be frowned upon for wondering if winning even exists.

A solitary goal was the difference between Blues and Fulham this afternoon, but for once Blues were on the positive side of the ‘fine margins’ that Zola has bemoaned of late.

The visitors may have been reduced to ten men and they may have had their own chances yet nobody can begrudge Zola’s men this thoroughly deserved victory. Lukas Jutkiewicz was the man who bundled the ball over the line and, in truth, he should have buried a couple that fell his way in the first half. But his battling and refusal to drop his head epitomised Blues’ spirit. And it has to be said, overall the fans have stuck admirably with the manager and his troops.

When the line-up was announced, I had my doubts. I wondered where the attacking threat would come from without Kerim Frei, who was named amongst the subs due to carrying a slight knock. The narrow midfield was compensated by the outstanding attacking work of both full backs, Emilio Nsue and Chieck Keita.

Ironically, today’s performance was the most un-Zola like of his reign so far. With the industrious Craig Gardner and Maikel Kieftenbeld pulling the strings, clearly Blues haven’t totally lost the ability to mix it up. There was quality on show too. Keita killing a Paul Robinson  long diagonal stone dead with his first touch was a personal highlight.

Other chances went begging, most notably Jutkiewicz’s scissor kick and Che Adams smashing a shot straight at the keeper from close range. But Blues held firm, Robinson and makeshift centre half Jonathan Grounds performing well.

So the win has finally arrived. The black cats who crossed Zola’s path can stay away now. While this win doesn’t completely eradicate all of the issues, it does offer us hope and give us enormous relief.