Back to the league and time to see if any of the cup form has rubbed off on the players.  

Birmingham City v Derby County

Coca Cola Championship

Tuesday 27th January 2009

St, Andrews, Birmingham

Nigel Clough is seeking his first win as Derby manager while his opposite number in the Blue chair, Alex McLeish tries to get Cities automatic promotion push back on track.

Losing 2-0 at Blackpool was the latest in a series of bad results that have seen Birmingham fall out of the top two. Defeats by Wolves and Reading are probably hard for the Blues fans to take; losing 2-0 at Blackpool probably really sticks in the craw.

What’s gone wrong? After the Blackpool game, McLeish said;

“We're disappointed but we've got to show perseverance and some of the players must realize that they've got to give us a lot more than they've given us in this game. There are no excuses and, as a team with our aspirations, the players know they have to do much better than that."

So it’s the players.

McLeish has been busy in the transfer market; three players made their debuts in the previous game against Cardiff. Scott Sinclair, Hameur Bouazza and Lee Bowyer all made the debuts and played at Blackpool so maybe it’s the change in personnel that’s made the difference?

Birmingham fans – not known for their patience – seem to be suggesting it’s all down to the style of football McLeish is asking them to play – and many fans have misgivings about what would happen if they did achieve promotion. From 606;

“Seriously, imagine if we go up with this squad and Alex McLeish at the helm. To compete in the prem we would need at least 7 players for the first team alone, with the lack of legs and any real fight in the team the main concern.”

McLeish has no injury concerns as Franck Queudrue and Lee Bowyer have both recovered from knocks received in the Blackpool game while James McFadden has recovered from illness and should play

Blues Facts

The Rams

The BBC are reporting that Andy Todd and possible reading Target Steve Davies are available after injuries and;

“Defender Jay McEveley could be included in the squad.”

The sort of throwaway line that brings out the cold sweats in Rams fans. Along with Gary Teale, Przemys?aw Ka?mierczak – these are the players that are being added to the fans ‘worst ever Derby team’ lists.

Is this fair? Although Mick Brolly a Paul Emson might be breathing a sigh of relief, it’s very hard on players who are in the current squad. One person who was on that list until Friday was Robbie Savage and his battling performance against Forest may have won him a reprieve in some people’s eyes.

Then there’s Andy Todd who played brilliantly against Manchester United.

What does this all mean?

We see the players only once a week if we’re lucky. The manager sees them every day in training. It may be that Gary Teale is an excellent winger and Jay McEveley a good full back but for one reason or another, have lacked motivation under the previous manager. Nigel Clough pointed out that there are deep rooted problems at the club that need to be worked on. He did not offer any quick solution when he said;

“We were not too bad in training last week, but the deep rooted things certainly emerged once that first goal went in on Saturday. That won’t change in a week, or two weeks, or a month; that is 18 months worth. It takes a while to eradicate that sort of thing.”

That’s honest and maybe we as fans can help by not getting on the players backs the minute they cross the touch-line. Gary Teale seems to be a popular scapegoat. Okay he’s done nothing to win over the fans but the manager must have a good impression of him. Encouragement may work better than the big stick?

Mick’s team: Bywater, Stewart, Albrechtsen, Nyatanga, Connolly, Commons, Addison, Green, Savage, Davies, Hulse

What the bookies think

The Bookies think Nigel Clough will have to wait for his first win as the Blues are clear favourites at 4/6 on while the Rams are at 9/2. The draw is at 5/2.

Kevin Philips is an Evens bet to score while Ex Ram Lee Carsley is at 7/1. Giles Barnes is a 7/2 bet and Nathan Ellington a 10/3 bet so might be worth a flutter there.

Information for travelling fans

Driving: Take the A38 south and using either the toll or Regular M6, head south to J6. Leave the M6 at J 6 and take the A38 (M) towards Birmingham City Centre. Take the second exit for the Inner Ring Road. And turn left onto the Ring Road East (Coventry/Stratford). Cross three islands and at the fourth island turn left towards Small Heath. The ground is about a 1/4 of a mile up this road on the left.

Parking: There’s a car park at the away end of the ground, but it’s usually full when I get there. There’s a fair amount of street parking if you get there early enough. Otherwise there are various schools and businesses charging you a fiver to park.

Drinking: As with a lot of grounds these days, pubs local to the ground are turning people in colours away. If you are quiet and blend in you should be okay which precludes most of our away support. Footballgroundguide.com recommends the Brighton Pub on Coventry Road or the Cricketers Arms.  Otherwise it’s the City centre – which probably only makes sense if you come on the train.

Mick’s prediction

This game very much depends on which Blues & which Rams’ squad that turns up. If Birmingham display the wretched form they have over the last few games and we play well we could take all three points. If we play as badly as we’ve played in the league … well Birmingham could return to form with a convincing win.

A draw seems a distinct possibility and I suspect Nigel Clough would take on if offered.

Photo: Action Images

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