Birmingham 3-0 Town - Match Report
Saturday, 23rd Jan 2016 17:05 Ten-man Town fell to a 3-0 defeat away against fellow play-off challengers Birmingham City with Will Buckley, Jon Toral and Maikel Kieftenbeld on the scoresheet. Buckley made the most of some hesitant defending to put the home side ahead on 23 before Douglas was shown a straight red card just prior to the break and Toral and Kieftenbeld smashed home stunning second-half volleys to seal the victory.
As expected, boss Mick McCarthy reverted to the team which drew 1-1 with Preston last Saturday, having changed his entire XI for the FA Cup replay at Portsmouth on Tuesday.
New signing Kevin Foley’s international clearance came through and the full-back took a place on the Town bench, while loanee Paul Digby was included in a Championship matchday 18 for the first time.
The home side made one enforced changed from last week’s 3-0 win at Derby with Jacques Maghoma unwell. On-loan Sunderland winger Buckley came into the side for his full Birmingham debut.
After a quiet opening few minutes, the Midlanders created the first opening in the fourth minute, Buckley, often a thorn in Town’s side when a Brighton player, finding himself space 20 yards out but scraping wide.
A minute later, Stephen Gleeson, who played for Blues boss McCarthy at Wolves, scuffed another effort well past the post.
Town weren’t far away from going in front with their first chance of the game on six. Ryan Fraser laid the ball back to Kevin Bru on the left and the Mauritius international whipped over a cross which Daryl Murphy headed just over Tomasz Kuszczak’s crossbar from six yards.
Soon after, Clayton Donaldson thought he’d failed to take the chance of the game up to that point when he slid in but failed to connect with Maikel Kieftenbeld’s cross from the left but the linesman’s flag had been raised.
Murphy went close again for the Blues in the 11th minute when Bru fed the Irishman just outside the area to the left, where he flicked the ball up and smashed a strike across the face of goal.
Both sides were continuing to have chances and on 14 Jon Toral struck a powerful 25-yard effort which Blues keeper Dean Gerken did well to bat away from goal.
On 21 Birmingham defender Paul Caddis inadvertently presented the ball to Fraser on the Town left when trying to avoid conceding a corner, allowing the Scotland U21 international to whip over a cross which Freddie Sears flicked towards goal, however, Kuszczak was able to claim above his head.
Two minutes later, the visitors went in front via a goal Town will think they really ought to have prevented.
Tommy Smith’s headed clearance only reached Jonathan Grounds, who crossed from the left. The ball was turned away from goal but hit Douglas and ran to Donaldson, who hit a shot which Gerken saved superbly at point blank. However, the rebound fell to Buckley, who tapped home his first Birmingham goal from close range.
As the game moved towards the half hour mark Gleeson picked up the game’s first booking for a blatant trip on Fraser as the winger broke down the left.
After the resultant freekick had been worked down the left, the ball came out to Cole Skuse midway inside the Birmingham half but the midfielder’s shot flew well over.
Kieftenbeld went close to adding to his side’s lead on 40 when he made the most of more hesitant Town defending on the edge of the area, but the Dutchman’s shot was deflected wide.
Next it was the Blues' turn to threaten. With Kieftenbeld down injury and the home crowd calling for play to be stopped, Fraser cut in from the right and hit a powerful low shot which Kuszczak saved down to his right. Sears was first to the rebound which the Polish keeper again saved.
The ex-Colchester man got the the loose ball first again but his strike was deflected behind for a corner. From the flag-kick, Sears was just unable to get a touch to Christophe Berra’s header before Kuszczak claimed.
In first-half injury time Fraser crossed from the left and Murphy glanced a header well wide.
Seconds before the whistle Town were reduced to 10 men for the second successive game.
Douglas dived in for a ball which had run away from him midway inside the Blues half and caught Buckley with a one-footed but studs-up challenge on his shins.
Referee Michael Bull had no hesitation in issuing the 34-year-old with what looked a correct straight red card, Town’s first of their Championship campaign. Douglas now faces a three-match ban.
There hadn’t been much in the half as a whole with both teams having created opportunities - Town’s best was probably Murphy’s early header - and the two keepers each having made saves.
The Blues were made to pay for poor defending for the goal and having been reduced to 10 men have an uphill task to get back into the match in the second half.
Town switched Bru for the more combative Luke Hyam ahead of the start of the second half.
Skuse struck the first shot after the restart from distance but it gave Kuszczak little problem, then Paul Robinson got his name in the referee’s book for a foul on Fraser with the Blues starting the half on the front foot, despite their numerical disadvantage.
But nine minutes after the break the home side doubled their lead. Donaldson knocked down a long kick from Kuszczak and on-loan Arsenal midfielder Toral smashed an unstoppable volley past Gerken from 25 yards.
Despite what now looked a hopeless cause, the 10-man Blues kept pushing forward in ever greater numbers, Sears winning a couple of corners with strong runs into the area from first the right and then the left, but without the set pieces coming to anything.
On 64 Murphy fed a speeding Fraser down the left and the on-loan Bournemouth man took the ball into the area before hitting a low shot across the face of goal from a tight angle.
Two minutes later, again after Fraser had outpaced defenders down the left, Murphy laid the ball back to the Scot but his shot flew well over.
At the other end Gleeson saw a 67th minute shot deflected through to Gerken from the edge of the area, off a Town hand claimed the Birmingham players and fans, but not referee Bull.
Any doubt about which way the points would be were going were ended in the 70th minute when Kieftenbeld made in 3-0 with the afternoon’s second stunning volley.
The Blues again made heavy weather of clearing a ball in from the left and Chambers’s hook away fell to the former Groningen midfielder lashed past Gerken and into the corner of the net.
Sears looped a Fraser low cross over on 75, then a minute later Smith was booked for a foul on Donaldson on halfway.
With 12 minutes remaining Brett Pitman and Luke Varney replaced Sears and Murphy, then a minute later James Vaughan replaced Buckley for the home side.
Four minutes after coming on, Varney fed Fraser to his left inside the area when he might have shot himself, but the winger’s effort was blocked.
Birmingham’s Grounds was extremely lucky to avoid a red card on 84 when he caught Fraser in the face with a high boot just outside the area. Amazingly referee Bull failed to see the challenge as a foul let alone a card. If Douglas’s challenge warranted a red card, then that certainly did.
Gleeson smashed a shot not too far over, then Gerken required treatment after colliding with Vaughan as the two went for a Donaldson knockdown. The Blues keeper was eventually able to continue.
Deep in injury time Fraser, once again Town’s outstanding player, cut in from the right and struck a shot which flew just over the bar.
The game had been an even affair with both teams creating chances until Douglas’s red card, Birmingham having made the most of poor Town defending for Buckley’s opening goal.
The Blues continued to take the game to the home side in the second half and had a number of decent chances, but holes began to open up in the Town backline and Birmingham capitalised with first Toral’s and then Kieftenbeld’s brilliant strikes.
While the scoreline was a reflection of the 90 minutes overall, the game had been much tighter when 11 against 11.
The result sees the Blues - previously undefeated in seven away from home in the Championship - drop to eighth with Birmingham moving ahead of them but only a point behind Sheffield Wednesday in the final play-off place.
Town have a free Saturday next weekend with scheduled opponents Reading still in the FA Cup. The game has moved to the following Tuesday, February 2nd.
Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru (Hyam 46), Fraser, Sears (Pitman 78), Murphy (Varney 78). Unused: Bialkowski, Digby, Foley, Hyam, Maitland-Niles.
Birmingham: Kuszczak, Caddis, Morrison (c), Robinson, Grounds, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld (Solomon-Otabor 74), Davis (Adams 90), Buckley (Vaughan 80), Toral, Donaldson. Unused: Legzdins, Spector, Lowry, Brock-Madsen. Referee: Michael Bull (Essex). Att: 18,272 (Town: 1,887).
Photo: Action Images
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prebsa added 09:12 - Jan 24
Keaneish you could not be more spot on. He will never change the style of play or bring in the little bit of quality to finish off the job and get us into the premier league. If we did finish in the playoffs again can people honestly see us beating the teams above us over two legs? Because I really don't.
I think you manager suggestions are not that far off a possibility but they have just signed new contracts so it looks very unlikely now. |  | |
oldblue added 09:33 - Jan 24
Those of you who believe that Douglas is the worst player ever for ITFC clearly never saw Drissa Diallo wear the shirt | | |
oldblue added 09:34 - Jan 24
Or George Santos or Graham Harbey! | | |
Stato added 09:37 - Jan 24
All the In Mick We Trust brigade have switched from quoting year on year improvement to judge him at the end of the season but you only need to attend one match a Portman Road to judge McCarthy as every home performance is underwhelming. Every side above us has a better goal difference than us and that is because we have conceded more goals than every one of those teams but our great manager still says Gerks is the answer. Sorry but giving him a new contract is going to make him more confident in his own opinions and therefore more stubborn. Two defeats and a new contract for McCarthy this hasn't been a great week so not going to follow the we love Mick lot as can't see what anyone has to celebrate this week. | | |
fifeblue added 10:03 - Jan 24
Whilst I consider Mick McCarthy to have done pretty well for the club so far - and I doubt we could have got anyone better realistically - I fundamentally disagree with the decision to play a reserve team in the F.A. Cup. It is disrespectful to the tournament and the opponents plus, as others have pointed out, it damages any momentum the team has in the League. This result was predictable, I'm sorry to say, against a team on good form.
BTW, worst player to play for Ipswich? Toss up between Gus Uhlenbeek and Steve Stacey.
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atty added 10:04 - Jan 24
Evans sticking with McCarthy and not providing funds can only mean Championship stability his aim. Yes we know he got his fingers burnt with Keane and Jewell, so that's it us it? What is the point? Plus we have watch the worst football we have ever seen at PR. Some clown on another site stated that McCarthy was up there with Sir Alf and Sir Bobby! McCarthy doesn't even come close to Lyall, Burley or Royle let alone the two greats! | | |
essex57 added 10:22 - Jan 24
No just dont agree with you | | |
GiveusaWave added 10:25 - Jan 24
Blues1
Missed that one completely. Connolly left as well? Connolly, Parr and now Oar? |  | |
essex57 added 10:27 - Jan 24
Keanish i think judging by the reaction on here the other night and the atmosphere at brum yesterday show that the majority of the fans are behind the team and managment.
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essex57 added 10:40 - Jan 24
I have stated on many occasions this season judge at the end of the season bosstheman the only suprising thing is the contract extension thought MM might of looked to pastures new if we miss play offs theres plenty of clubs would jump at the chance to employ him and TC the caveat being contracts dont mean alot in football though does it you sack the manager the club pays it up another club poaches and they pay cant realy see what all the fuss was about the other night though i did enjoy it☺ | | |
oldegold added 11:12 - Jan 24
I get the feeling that the sun is setting on the Ipswich Town empire. This has been a truly horrendous fortnight for us but it comes hand in had with the general grey and sterile football atmosphere created by certain illogical decisions:
1-Once again playing a sub standard team in the FA Cup when we clearly should be respecting this great tournament which has provided so many magic moments and uplift for the clubs..albeit many moons ago 1975, 1978 and 1981 and that rush of adrenalin which lifted not only the club but the town itself. The current manager simply lacks the wisdom, the tactical acumen for do or die matches, be it the play offs and the cups where his record is simply appalling.He simply lacks the bottle and courage..essential qualities to be a top flight manager.
I imagine the club could do with the added revenue that the cup run would bring as well.
2 - The general sterile, predictable and boring one dimensional football which is played under McCarthy and too many people kid themselves that they think this brand of football will make us protagonists. It won't.
I would recommend anyone to watch MOTD and tell me that we play anything like the swashbuckling soccer played by the likes of the so called small clubs like Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Stoke City. Are you kidding me?
With the football played under McCarthy, I would envisage quite a few 0-9 defeats like the one we endured against Man United in March 1995, God forbid if we were to be promoted, which is highly unlikely under him.
We play with absolutely no shape or strategy..it's up in the air, kick it anywhere stuff.
Under Joe Royle the attitude was "We will score more than you" and under other incumbents like George Burley, it was free flowing and attack minded. Under Sir Bobby, well..you know the story.....
3 - The general contempt that McCarthy seems to have for fans' opinions. Clearly he is the Boss and must make the final decisions but I have the overriding impression of a very stubborn and conceited man who will deliberately do the opposite even at the risk of jeopardizing a victory.
4 - Lack of a clear football philosophy. Every time we get within to touching distance of creating something positive, he falls into the same trap of retreating into the sterile and grey style of football. Witness last season when we were top and played Southampton in the FA Cup with a below par team...from that moment onwards our season collapsed in the league and an underwhelming performance against the Saints.
Against teams that we had to win, he would set the stall out to defend and hoofing.He simply lacks the bottle to take this club forward and in this dire moment for the club, he gets rewarded with a contract extension? Beggars belief.
I know this might anger some of the " Johnny-Come-Latelies " amongst the Town supporters who were not around to see some of our finer moments but we were a club that generally fought above its weight and had a marvelous football tradition considering their location and size but we punched above however. That is gone and under the present incumbent and hierarchy I feel we can only look forward to general mediocrity and remaining also-rans.
I hope I'm proved wrong but there is a feeling of malaise within the structure and i hope it doesn't come tumbling down.
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babyblueboy added 11:13 - Jan 24
we the fans were amazing today "God Knows why" average championships players playing for a manager that has had his day playing for a club that has lost its way no ambition no idea no money no hope lose to average league 2 side thrashed today I don't know where the clubs goes from here if the investment does not come soon our already fickle fan base will get smaller don't know how much longer I for one can take this dross 40 years and this is the lowest I have felt about our once great club when I see the Norfolk turkeys pluckers spending big money getting big gates We spend 35K !on bright spot yesterday was that bunch on t***s throwing away a 3.1 lead seriously things need to change (younger manager money for creative players). | | |
oldblue added 11:24 - Jan 24
The bottom line is we all want Ipswich Town to win and play well..we are all entitled to our opinion but the fact is we are all on the same side and want our great club to be competitive and play some good football.. | | |
happybeingblue added 11:51 - Jan 24
So playing the reserves v Pompey achieved what exactly grrr I'm still so annoyed about that !!! |  | |
Keaneish added 12:57 - Jan 24
I think we've always had great support Essex57 regardless of who has been in charge, which is testament to the club and fan base. I agree, judge them at the end of the season but it's looking very precarious right now and a decision not to strengthen is a big mistake for me. If you're going to back the manager with a new contract, back him with money. If he doesn't want the money and we falter and fall down the league, there are major ramifications to that which comes back to the original post I guess. Why offer him a contract extension now? - rhetorical question of course! |  | |
thebeat added 12:57 - Jan 24
Cant really judge the game as when you go down to 10 men before half time you expect to lose.
But then again it was Douglas who got sent off and we play with 10 men every week when he's in the team.
We can bitch and argue all we like about the current team and manager but like i said the other day we all know we will just continue to flirt with the play offs without ever having the quality to go up while Micks in charge.
Hes a solid championship manager who will win more than he loses and create a great team spirit within the camp and his players will work hard.
But footballs changed since he took Wolves and Sunderland up, pummeling teams into submission wont get you promoted anymore.
Having a season ticket these days is just a case of watching 23 carbon copy games. Its the same slog every game.
Some people may enjoy that but its getting to the point now where this may be my last year and i never thought id say that. | | |
essexboy added 13:20 - Jan 24
Some posters on here really need to get into the real world.We are 8th,3 points off 6th position without spending any money.We must give full credit to MM for what he has achieved.ME saved this club and still is even if he is not spending money on players.We need to get behind them,not knock them.We will never be big spenders unless we get into the premier Lge.We have a great support home and away which proves supporters are behind the club.COYB. |  | |
Keaneish added 13:41 - Jan 24
We do Essexboy. What's the next step?
Mark Fish for worst ever player for me. Turned up. Played a game and retired! Rightly so. | | |
essexboy added 14:30 - Jan 24
Keaneish,YOU TELL US.!!!!!!! | | |
Westy added 14:55 - Jan 24
Oldegold, I am also still angry about a weakened team for the FA Cup. In fact I'm still furious about it. | | |
Bert added 16:18 - Jan 24
Are we really so bad ? Anyone who watched the Norwich v Liverpool game would have seen some shocking defending and passing. Norwich have multi million pound players yet on this display they are certainly worse than us. | | |
StochesStotasBlewe added 16:31 - Jan 24
Bert, really, in case you hadn,t noticed, they are in the PREMIER league, playing against some of Englands best teams, see some of the worlds finest footballers every week & financially one would imagine in a much better place. Don,t get me wrong, I can,t stand them, but surely we should have the ambition to be where they are. |  | |
essex57 added 17:30 - Jan 24
Re the budgies pal of mine who is a Liverpool supporter was at the game and said it was purely the managers fault when they were 3-1 up he went from attack to defend good bright young manager is Alex Neil just what we need here. | | |
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