Bolton were the party poopers at St.Andrews as Birmingham slashed the prices to £15 (after charging Villa fans £48 the home game before) anywhere in the ground as a thank-you for their supporters from Karren Brady and David Sullivan as this was possibly their last game in charge before Carson Yeung takes over control of the club. From a Bolton point of view what a game it was to.
We went into the game with a 4-4-2 formation as Megson scrapped the plans of one up front which was so ineffective against Stoke in the first half the previous week. Tamir Cohen came in for Gavin McCann and Ricky Gardner came in for Greitar Steinsson. What a great start we made as Klasnic had a looping opportunist effort which went just over and then from a Ricketts throw in, and a flick on from Kevin Davies, there was Tamir Cohen to score with a header in the far corner of Joe Harts’ goal. I must admit that I have not been a big fan of Tamir Cohen’s last season, but this season I hold my hand up and after all his injury problems which plagued him he has been a star in the midfield chipping in with the odd goal and playing very well.
Apart from a shot which came of the bar and left Jussi stranded and occasional efforts from both teams we were probably just about deserving of our slender goal lead at half-time.
The expected few chances came and went from Birmingham in the second period and there was even a bust up between Ricketts and Jussi when Jussi decided to shove Ricketts in the chest as he wasn’t happy that he put the ball out for a corner, fortunately Ricketts didn’t retaliate or we could have had a free for all between our 2 players and the Dyer-Bowyer situation (with 2 reds) but it was Jussi showing his passion, and the moment passed. I am sure they will have kissed and made up by now!
The star of our midweek win against West Ham was introduced just after the hour mark, Chung-yong Lee for Klasnic while we tried to hold on for the win. We broke out with effect on a couple of occasions, Lee rounding the keeper but didn’t put enough purchase on it and it went wide and McCann (who came on as a sub for Ricky) also had a one-on-one which Hart managed to save.
Birmingham sent on the predator Kevin Phillips and after Lee lost the ball in midfield, Phillips does what he has done for years and equalised – oh no here we go again, we are going to chuck it away after playing so well, but we needn’t have worried as just over a couple of minutes later we had a free-kick approx 25 yards from goal and Taylor hit the post and there were 3 Bolton players waiting to score, but it was Lee (who turned from villain to hero in the space of 2 minutes) who still had a bit of work to do to finish of the rebound and that sparked the Bolton fans and players to go delirious.
After 3 minutes of injury time and plenty of chewed nails later we had won our 2nd away game on the trot and now have 7 points from 6 games!! Tottenham at home next week, should be a good game and here’s hoping for another 3 points.
