Blues Match Zone

Tough Near the Top

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Birmingham City hung on for victory in their vital game in hand to retake the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship.

With Damien Johnson nursing a hamstring injury, Larsson took his place on the right wing in an otherwise unchanged team.

The Foxes were not up to the fight during the first half and conceded two sloppy goals within the space of four minutes.

The first was yet another contribution from the head of Rahdi Jaidi, converting Gary McSheffrey’s corner into a goal on the quarter hour.

Just a few minutes later Birmingham struck again with Seb Larsson latching on to a superb low cross from Andy Cole. With two assists in two games so far, Steve Bruce must be feeling that his choice of the veteran striker has been a good one.

Birmingham continued to press forward during the first half and could have scored a third to put the game completely out of Leicester’s reach. However, the first half finished without further goalmouth action and the home fans booed their team off the pitch.

Leicester started the second half in much brighter fashion but were let down by poor finishing and were also thwarted by a couple of very good saves from Colin Doyle.

The biggest change to Leicester’s game was brought about by the introduction of ex-Blues player Geoff Horsfield, a fans’ favourite who had a knack of scoring important goals whilst at St Andrew’s.

Horsfield’s introduction turned the game for Leicester; he won the free kick that Shaun Newton put out of Doyle’s reach in the 82nd minute to give them a reason to chase the game.

The last fifteen minutes were frenetic; Horsfield continually harried the Birmingham defence and they were pinned back in their own penalty area for much of the remaining time.

Four minutes’ injury time turned into nearly seven and it was the greatest relief for the travelling faithful when the referee finally raised the whistle to his lips.

To the victor the spoils, as they say; Blues are back in control of their own destiny but must continue this run of form at the Molineux on Sunday lunchtime.

If Birmingham can continue to better Derby’s results, then automatic promotion will be theirs. But a lot can happen in 270 minutes.

Manager Rating
Seems to be working on the premise of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and making only necessary changes to the starting eleven.

Still a bit of a mystery as to why Sadler is being left out.

It was a surprise that Andy Cole played the entire game; his skill will be needed on Sunday!

Opponent Rating
Worthington is still getting to know his new team. Should have bought Horsfield on earlier. The remainder of Leicester’s run-in is not particularly easy and he must turn them round to avoid them being dragged into the relegation mire.

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