Fanhouse UK Football - birmingham

Through The Fixtures As It Happened

Evan Fanning — 2010-03-13T09:27:00-05:00

Filed under: Aston Villa, Bolton, Birmingham, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Stoke City, West Ham, Wigan, Wolverhampton, Min-By-Min Reports

Minute-by-minute commentary from around the grounds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Birmingham City 2 Everton 2: Gardner Strike Completes Blues' Comeback

Dean Jones — 2010-03-13T09:19:00-05:00

by Dean Jones

Filed under: Birmingham, Everton, Match Reports

Everton threw away a two-goal lead as the European hopefuls from Birmingham produced an enthralling encounter.

Both clubs have ambitions to qualify for the Europa League and strikes from Victor Anichebe and Yakubu moved the visitors into a two-goal lead within 22 minutes at St Andrew's.

The quickfire double left Birmingham stunned. The Blues had only conceded eight league goals at home all season before this fixture.

However, they pulled a goal back when Cameron Jerome managed to help home a Keith Fahey angled cross, and after the break Craig Gardner scored his first goal for the club with a sweet strike.

Everton may feel hard-done-by after referee Lee Probert turned down three penalty appeals as Roger Johnson, Gardner and Stephen Carr all appeared to handle in the area during the second half.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Birmingham v Everton Preview: It's Crunch Time for Christian Benitez

Ian Edwards — 2010-03-12T09:00:00-05:00

by Ian Edwards

Filed under: Birmingham, Everton, Match Previews

PREMIER LEAGUE: ST ANDREW'S, SATURDAY MARCH 13, 2010. KICK-OFF: 1500 GMT

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Premier League Rankings

Ian Whittell — 2010-03-11T07:05:00-05:00

by Ian Whittell

Filed under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Birmingham, Burnley, Chelsea, Everton, Fulham, Hull City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Sunderland, Tottenham, West Ham, Wigan, Wolverhampton, FanHouse Rankings

Welcome back to our regular look at who's hot and who's not in the world's best football competition.

The real drama seemed to be away from the league this week - with the FA Cup quarter-finals and Champions League last 16 taking centre stage - but, quietly, there were a couple of league results that appear likely to have a bearing on big issues, particularly at the foot of the table.

Teams like Bolton, Wigan and Sunderland looked like big winners but what has that done to their places in our Rankings?

FanHouse UK has used the latest, most in-depth objective statistical data, balanced with the purely subjective views of our expert staff, to come up with the answers.

All this - and much more - is revealed below ...

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Portsmouth 1 Birmingham 2: Cameron Jerome Seals Revenge for Cup Exit

Ian Winrow — 2010-03-09T17:00:00-05:00

by Ian Winrow

Filed under: Birmingham, Portsmouth, Match Reports

Cameron Jerome ensured Birmingham gained early revenge for the weekend FA Cup quarter final defeat with two first half goals that brought bottom club Portsmouth crashing back down to earth.

Birmingham had left Fratton Park on Saturday nursing a sense of injustice after Liam Ridgewell's header had been ruled out despite appearing to cross the line.

But there was little doubt about the outcome on this occasion after Jerome struck in the 16th and 42nd minute.

Kanu's header in added time offered a glimmer of hope of a home comeback but came to late for Pompey to mount a meaningful late rally.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Financial Reality is Kicking In for Alex McLeish and Birmingham's Owners

Ian Edwards — 2010-03-09T07:06:00-05:00

by Ian Edwards

Filed under: Transfer Gossip, Birmingham

Portsmouth's financial plight has provided a salutary lesson for every club in the Premier League and may have ended Birmingham manager Alex McLeish's hopes of having a transfer budget that resembles an overseas phone number.

When Carson Yeung and his colleagues arrived last year, the Hong Kong businessman was at the forefront, making bold promises about spending £40m in the January transfer window and the same amount again in the summer.

Birmingham's recent announcement that they made a £20.5m pre-tax loss for the last financial year - to August 31, 2009 - may have brought a change in their financial policy, even if McLeish claims he has been given no indication by Yeung that his budget for new players will be drastically affected.

Having to cope with such losses is bad enough, but visiting Portsmouth's Fratton Park twice in the space of four days will have provided a more stark reminderof what happens when foreign investment at a club over-stretches itself to such ridiculous limits that the whole house of cards collapses.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Portsmouth v Birmingham Preview: Joe Hart Seeking Revenge for Cup Loss

Dean Jones — 2010-03-08T10:15:00-05:00

by Dean Jones

Filed under: Birmingham, Portsmouth, Match Previews

PREMIER LEAGUE: FRATTON PARK, TUESDAY MARCH 9, 2010. KICK-OFF: 1945 GMT

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Portsmouth 2 Birmingham 0: Piquionne's Dream Double Secures Wembley Place

Dean Jones — 2010-03-06T08:23:00-05:00

by Dean Jones

Filed under: Birmingham, Portsmouth, FA Cup, Match Reports

It seems fairytales really do come true after Frederic Piquionne scored twice to send Portsmouth to Wembley for an FA Cup semi-final.

Pompey have been plagued by problems off the field this season, plunging into administration and bringing their future existence into question.

Yet the 2008 FA Cup winners put all their troubles behind them as Piquionne struck twice in the space of three second-half minutes at Fratton Park to clinch an unlikely place in the final four of this great cup contest.

Birmingham will be furious though, as they should have been handed a lifeline with ten minutes left. Liam Ridgewell's header bounced a yard over the goalline as goalkeeper David James tried to claw it away - but referee Steve Bennett refused to award the goal as his assistant also failed to spot the goal.

The decision comes as the International Football Association Board abandon any prospect of goal-line technology being introduced in the future.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

FA Cup: Portsmouth - Birmingham City Minute-By-Minute Report

JP Shaw — 2010-03-06T07:01:00-05:00

by JP Shaw

Filed under: Birmingham, Portsmouth, FA Cup, Min-By-Min Reports

Minute-by-minute commentary from Fratton Park.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Portsmouth v Birmingham Preview: David James Dares to Dream

Dean Jones — 2010-03-05T14:12:00-05:00

by Dean Jones

Filed under: Birmingham, Portsmouth, FA Cup, Match Previews

FA CUP: FRATTON PARK, SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010. KICK-OFF: 1230 GMT

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Premier League Rankings

Ian Whittell — 2010-03-04T07:42:00-05:00

by Ian Whittell

Welcome back to our regular look at who's hot and who's not in the world's best football competition.

It was a typical weekend at the office for the Premier League, what with jilted lovers taking it out on their torturers; x-rated injuries; a team re-entering the title race and even the distraction of a Wembley final thrown into the mix for good measure.

Manchester United beating Villa in the Carling Cup does not factor into our FanHouse Rankings but everything else does which probably explains why there is a new No. 1, a new No. 20 and plenty of movement in between.

FanHouse UK has used the latest, most in-depth objective statistical data, balanced with the purely subjective views of our expert staff, to come up with the answers.

All this - and much more - is revealed below ...

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Birmingham City 1 Wigan Athletic 0: Dodgy Penalty Proves Decisive

Ian Edwards — 2010-02-27T12:09:00-05:00

by Ian Edwards

Filed under: Birmingham, Wigan, Match Reports

James McFadden's controversial first goal in four months from the penalty spot ensured Birmingham City extended their unbeaten home record which stretches back to September and reached the 40-point target set by manager Alex McLeish for safety this season.

TV replays showed that Republic of Ireland winger Keith Fahey appeared to dive when Mario Melchiot attempted to tackle him in the penalty area in first-half stoppage time, but referee Anthony Taylor awarded the penalty.

It was the Scottish international's third goal of the season on a bizarre day for the officials at St Andrew's as seven minutes of stoppage time had to be played for an injury to referee's assistant Trevor Massey.

Massey had to be carried off on a stretcher with blood streaming from a head wound, after Liam Ridgwell's tackle on James McCarthy sent the corner flag flying into the official's forehead.

REACTION:
Roberto Martinez rarely appears to lose his self-control, but he must have been seething with the officials at St Andrew's and for the dreadful tackle by Ridgewell that could force James McCarthy to miss his dream international debut against Brazil on Tuesday night.

McCarthy is due to join up with Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland squad in the next 24 hours after receiving his first call-up to the full squad, but his chance of a debut against the Samba Kings is in doubt.

The youngster was forced to limp out of the game late on with an ankle injury which will have to be scanned by the club's doctors and could force him to pull out of the squad.

"It was an horrendous tackle ... and James McCarthy has an ankle injury that does not look very good," said Martinez.

"It is very doubtful that he will be able to play for the Republic against Brazil. He is in a lot of pain and we need to have him scanned.

"He will still have to report with the Ireland squad and be assessed by them, but it does not look good for him and that is a shame because it is his first chance to play for the full team."

Martinez was also less than impressed with referee Anthony Taylor after what he thought was a blatant dive by Fahey which led to McFadden's penalty.

"Everyone can see that it was not a penalty. That should be a yellow card for the striker," said Martinez. "The referee had a great view and he was only five yards away. I don't think there was any contact."

McLeish did not have too much sympathy over the penalty and argued that if defenders are going to make challenges in the penalty area and not get the ball they are risking trouble.

"If you dive in in the penalty area and you don't get the ball then you are in trouble. I did not have a good view of it, but defenders have to be careful," said McLeish.

Birmingham have reached their 40-point safety target with 11 games to go after operating on a shoestring until new owner Carson Yeung took over.

And Yeung should stop dragging his heels over a new contract for the former Scotland boss - who has worked miracles this season.

"It is am amazing feat, with a squad that cost £10 million in the summer and it is even more amazing that we are eighth in the table," said McLeish.

"We are delighted with what we have achieved and I know that the players will keep going. There is no chance of them downing tools and thinking that the job is done.

"We feel that 50 points is an achieveble target and we will keep going to try to get that. Anything after that will be a bonus."

HOW IT HAPPENED:
It was never likely to be a classic between these two and the first half was devoid of quality, but not that McLeish will care too much. All he is bothered about is garnering sufficient points to give him the platform to build on next season. Birmingham are efficient and hard-working and that was the key again here, allied with a slice of luck. The penalty should not have been awarded, but it was and McFadden made the most of the good fortune. Luck is a commodity that is eluding Wigan at the moment, but they certainly showed enough in the second half to give their supporters hope.

WHAT IT MEANS:
McLeish can pat himself on the back for a wonderful job, when everyone was tipping him not to last the season and for Birmingham to be relegated. He has provided a platform for the club to kick on next season and done more than enough to justify the new contract he is looking for. As for Wigan, they are certainly trying to play with some kind of flair though perhaps a return to basics would be better. They seem to have the quality needed to avoid the drop, but they need to start winning games.

QUOTEABLE:
"I don't want to tell Fabio Capello how to do his job, but Joe Hart deserves a game."
- McLeish on the outstanding form of his goalkeeper.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Through The Fixtures As It Happened

Howard Swains — 2010-02-27T09:45:00-05:00

by Howard Swains

Filed under: Bolton, Birmingham, Burnley, Portsmouth, Wigan, Wolverhampton, Min-By-Min Reports

Minute-by-minute commentary from around the grounds.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Birmingham v Wigan Athletic Preview: Alex McLeish Feeling Fine at 40

Ian Edwards — 2010-02-26T05:27:00-05:00

by Ian Edwards

Filed under: Birmingham, Wigan, Match Previews

PREMIER LEAGUE: ST ANDREW'S, SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2010. KICK-OFF: 1500 GMT

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Premier League Rankings

Ian Whittell — 2010-02-26T02:45:00-05:00

by Ian Whittell

Welcome back to our regular look at who's hot and who's not in the world's best football competition.

There is a new No. 1 in the Rankings this week following another unpredictable round of results in what has been the most unpredictable title race for years. Meanwhile, somebody forgot to tell Manchester City and Liverpool that the race for fourth place is meant to be one of the most exciting in Premier League history.

And both factors have had a major impact on the Rankings.

FanHouse UK has used the latest, most in-depth objective statistical data, balanced with the purely subjective views of our expert staff, to come up with the answers.

All this - and much more - is revealed below ...

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Fulham 2 Birmingham City 1: Bobby Zamora is Fulham's Hero Once Again

Ian Winrow — 2010-02-21T10:17:00-05:00

by Ian Winrow

Filed under: Birmingham, Fulham, Match Reports

Bobby Zamora was Fulham's match-winner for the second time in four days after the striker struck an outstanding 89th-minute free-kick that ensured his side moved above Birmingham into ninth.

Zamora had clinched the Cottagers' Europa League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday with a long-range drive and he repeated the feat in front of the watching Fabio Capello.

The strike completed Fulham's comeback after Roy Hodgson's side had been playing catch-up from the moment Chris Baird headed into his own goal in the third minute.

Damien Duff levelled with a superb run and shot in the 59th minute and Zamora secured the points after Stephen Carr had fouled Zoltan Gera on the edge of the area.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Fulham v Birmingham Preview: Kevin Phillips on a Survival Mission

Ian Winrow — 2010-02-19T17:25:00-05:00

by Ian Winrow

Filed under: Birmingham, Fulham, Match Previews

PREMIER LEAGUE: CRAVEN COTTAGE, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2010. KICK-OFF: 1500 GMT

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Birmingham are Wise to Start Talks over New Contract with Alex McLeish

Ian Edwards — 2010-02-18T05:38:00-05:00

by Ian Edwards

Filed under: Birmingham

When Carson Yeung arrived as new owner of Birmingham City, to fanfares and with promises of Chinese millions to transform the club into a Premier League power, Alex McLeish was not expected to be around for long.

The smart money was on McLeish being politely asked to leave the building, following David Sullivan and David Gold, so Yeung could replace him with a "big name."

Big names, earn big salaries, sign big name players and too often leaves clubs in a mess with an equally big pay off in their back pocket.

McLeish never bleated for a moment. He never confronted the owners, never went running to his media friends to rock the boat and did the sensible thing: he kept his head down and got on with his £1m-a-year job.

True, he was working with the safety net of nearly two years remaining on his contract and would have been paid in full as part of any settlement arrangement.

However, in that new climate, it would have been easy for him to take his eye off the ball, feel he was unwanted and withdraw his labour, safe in the knowledge that the football community would look upon him as an unfortunate victim of the new broom sweeping clean at St Andrew's.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Birmingham's Joe Hart Must be Given his England Break Against Egypt

John Percy — 2010-02-15T06:51:00-05:00

by John Percy

Filed under: Birmingham, England, World Cup 2010

Shay Given's World Cup dream may have been ended by the Hand of Thierry Henry, but there is a delicious sense of irony developing in the fact that Joe Hart seems destined to be in South Africa this summer.

Hart's Manchester City career has been effectively ended by Given, but the young goalkeeper on loan at Birmingham City is well on course to cancel his summer holidays and sneak his way into the England squad.

The 22-year-old must surely be inching into the conscience of Fabio Capello and deserves a chance to continue his progress with a start against Egypt in the March friendly international.

While Portsmouth's David James seems likely to be guaranteed a place on the grounds of vast experience, there is no English goalkeeper in more consistent form than Hart.

Question marks remain over the form and temperament of Paul Robinson and Robert Green, not to mention their ability to cope with such expectation at the highest level.

But Hart has emphatically erased nagging doubts over his own lack of experience and concentration levels by playing a major part in Birmingham's stunning campaign under Alex McLeish.

FanHouse first pinpointed Hart's international prospects in mid-December. Since then, he has put forward a powerful case for inclusion in the squad for South Africa and next month's friendly at Wembley is an ideal opportunity for Capello to reward Hart with a start - and avoid the potential risk of a repeat of Scott Carson's unfortunate experience with the Three Lions.

Carson was thrown in at the deep end for England's crucial Euro 2008 qualifier with Croatia and simply could not cope with the pressure. One high profile blunder has virtually condemned him to the international scrapheap and he is now operating in the Championship with West Bromwich Albion.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Team of the Week: Owusu-Abeyie a Name to Conjure with for Pompey Fans

Ian Whittell — 2010-02-15T06:02:00-05:00

by Ian Whittell

Filed under: Team of the Week, Bolton, Birmingham, Fulham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Tottenham, FA Cup

On-loan Portsmouth forward Quincy Owusu-Abeyie gave long-suffering Portsmouth supporters - not to mention the club's bank manager - reasons to be cheerful with his display in the FA Cup fifth round win at Southampton on Saturday.

A second half sub, the Ghana international was the key factor in what was ultimately a comfortable stroll into the last eight where the financially-stricken south coast club now face a lucrative home tie with Birmingham and the possibility of reaching the semi-finals at Wembley.

Owusu-Abeyie also makes our Team of the Week for the first time, as voted for by FanHouse experts at every Premier League and FA Cup game.

Up front, he partners Jermain Defoe whose superbly-taken equaliser earned Spurs a replay against Bolton and takes his tally of FA Cup goals this season to an impressive five in four games. Tottenham should actually be planning on a sixth round visit to Fulham this morning but Tom Huddlestone missed his second half penalty which was superbly saved by Jussi Jaaskelainen whose all-round performance in the 1-1 draw gets him into our team.

Bolton defender Zat Knight also stood out, although he was subbed after just over an hour, and his team's problems against Tottenham all seemed to start when he was forced off the field with a calf injury. From that same Sunday tie, Spurs' left-back Gareth Bale also figures in the team for a solid performance at both ends of the field.

The TOTW defence also features full-back Robert Huth who was impressive for Stoke, keeping Manchester City winger Martin Petrov quiet in the 1-1 draw and Fulham's Aaron Hughes did enough in his team's stroll against Notts County yesterday to warrant selection.

The TOTW midfield features a wide selection of players - literally! Birmingham's Barry Ferguson, a driving central force in a tricky visit to Derby, is in the team but the other three midfielders were all used as wingers at the weekend.

Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips scored his team's goal against Stoke; Fulham's Simon Davies bagged the opener in the easy win over Notts and Tuncay was an inspiration for Stoke as they came back at the City of Manchester Stadium.

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments