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Town 1-0 Birmingham
Saturday, 1st Mar 2014 17:02

Daryl Murphy’s ninth goal of the season saw Town to a 1-0 home victory over Birmingham. The Blues might have added to their lead in the second half with Paul Taylor twice coming close with curling efforts from just outside the area.

Taylor replaced Stephen Hunt in an otherwise unchanged Town side but with new loan signing Jonny Williams missing from the 18, having picked up a minor knock in training on Friday. The Blues lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Taylor up front with Daryl Murphy and Frank Nouble.

Town started brightly, Murphy sending a dangerous ball across the Birmingham box but behind his team-mates, however, the first significant chance fell to the visitors in the third minute. Nikola Zigic’s header found Lee Novak on the left just inside the box but the striker mis-hit his shot well wide.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 11th minute when Zigic blocked Tommy Smith's clearance and sent Federico Macheda away on goal. Fortunately for Town, Christophe Berra got back to stab the ball away from the on-loan Manchester United frontman.

The visitors went close in the 18th minute when Zigic found Novak on the edge of the area from deep on the right. The ex-Huddersfield man hit a powerful low shot just wide of Dean Gerken’s right post.

Town had most of the ball in a scrappy first half hour but with Birmingham having created the game’s only openings. The Blues’ first opportunity of the afternoon came right on 30 when Berra headed just wide from Aaron Cresswell’s freekick on the left.

On 36 Taylor sent in a dangerous cross from the right which was cleared, then Cresswell played in Nouble on the left of the area but he scraped his shot through to the keeper under pressure.

But a Town goal was only two minutes away. Having been found in space on the right by Taylor, Nouble whipped over a low ball which flashed across the Birmingham six-yard box past five defenders - Aaron Martin completely missing his kick - before reaching Murphy at the far post, where the Irishman tapped home his ninth goal of the season.


Prior to the restart Zigic was shown a yellow card having continued an ongoing dialogue with the referee Keith Stroud for too long.

Town continued to push for a second in the first half’s remaining minutes, Luke Chambers seeing a cross-shot blocked having left a defender for dead, but were unable to add to their lead.

The Blues had had more of the ball than the visitors during a scruffy half but hadn’t seriously threatened until shortly before the goal, which Birmingham will feel they ought to have defended much better.

The Midlanders, who switched Paul Caddis for on-loan Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe at the break, will also believe they should have made more of their earlier opportunities.

Five minutes after the restart, Jay Tabb headed the second half’s first opportunity to Birmingham keeper Darren Randolph from a Taylor cross on the right. A minute later Nouble, Town’s biggest threat in the first half, made way for Paul Anderson having suffered a knock.

Moments later, Town the Blues having switched to 4-4-2, the dangerous Taylor forced Randolph to save well to his left with a curling 25-yard effort which otherwise would have nestled in the corner of the net.

Ibe shot straight at Gerken on 57, then a minute later Taylor curled another shot just wide of Randolph’s left post. On the hour, Jonathan Spector was booked for a foul on Murphy.

Birmingham should have got back on terms in the 63rd minute after Smith lost out to sub Chris Burke, who sent over a low cross from the right, which Novak somehow put over the bar from a couple of yards just beyond the far post.

Blues skipper Chambers curled a shot just wide after cutting in from the right in the 68th minute, Hunt taking over from Tabb, who was warmly applauded off, soon after.

Spector almost gifted Town a second goal in the 77th minute, Anderson seizing on his poor backpass. The Blues’ midfielder took the ball wide past Randolph but the keeper did well to get down to his right to save.

On 82 Cresswell nodded Green’s cross from the right into the ground and into Randolph’s arms, the ball having evaded Murphy ahead of him.

With five minutes remaining Taylor was switched for Tyrone Mings, the striker, a constant threat to the Birmingham backline, receiving a standing ovation from the Portman Road crowd. As the game moved into its final two minutes Skuse was booked for a foul on Emyr Huws.

Just prior to the fourth official holding up his board to signal four additional minutes, Murphy hit a low shot from the left through to Randolph.

Town saw out the remaining minutes comfortably to claim three points which, with previously sixth-placed Reading drawing with eight-man Yeovil, keeps them very much in the play-off hunt.

Having perhaps been fortunate to be in front at half-time with the visitors spurning a couple of decent chances, the Blues were in control after the break and man of the match Taylor in particular was unfortunate not to add to the lead.

The result sees the Blues climb to ninth, four points behind Wigan, who leapt ahead of the Royals and into the final play-off place.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Cresswell, Skuse, Green, Tabb (Hunt 68), Taylor (Mings 88), Murphy, Nouble (Anderson 52). Unused: Loach, Wordsworth, Richardson, Ebanks-Blake.

Birmingham: Randolph; Spector, Martin, Packwood, Robinson, Caddis (Ibe 46), Huws, Lee, Novak (Howard 79), Macheda (Burke 59), Zigic. Unused: Doyle, Shinnie, Adeyemi, Blackett. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 15,596 (Birmingham: 512).


Photo: Action Images



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Michael11 added 17:10 - Mar 1
Well done boys. Wasn't at the game so don't have much input to how we played but Birmingham are normally better away from home than at home so a good 3 points. From what I read online, Taylor seemed to put in a good shift which is pleasing to see.
7

Elizabeth added 17:10 - Mar 1
Result .. I'll be the first to comment .. Taylor obviously made a difference..
19

blueherts added 17:12 - Mar 1
Good to hear Taylor had a good match - MM take note - sounded a goal threat
Hope Williams is ok vs Boro , who are in free fall at moment
Keeping in the top 10 very tidy!!
7

TractorBoy666 added 17:14 - Mar 1
First home game I had to miss in two seasons so it was strange listening to it on the radio! It sounded like Taylor had a good game from his standing ovation, hopefully he can cement his place in the side now. Him and Williams could be the kind of creative spark we need, its a shame McGoldrick is out now! This was a must 3 points, so well done lads.
9

TractorCam added 17:15 - Mar 1
Get in there town! Paul Taylor was definitely man of the match, really hope he starts next week.
23

brazilblue added 17:15 - Mar 1
And thats exactly why Paul Tylor needs to start
27

BlueMachines added 17:15 - Mar 1
Anyone who needs to question why Town fans want to see Paul Taylor play, there is your answer.
27

TractorBeezer added 17:16 - Mar 1
Well done lads. Great to see Taylor play and make a positive impact today.
26

Keaneish added 17:21 - Mar 1
Hate to say it but imagine Taylor and Didsy in the same side!! Opportunity missed, for no particular reason!
Good result, should have been 2 or 3. Good to see Chambers and Cresswell getting forward…at last!
21

ian207 added 17:30 - Mar 1
need to get results against teams below us .good result today
6

muccletonjoe added 17:30 - Mar 1
Frustrating to see what you could have won
5

smithy91 added 17:31 - Mar 1
Sounded much better today, Paul taylor did well it seemed from radio commentary- direct and shooting. Nouble was improved but tbh its probably better if he is out of the team, as Taylor and Anderson/Hunt are all better options. Good to see a few results going our way in regards to teams just below us, and with Wigan/Brighton at home coming up the playoff hope is still mostly in our hands
4

battyblue added 17:35 - Mar 1
Well done all. well done to Mick Mc for at last giving us what we have been begging for for weeks on end now by playing Paul Taylor he is that spark we have been missing now i hope to see him in the team for the rest of the season whether it 442 or 433 or 541 we need him playing and can you tell him he was different class now instead of just OK.
12

asamink added 17:36 - Mar 1
Nouble with an assist? Interesting....
0

NoelTheDub added 17:37 - Mar 1
Well done all it keeps our little 6th place cup competition going would have liked to see the Hunt and Anderson start but there you go,also nice to see Green in the middle hes a good centre mid.I.think the team that finished the game is our best 11 at the moment.Great shift today everyone and Mick too from moaner noel...
2

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:41 - Mar 1
Everyone who heard or read that Taylor was good today, you heard/read right. He was running everywhere, looked lively throughout, had two great efforts in the second half and was not afraid to try and shoot from beyond the 18 yard line. The ovation he got when he was subbed off made a big statement from the fans - delight with his display and great satisfaction that he was given the opportunity.

It's one of those games that we really should've won by a bigger margin and was utterly dreadful for the first half hour. But after we scored, we definitely sparked into life. And in truth, Birmingham just never really troubled us. But for a couple of chances they had of our own making - two of which were brilliantly rescued by Berra and one of which was just a howling miss from Novak - they weren't ever a real threat and we controlled it comfortably.
17

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:41 - Mar 1
Everyone who heard or read that Taylor was good today, you heard/read right. He was running everywhere, looked lively throughout, had two great efforts in the second half and was not afraid to try and shoot from beyond the 18 yard line. The ovation he got when he was subbed off made a big statement from the fans - delight with his display and great satisfaction that he was given the opportunity.

It's one of those games that we really should've won by a bigger margin and was utterly dreadful for the first half hour. But after we scored, we definitely sparked into life. And in truth, Birmingham just never really troubled us. But for a couple of chances they had of our own making - two of which were brilliantly rescued by Berra and one of which was just a howling miss from Novak - they weren't ever a real threat and we controlled it comfortably.
4

neillrumsey added 17:45 - Mar 1
Great 3 points but poor match to watch will two average sides. Paul Taylor again showed the fans that he has quality and was mom by a country mile. Keanish I said exactly that at the game Taylor McGoldrick would be great.
Today we had no width and Tabb doesnt have thje ability to open up and play forwards always palyed backwards. Nouble bar the assist was again woeful with his touch letting down too often, Time for SEB to step up . Would like to see Mings in front of Cressy. Midfiled lacked energy until Hunt's arrival. Anderson and Green lack lustre players who both lack pace. Still in the mix and next 3 games will see where we are at.

1

blueboy1981 added 17:55 - Mar 1
........ essential 3 points, anything less at home against Birmingham would have been a no no.

We've been asking for Taylor - and didn't he offer us much, much more ? - he has had every reason to be agrieved at not having had a decent chance to prove himself on the pitch.
All credit tho' to MM for obviously expecting more from him OFF the pitch i.e. attitude, behaviour or whatever the issues were / are - and for doing his best to keep acceptable standards as they should be.

Well done ALL - on all fronts. A result that makes for a happy Saturday Evening.


13

martleshamitfc added 17:59 - Mar 1
Good to hear Taylor had a good game, let's hope MM keeps him in the side now? Yeovill will be missing a few players Tuesday week thru' suspension!
3

BlueMachines added 18:04 - Mar 1
I expect Taylor only played due to Williams having an injury. Not because MM finally saw the light. I will say though Nouble had his best performance this season in a Town shirt. Paul Green also played well which was good to see.
6

thebeat added 18:09 - Mar 1
Ladies and Gentlemen i give you.........................PAUL TAYLOR!
10

GerkensBeard added 18:15 - Mar 1
3 points is all that matters at the end of the day. Taylor outstanding!!! If mick doesn't say he was was in his press conference ill be astounded, man of the match by a mile. Green and Murphy also had very good games, thought Green looked to go forward which has what's been needed. Real shame that Williams was injured coz he would've tore them apart. Good comfortable win. COYB
5

Langdon_Blue added 18:21 - Mar 1
Pleased with that result. Birmingham are much tougher to beat when they play away than at home, so it's good to see we didn't drop points when many have. SEB and Williams fit plus no further injury problems and who knows, maybe this season offers more than just a season of stabilising.
2

unknown100 added 18:27 - Mar 1
The next 6 games are massive, 2 we should win, 2 we need to win and 2 we need not to lose, will be good to see the likes of Taylor, Williams, hunt and Ebanks-Blake and if they step up to the mark, which I think they could. Still mad that noble is in the team though
2


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