Unfortunately, the facts are that we are now 4 points adrift at the bottom of the league and there is only so long we can carry on losing by the odd goal. Sheffield Wednesday on Friday is MUST win. It has to be. We can't continue to play without belief and confidence and we can't keep picking up zero points.
There is a bright side, again, but it's little consolation. We troubled Birmingham. We wasted guilt edge chances and we had good spells of pressure. We started both halves well and were the better team until they scored, killing any momentum. At 0-2, we were excellent and we had a real go. We were open at the back and with better finishing, they could have won by three or four, but we made enough chances to equalise.
Defensively, we were fine. It was a tough task against the speed and guile of Campbell, McSheffry and Larrson and the ariel threat of Bendtner but we were stubborn if unrefined and we limited them to very few clear chances. Boaz didn't make a save in the first half, but made two superb stops when we were attacking them. On the ball, it was that familiar story. We just weren't good enough. To be fair, the midfield weren't available enough, but we were careless and sloppy, Turner and Dawson especially, and we made problems for ourselves. This has to improve and fast, because it's going to cost us goals. Parky will be disappointed to lose a clean header from a set piece but should be encouraged by the heart and desire they showed. The first goal was due to pace and class from Brum, no blame attached there. Dawson was very disappointing, he controlled and passed poorly when we had momentum. He did play one beautiful pass across the box from which Ash missed an early sitter.
In the middle, we weren't good enough. We'd clearly set out to be tough to beat, but that went out of the window with the Birmingham goal. Ashbee and Livermore did a great job of breaking up play, but didn't distribute well enough for most of the game. As we grew in confidence as a team, there was a notable improvement in Ash, who sprayed some great balls wide. Marney was anonymous for the first half and dreadful for 25 of the second. He started to move the ball and create in the 10 minutes before he was subbed, but it was too late. Being stuck on the left didn't suit him, but his set piece delivery was abysmal and he didn't get involved, or link up with the front two. Fagan was controlled easily by Gray in the first half, but as Gray tired, Fagan's fitness told and he started to make things happen. He's still frustrating, he doesn't use his ability enough, he doesn't gamble enough to score and he finishes poorly. We used Welsh and France from the bench but both struggled to get involved.
Up front, we showed a big improvement. Bridges was magic. He dropped deep, picked up the ball and dribbled at defenders. At 0-0, he picked up the ball, beat 3 or 4 men and had a low shot saved. He did the same in the second half but couldn't get the ball out of his feet. He played an intelligent pass for the goal and two for Forster over the top that he was unlucky not to get onto. Forster wasn't as involved, but made a lot of runs off the ball and looked alert. He had a lob cleared off the line after somehow out-muscling N'Gotty and he fired another chance wide. He worked hard against two of the biggest defenders you'll ever see and he looked useful in the air. We chucked on the Beast for the last 10. He hit the post when clean through and was sent off a minute later. He doesn't do things by halves. His first Yellow was harsh, he was penalised for an over eager challenge by a ref who wasn't keen on him from the moment Parkin gave him a verbal volley for not awarding a free kick (Jaidi had jumped on him!). The second was deserved, Parkin jumped for a header whilst aiming a kung fu style kick at a defender. A stupid challenge to make when already booked.
It was an enjoyable day out, even if Birmingham is a rabbit warren. We had good spells at the start of each half and a really good last half hour. It's hard to criticise players who show that much application and commitment and test a side with as much quality as Birmingham. Gary McSheffrey cost almost as much as our whole squad. It can't go on though. We've got to put it all together. We've got to be as solid as we were in defence, while cutting out any lapses and passing the ball better. We've got to take any chances we get and we're certainly making enough. We've got a very tough few weeks. There are no easy games, but we've got to win them. 3 or 4 wins and the whole place can calm down a bit and look to push on, but they must come sooner rather than later. In Michael Bridges, we have a very special player, if he stays fit, he'll do very well. The 4 in the middle have got to give him, Duffy, Forster, Parkin or whoever plays better support and better passes to enable them to do damage. Too often today, there was a big gap between our midfield and attack again. Michael tried to (pun intended) bridge that gap and did some with some success, but when he played up alongside Forster, there wasn't anyone filling it. That's not something new. Whatever level we play at, 2-0 up or down, we always seem to have that ocean of space between our front 6.
Ratings: Bo 8, Ricketts 6, Dawson 5, Turner 6, Collins 6, Fagan 6, Marney 5 (Welsh), Livermore 7, Ashbee 7 (France), Forster 6, Bridges 8 (Parkin).