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Birmingham 1-1 Town
Saturday, 31st Aug 2013 17:03

Christophe Berra scored his first goal in English football as the Blues drew 1-1 at Birmingham. The Scotland international headed home before the break with Town well on top, but Chris Burke’s deflected 76th minute goal grabbed an undeserved point for the home side.

Keeper Dean Gerken made his league debut for Town with Scott Loach, who took the blame for Leeds’ second goal at Portman Road last week, dropping to the bench.

Paul Anderson, Ryan Tunnicliffe and Christophe Berra made their first Championships starts for Town in place of skipper Carlos Edwards, Elliott Hewitt and Jay Tabb, who were also amongst the subs. Frank Nouble replaced Daryl Murphy up front.

Luke Chambers wore the captain’s armband and was at right-back with Berra on the right of Tommy Smith at the heart of the defence. Anderson was on the right of midfield with Tunnicliffe on the left.

Anthony Wordsworth replaced Frederic Veseli on the bench, while Alan Lee, who signed on a non-contract basis earlier in the week, was amongst those to travel with the squad. For Birmingham, there was no place for ex-Blue Darren Ambrose in the 18.

There were few chances in the opening 10 minutes, home keeper Darren Randolph almost dallied on the ball long enough to be closed down by Nouble on the edge of his six-yard box but just managed to clear, then at the other end Luke Hyam blocked a Lee Novak cross from the right.

Birmingham skipper Paul Robinson picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Paul Anderson in the 16th minute.

On 18 Cresswell sent in a great ball from the left which David McGoldrick headed over, however, with referee Darren Drysdale feeling the Town striker had pushed defender Dan Burn as it came across.

The Blues were getting on top and in the 23rd minute the lively Anderson sent in a dangerous cross from the left which was cleared. Soon after, the summer signing from Bristol City played in Nouble on the right but a defender’s toe just took the ball away from the Blues frontman.

Novak hit a shot on the turn through to Gerken in the 28th minute after good work from Andy Shinnie on the left, then at the other end Cresswell dug out a cross from the left which Anderson headed well over.


Just as the game reached the half hour mark, the Blues went in front. A freekick was taken quickly on the left, the ball eventually reaching Cresswell, who sent in another excellent cross, which Berra, making his first Championship start for Town, nodded home at the far post.

After Birmingham had lost Neal Eardley to injury, Scott Allan taking over, McGoldrick nodded an Anderson corner straight to Randolph with the Blues in charge and the home side looking little threat.

McGoldrick headed another Anderson corner over in the 41st minute with the Blues continuing to have much the better of it.

Birmingham’s best chance of the half came a minute from the scheduled end when Burke crossed from the right and Peter Lovenkrands diverted the ball well wide from eight yards.

A minute later, Town were close to doubling their lead when McGoldrick hit a superb shot on the turn from the edge of the box, but Randolph was equal to it, getting across to his left to tip it on to the post. Anderson was thwarted as he looked to get on to the rebound.

In injury time, Shinnie headed Burke’s cross from the right over for the home side, then McGoldrick had another chance to net Town’s second, chasing a ball over the top into the area. The Blues striker stabbed the ball goalwards but Randolph stopped it with his toe.

The Blues really ought to have had the game won at the break. Once the match had settled down, Mick McCarthy’s much-changed side had been well on top and had had more than enough chances to add to Berra’s goal with Cresswell’s delivery from the left a particular threat.

In the third minute of the second half McGoldrick hit a low shot from a tight angle which Randolph saved comfortably down to his right.

Birmingham went closer with their first chance of the second half, Novak heading Burke’s right-sided corner goalwards and Gerken pushing the ball from under his bar and to safety somewhat desperately.

Hyam forced Randolph to save well down to his right in the 53rd minute after Tunnicliffe’s cross from the left had been cleared to the edge of the box. Two minutes later, Cresswell hit an effort well over from distance with the Blues continuing to look the better side after the break.

Carlos Edwards replaced Anderson, who had done well, in the 63rd minute, the winger appearing to have suffered a knock.

The excellent McGoldrick shot across the face of goal in the 66th minute, prior to Daryl Murphy replacing Nouble up front.

The Blues continued to threaten and in the 70th minute Cresswell almost made it 2-0 with a shot from the edge of the box, which Randolph — whose saves had kept his team in the match — did superbly to push behind. From the corner, Berra’s goal-bound header was blocked.

Tunnicliffe forced Randolph into another save down to his right in the 75th minute, but moments later and completely against the run of play, Birmingham equalised.

Burke twisted and turned inside a crowded penalty area and struck a shot which caught Cole Skuse and looped beyond Gerken and into the net. The goal was harsh on the Blues who had dominated, but once again without taking their chances when they were on top.

The goal gave the home side a boost, Allan hitting a shot just wide, then Berra did well to get across ahead of the substituted as he cut into the area on the left. With 10 minutes to go, Tabb replaced Tunnicliffe.

Bartley bundled the ball behind ahead of Murphy at the near post, then with four minutes of scheduled time remaining Hyam was booked for a foul.

With just over a minute left, McGoldrick was felled on the edge of the box, inside claimed the Town players, but outside according to Mr Drysdale. McGoldrick’s freekick struck the wall, Cresswell’s subsequent effort was blocked and Randolph was subsequently fouled by Smith.

A late corner came to nothing moments before referee Drysdale blew the whistle on a game Town certainly ought to have won.

The second half was much the same as the first until the home side’s goal and even after a short spell of Birmingham pressure, the Blues were on top in the closing stages.

Mick McCarthy will be pleased with a Championship point away from home, but will be rueing his side’s failure to hold on to a lead for the third time in their five league games this season. It might also be worth noting that if you are interested in a free bet from Bookmakers for one of Town's upcoming fixtures that you could check out bookmakers.co.uk.

Town: Gerken, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Anderson (Edwards 63), Skuse, Hyam, Tunnicliffe (Tabb 80), McGoldrick, Nouble (Murphy 67). Unused: Loach, Hewitt, Wordsworth, Taylor.

Birmingham: Randolph, Eardley (Allan 35), Bartley, Burn, Robinson, Burke, Adeyemi, Spector, Shinnie (Ferguson 58), Novak, Lovenkrands (Green 65). Unused: Doyle, Mullins, Reilly, Elliott, Allan, Green. Referee: Darren Drysdale (Lincolnshire). Att: 14,328 (Town: 953)


Photo: Action Images



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runningout added 23:13 - Aug 31
Shouldn't be trying to shut up shop at 0-1, 0-2 or 3 home or away.....
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blues1 added 23:18 - Aug 31
running out, and others. if you were there today you would have seen that we weren't trying to shut up shop at 1-0. we kept going, and looking for more goals.and if it wasn't for a mom performance from the city keeper wouljd have won comfortably
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Tractorog added 23:27 - Aug 31
Wow lots of negative posters reacting to a game we drew but totally dominated.
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JWM added 23:40 - Aug 31
Totally dominating a game is no bloody good if we don't end up with the 3 points!
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blues1 added 23:50 - Aug 31
jwm. what were we supposed to do about a keeper playing out of his skin? and a lucky deflection for their goal? he was named their mom. unlike previous games this season, it wasn't a case of us missing chances or sitting back trying to hold on to the lead, as we were still going for another goal right to the end of the game, but yes, certainly frustrating not to have won even tho I would prob have accepted a draw before the game, but having gone ahead was certainly hoping for more.
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smithy91 added 00:05 - Sep 1
Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is a FREE AGENT. With a record of 92 in 276, average a goal every 3 games....surely we can offer him a contract!! Freebie get on it Mick!!
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Tractor_Bhoy added 01:34 - Sep 1
Keep the faith gents, keep the faith
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yorksblue added 02:23 - Sep 1
Eubanks-Blake has a broken leg. Give Alan Lee a run out v M boro.
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muccletonjoe added 07:00 - Sep 1
Yes only a point today and should have been 3 , but we are playing well and things will change. We do need someone to play with Mcgoldrick but it aint Murphy , tbh out of the players we have got mm is never going to play marriott so has to be Lee
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battyblue added 08:05 - Sep 1
Okay the majority of negative posters are just frustrated like me at seeing there team struggle week in week out season in season out to everyone wants town to compete at the top end of the table and maybe more it would give everyone a lift if once in a while we could win a few games by a goal or two breathing space,imo the problem is the players brought in are mainly similar in midfield anyway i am not convinced we need any more players at the moment although as you say a prolific goalscorer would be nice saying that i believe Mcgoldrick could be that man with the right players around him that does not include Murphy or Nouble and it would be to our advantage if Mick played the players in their correct positions of stead of shuffling them around to accommodate this or that player because he is good enough to play in Micks eyes so i will play him at right back instead sort of thing,either Hyam or Scuse cant play together Tunnicliffe needs to be in there forget Edwards Anderson or Taylor needs to play there we need a left winger not Tabb he is another one who needs to play central so that's four players we have for two positions but being shunted around rather than dropping to the bench then there is Wordsworth who really should be playing but where hes another central midfield player so there is the problem we have quality but all in the same area central midfield and for the other striker i don't know would have been good if we had addressed this problem instead of so many central mid players so it has to be Marriot or alan Lee for an aerial challenge then we may start winning a few games by a goal or two but will it happen i doubt it
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battyblue added 08:10 - Sep 1
Sorry for few mistakes in previous post its early Sunday morning
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meekreech added 09:54 - Sep 1
On Marriots performances in the U-21's I have watched he is NOT ready !
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TractorCam added 10:27 - Sep 1
Very irritating, we played them off the park with chance after chance, they get one and it deflects, AGAIN, to cost us.
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bennyitfc added 10:42 - Sep 1
There is still enough time left in the season for us to use the first six or so games as a way of working things out and getting some confidence. From the way we played yesterday we look a confident side going forward, and that can only help us throughout the rest of the season. I'd rather be a Town player than a Birmingham one. They're terrible.
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CharlieITFC added 11:35 - Sep 1
Every negative supporter posting after 5 games knows nothing about football in my opinion. There are 41 league games left, which is 123 winnable points. Now of course we wont win every game. But there is more than enough time for us to get back up to the right end of the table. The year Reading went up last time, they were pretty much bottom for the first 6 games and ended up storming it and winning the league. I agree with everything about Taylor, in my opinion, along with McG he is the most technically talented players we have in the squad. But we must trust MM judgement, he obviously isnt fully fit yet. The guy was out for 11 months for christ sake! The changes made yesterday were positive and things were looking good. We absolutely dominated them, and a point is better than none at all. Two wins at Boro and Yeovil and suddenly we are on 10 points and in a more comfortable position pushing on. So stop moaning, get behind the team, and the confidence from us will rub off on the players. COYB
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luke_38 added 11:38 - Sep 1
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Bergholtblue added 11:51 - Sep 1
I knew that those who were expecting great things this season would soon start moaning if we got off to a sluggish start. Its a marathon not a sprint!

Perhaps all those who are unhappy with the MM/TC combo would prefer that ME sold out, I don't know perhaps an owner of a club ... let's say Napoli........ who could then loan us his entire reserve team and then we can all go away celebrating a win achieved by 11 players who have no affection or loyalty to the club or Country.
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JWM added 12:24 - Sep 1
I was as optimistic as many others on here after the final whistle sounded on last season. I honestly believed that Evans would allow MM to strengthen in some key areas by spending a few quid on some decent players! What a fool I am! A golden opportunity to really push on has been wasted and the lack of ambition from the owner is the thing that annoys me the most about all this. Hiding behind the FFP when trying to justify the fact that we have only spent 20k on players. This team of ours is light years behind the top ten clubs in this league and all we have to look forward to is yet another boring mediocre season where we shall scrape to survive. It had been TEN years since we were a real force in this league and so long as Evans is in control it will be another TEN before we make progress. Evans should have invested in the first decent manager he has appointed and yet he has failed miserably IMO. I love Ipswich and always will but I am resigned to the fact that we are just shadow of what we once were and we are being left behind even by clubs who we consider to be smaller than ours. I am heartily sick to death of Evans and I am sick to death by some others who just want to accept mediocrity for their football club. Every year we are told that progress is being made but it takes time, well how much longer after ten sodding years do we have to wait?
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TimmyH added 13:15 - Sep 1
JWM - a slight hint of 'angst' in the above message, and it was only 2 weeks ago you were telling me that I knew nothing about football! 'Pot and Kettle' come to mind.
Saying that I agree with your post and unfortunately not only has ME not supported Mick financially (I'm not talking about his 1M bonus but strengthening the team) I honestly believe we have a team that lacks belief and these games we are dropping points from has been an ongoing issue for years - remember the first Keane season when we couldn't keep hold of the lead with minutes left and drew quite a few games we should have won - although almost an entirely new team now still with the same psychological problem.
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BillBlue added 17:26 - Sep 1
JWM, H32 and battyblue. Agree with you inentirety. FYI I have just been reading the B'ham fans moans and they are even deeper than ours but it was interesting to note that a comment was prefaced with" and this against a p+++ poor Ipswich side"!
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tractorboyz82 added 18:06 - Sep 1
Average players apart from smith chambers cressy skuse mcgoldrick.
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Steve_D added 18:49 - Sep 1
Oh j w m. Thank you , have been saying the exact same thing for awhile now
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Keaneish added 19:35 - Sep 1
JWM - does it not concern you in the slightest that we're nearly 80 million in debt?
We need to sell to buy, it's as simple as that. ME have money to Keane and Jewell and they squandered it. Point the blame at them rather than ME.
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tractorboyz82 added 20:09 - Sep 1
I blame Evans just as much as keane and jewell for wasting money he has the chance with mick at the helm if he backs him to get all that money back I fear we could lose mick when the prem teams start sacking managers I mean 20k is all we've spent.jet chopra Martin all leaving these all may have not set the world alight but still need replacing with equal or better quality players which I don't think they have.
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BillBlue added 20:35 - Sep 1
Keanish if you spent money on toys then decided you didn't like them or they didn't do what you wanted them to do would you say somebody else owed you the money or would you blame your choice? That is exactly what Evans has done, therefore our debt is £32 for the Stands Full Stop
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