Birmingham v Fulham- A Match Report

Birmingham City have certainly played a lot better than they did yesterday this season, and got nothing from the game. This has been largely down to a chronic inability to score goals, and more recently, some poor refereeing decisions. In that case, thank heavens for Lee Bowyer. The former Leeds player rolled back the years yesterday with a performance that showed that he can still last 90 minutes at this level. The box to box midfielder showed his class with a well-taken goal 16 minutes into the game, after a beautifully insightful pass from James McFadden, who has too often failed to live up to expectations in the blue of Birmingham, after some excellent performances in the blue of Scotland.

After the pressure was lifted from St Andrews after the early goal, it was down to the defence of Birmingham to keep out the attack of Fulham, which consistently pressed throughout the second half, after offering little before the break. Where previous Birmingham City defences would have crumbled, this side is made of sterner stuff. Instead of ageing squad players such as Martin Taylor and Radhi Jaidi, Roger Johnson and Scott Dann have impressively made the step-up in divisions with relative ease. Many pundits and fans looked on in worry as Alex McLeish packed his defence with young Championship defenders; how would they cope against the likes of Rooney and Defoe? However, it is hoped that Johnson will do for Birmingham what Joleon Lescott did for Everton when he moved from Wolves, who, incidentally, Birmingham face next week in a local derby at Molineux. His partner Dann, although visibly lacking in experience and know-how, clearly has the talent and potential to become an established centre-half in the Premier League.

In a match lacking in quality and serious chances, mostly hindered by the weather, Fulham looked the brighter early on. Bobby Zamora, with so much untapped potential, played as the lone man up front, and looked lively as he troubled the Birmingham goal early on. Joe Hart, after looking shaky early on in the season, appeared to be far more assured as he commanded his goal and defenders. Hart, if he wants to become a serious contender for the England jersey, needs to come off his line and claim crosses more, but his handling, on a day when the ball was slippery, was perfect. Then came the goal, on 16 minutes: the one bit of true quality in the entire match. Bowyer, so often associated with simple workmanlike grit and determination, showed good presence of mind to burst into the box, and his composed finish was worthy of winning the game.

Roy Hodgson, although surely delighted with recent home wins over Liverpool and Hull, will be worried by his side's lack of penetration up front. Damien Duff remained on the bench for most of the match, after the way he terrorised the French defence on Wednesday night, and without him, there was no one to get to the byline for the away team. As any side with the giant Brede Hangeland in their ranks would be, Fulham looked dangerous from corners, probably their best chance of scoring. McLeish, after seeing his side record their 4th win of the season, claimed that his team were 'untidy', and probably echoed the feeling that I expressed in my opening line.

A third of the way into the season, however, and Birmingham are on course for 45 points, a tally that would comfortably ensure Premier League survival. With Wolves, Wigan, Blackburn and West Ham to come next for the Blues, Mcleish's men haven't lost since the takeover of Carson Yeung, and the disappearance of David Sullivan and Karren Brady. A coincidence? I somehow think not...