Birmingham are a team we've struggled to beat in the league over recent years and, with very much a 'second team' (as at Fulham) and them fired up not only by their struggle to avoid relegation but to bounce back from a 5-1 derby drubbing. this was never going to be an easy game.
Even so, we had a decent defensive line - even if Hyypia, Finnan and Riise are all past their best - so I was disappointed to go two goals down. I was cheered somewhat by the way we bounced back - Crouch proving he's still in good scoring form with the first and Pennant again proving effective - he's got to play on Wednesday I feel. That Benayoun's equaliser came via a deflection off Jiadi was particularly pleasing, since his antics in front of Reina had arguably cost us the second by distracting him ahead of what was a great free kick.
Anyway, one point virtually guarantees 4th spot and CL qualification (theoretically if we lost our remaining two, and Everton won their three, we could slip out - but the blues would have to overturn a goal difference of fifteen in our favour in the course). Now hopefully we can put our focus into this year's competition - although, having heard how Chelsea beat Utd, I'm not too confident ahead of Wednesday. I'd rather Chelsea won the PL though, and think there are some signs (1, 2) United might be losing it...
I'm still hoping for a miraculous calling off both the Premiership and the Champions League in the light of their failure to be won by teams not either managed by Alex Ferguson or playing boring football. There ought to be a law.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I follow what looks like a double negative, but is your point Chelsea are neither boring nor managed by SAF? Or are you still clinging to the mathematical possibility of Arsenal winning the EPL?
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