English Football Chat - Championship Match Reports & Fan Forum UK

Match Reports

Talk Football

Team Directory

Premiership

Championship

Articles

Shop4Real

The football season has started
HOORAY!!!!!!

Football4real.co.uk

•	Match Reports
•	Articles
•	Talk Football
•	Team Directory
•	World Cup News
•	Premiership News
•	Championship News
•	League One News
•	League Two News
•	FA Cup News
•	League Cup News
•	Scottish News
•	Welsh News
•	European News
•	International News
•	Shop4Real
•	League Tables
•	About Us
•	Contact Us
•	Privacy Policy

VIEW MATCH REPORT

Tuesday 3 Jan 2006
BIRMINGHAM CITY 2-0 WIGAN ATHLETIC
Blues Majestic, Pennant Fantastic and Blues are on their way.

Jermaine Pennant and Mario Melchiot first half goals will go along way to lift the gloom off St Andrews.

The Blues were deserved winners, with Pennant turning in one of his most productive performances on the right flank.

And, while his side remain in the drop zone, the convincing manner of the win will be enough to convince manager Steve Bruce and his board that the fight for Barclays Premiership survival can be won.

Bruce must have hoped it was going to be his day when Matthew Upson was passed fit less than 48 hours after the England defender was thought to be ruled out for a month with a twisted ankle.

Given their lack of goals this season, Birminghams defensive effort could hold the key to the Blues chances of maintaining their present lofty status and in the nervy early stages, Bruce was glad to have Upson around.

Once Birmingham had survived those opening wobbles as Henri Camara and Jason Roberts tried to outpace them as they have done to so many unsuspecting opponents this season, the hosts quickly grew into the game, and none more so than Pennant.

Pennant had the home fans on their feet after 20 minutes. Jiri Jarosiks deep cross from the left flank was a good one but still left Pennant with plenty to do.

Yet, after dropping away from the attentions of marker David Wright, Pennant rose to send an inch-perfect header back across goal which crashed in off the inside of Mike Pollitts post. Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On most occasions this season, when Muzzy Izzet fired a shot goalwards after Wigan had failed to clear a corner, the deflection would have gone either out of play or straight to a member of the visiting line-up.

This time, it arrived at Mario Melchiots feet and from five yards the injury-plagued Dutchman, who failed to re-appear for the second period, prodded home his first goal of the season. Good to see Melchiot back on the pitch, he is invaluable to the Blues and Tebily is simply not a good enough replacement.

Birmingham should have had another before the break but Pennant opted to race on alone rather than feeding Emile Heskey. Possibly a sensible choice at the moment.

The attack was ended by a sliding Josip Skoko tackle which television replays indicated warranted a penalty.

Bruce must have feared a fast start to the second period from the visitors but instead was left worrying about a mounting number of missed chances as Pennant continued to weave his magic.

The worst, by far, was Heskeys failure to make a positive connection with a volley when substitute Martin Taylor nodded a Pennant free-kick into the burly strikers path when he was totally unmarked.

Heskey swivelled in despair as the ball bobbled forward lacking sufficient power even to reach the goalline.

The Victory will give Steve Bruce, the Blues players and fans a huge lift and should leave Paul Jewell asking a few questions of his Wigan side. Birmingham probably need seven more wins for safety and judging by this performance, they are likely to get them.