Birmingham 3 Coventry 0 - 01/04/2007
Birmingham 3 Coventry 0 - 01/04/2007
Birmingham City: Colin Doyle, Stephen Kelly, Martin Taylor, Radhi Jaidi, Mathew Sadler, Sebastian Larsson, Rowan Vine, Nicklas Bendtner (Fabrice Muamba 82), Damien Johnson, Stephen Clemence (Medhi Nafti 73), Cameron Jerome (DJ Campbell 62)
Subs not used: Neil Danns, Maik Taylor
Goals: Jaidi 13, Campbell 65, Campbell 78
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Adam Virgo, Colin Hawkins, Marcus Hall, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Michael Mifsud, Isaac Osbourne (Khalilou Fadiga 64), Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb (Kevin Kyle 64),
Subs not used: Robert Page, Leon McKenzie, Luke Steele
Booked: Stephen Hughes 56, Michael Doyle 63
Attendance: 25424
Referee: T Kettle
Teamtalk
A first-half header from Radhi Jaidi and DJ Campbell's brace moved Birmingham back into second place with a 3-0 home win over Coventry.
The brushing aside of a limp Coventry side puts Blues firmly on track for promotion, with a game in hand on leaders Derby.
Iain Dowie has transformed Coventry's fortunes since his arrival two months ago, but this insipid display, bereft of creativity and imagination, was a far cry from the side who had gone unbeaten in their previous six games.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce suffered a blow just before kick-off with the news that Andy Cole, who signed last week on loan from Portsmouth, had been prevented from making his debut by a hamstring injury.
The former Manchester United man's absence meant there was a recall for Cameron Jerome, who partnered Nicklas Bendtner in attack, while there was no place in the 16 for fit-again striker Mikael Forssell.
Birmingham started in confident mood and Sky Blues skipper Elliott Ward did well to block Jerome's fierce strike after the former Cardiff forward had been teed up by the industrious Rowan Vine inside the opening five minutes.
Blues were very nearly rewarded for their pulsating start as Bendtner's stinging 25-yard drive was brilliantly tipped round the post by the athletic Andy Marshall.
But there was nothing the Coventry stopper could do to prevent Birmingham taking the lead from the resulting corner as Jaidi netted his third goal of the campaign.
Sebastian Larsson's outswinging corner was met by the unmarked Tunisian 12 yards out and his accurate header flew into the top corner to ensure Blues were duly rewarded for their enterprising approach.
There was no sign of Birmingham's impetus fading and Jerome wasted two golden opportunities to extend their advantage soon after.
First, his skewed header from eight yards posed more trouble to the corner flag than Marshall's goal, and then he was unable to steer a shot past the Coventry goalkeeper after capitalising on Ward's indecision over a long ball from Stephen Clemence.
Bruce's side were rampant and Damien Johnson, who scored his first goal in four years against West Brom last time out, sliced a half-volley horribly wide with only Marshall to beat.
Bendtner was orchestrating all of Birmingham's frequent attacks and after another mazy run his searching cross just eluded the unmarked Jerome, and the on-loan Arsenal ace stung the palms of Marshall with a crisp long-range drive just before the break.
There was a clear injection of enthusiasm into the Sky Blues' play in the second period and lively winger Jay Tabb was a matter of inches away from connecting with Michael Mifsud's inviting cross.
Mifsud, who had been on Euro 2008 qualifying duty with Malta this week, showed no signs of fatigue as he stole a march on Jaidi, but he was only able to flash his first-time volley over Colin Doyle's crossbar.
Coventry were made to pay the ultimate price for their profligacy though, as substitute Campbell doubled Birmingham's advantage after 65 minutes.
Campbell, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, latched on to Stephen Kelly's hopeful punt from defence and after outpacing Ward, the former Brentford striker showed fantastic composure to clip the ball past the onrushing Marshall.
Birmingham were threatening to run riot and Vine and Larsson both went agonisingly close to adding another.
Campbell teed up Vine with an incisive pass but his powerful strike from eight yards crashed off the post, and Larsson's thumping first-time strike from 30 yards flew just wide.
The St Andrews faithful did not have to wait long to see a third though, as Campbell got in front of Ward to steer home Mehdi Nafti's left-wing cross 12 minutes from time to wrap up a comprehensive victory for Blues.
CCFC
The Sky Blues suffered their first defeat under Iain Dowie with a 3-0 defeat to Birmingham City at St. Andrews.
Goals from Radhi Jaidi in the first-half and a second half brace from substitute DJ Campbell condemned City to their first loss in seven matches.
Dowie named an unchanged side for the trip to St Andrew's.
The Sky Blues boss opted to field the same team which beat Barnsley 4-1 just over a fortnight ago.
It was a crunch local derby, with Blues aiming to return to the top two of the Championship after Sunderland rose above them yesterday, while Dowie was aiming to maintain his unbeaten run since taking charge in February.
There was no Gary McSheffrey for Birmingham City, with the forward missing out through suspension. Julian Gray was not eligible for the same reason.
It was a tense opening ten minutes with neither side creating any clear cut opportunities but it was Nicklas Bendtner who had had the first shot on goal of the afternoon after 12 minutes. The Danish striker hit a sweet shot from 25-yards out and Andy Marshall reacted well to push it round the post.
From the resulting corner, Jaidi found himself unmarked and connected well with Larsson's corner powerfully headed the ball into the bottom corner to make the score 1-0.
The goal seemed to spur on the St. Andrews outfit and Cameron Jerome nearly made the score 2-0 when the forward lost his marker when Larsson crossed the ball but the England Under 21 forward could only direct his header wide.
The Sky Blues back-line was being given a stern test and with 28 minutes on the clock Damian Johnson was gifted a glorious opportunity when Colin Hawkins headed the ball straight to former Blackburn man but he blasted it wide of Marshall's goal.
City's first opportunity of the game came on 31 minutes when Dele Adebola tried to his luck with an overhead kick but the former Blues man could only guide the ball over the crossbar.
Marshall was called into action moments later when Bendtner produced a rasping drive and the shot stopper did well to push the ball round the post.
On the stroke of half-time, Isaac Osbourne went close for the Sky Blues with an attempt from range but could only watch on as the ball went wide.
City started the second half more positively and nearly levelled the score when Adam Virgo slipped his marker from a Stephen Hughes corner and the right-back scooped his shot over the bar.
On 57 minutes Michael Mifsud latched onto an Adebola through ball and the Maltese international found Jay Tabb running into the penalty area but the former Brentford man missed the ball as he can darting in.
Dowie made a double substitution on 64 minutes with Khalilou Fadiga replacing Osbourne and Kevin Kyle coming on for Tabb.
Disaster struck a minute later when a long ball was misjudged by Elliott Ward and Campbell capitalised and chipped the ball over the oncoming Marshall into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.
The Sky Blues were beginning to claw their way back into the game and three minutes later Virgo found had an opportunity to pull a goal back when again he lost his marker from a Hughes corner but he could only lift his shot wide.
The match took a turn for the worse for the Sky Blues when Campbell scored his second goal of the afternoon when he side footed the ball past Marshall from a Medhi Nafti cross.
City tried in vain to salvage some pride in the last ten minutes but it was Birmingham who stole the local bragging rights.
4thegame
Birmingham City finally discovered some goalscoring form to confirm their position as promotion favourites.
A goal from Radhi Jaidi and two from substitute DJ Campbell enabled them to score more than once in a game for the first time this year.
It was their 13th attempt and it could not have come at a better time as it enabled them to move back into second place just two points behind leaders Derby County with a game in hand.
This was Coventry's first defeat in seven games under the control of Iain Dowie and on this occasion they were often playing second fiddle to a Blues side who could have scored a more conclusive win.
Birmingham suffered a big blow before the game when new on-loan signing Andy Cole was forced to pull out with a hamstring injury. But they made their intentions known by going into the game with a three-prong striking force of Nicklas Bendtner, Rowan Vine and Cameron Jerome.
But it was plainly obvious, even in the early stages, that they badly missed the finishing prowess of Cole.
Jerome, a raw youngster, carelessly wasted several good chances to have put the game out of Coventry's reach in the opening 20 minutes and it was only the eventual introduction of Campbell which put the game out of Coventry's reach It was left to their veteran defender Jaidi to rescue Birmingham's fortunes with an impressive opening goal in the 13th minute.
Bendtner demonstrated his promise with a confident long-range shot which Andy Marshall turned away for a corner. Seb Larsson's corner from the right was met by Jaidi who powerfully directed his header low into the near corner of the net.
It was then that Jerome, in particular, failed to capitalise upon the lead and this enabled Coventry to mount several promising attacks which were usually inspired by Michael Doyle.
Coventry, however, were able to survive due to Birmingham's weak finishing which was emphasised when a mis-directed header went straight to Damien Johnson, who conspired to blast his shot wide from ten yards.
The Sky Blues were much the sharper at the start of the second period when Birmingham were lethargic in all departments.
As a result Dele Adebola suddenly became more of a threat as Birmingham grimly held onto their slender advantage. It was in this spell that Michael Mifsud missed a golden opportunity to equalise.
A disappointing Jerome eventually made way for Campbell and, three minutes after going on, the little striker latched on to a long through ball from Stephen Kelly to score his 11th goal of the season.
Campbell was on fire as he demonstrated with his second goal in the 78th minute when he turned home a Mehdi Nafti cross.
Birmingham City: Colin Doyle, Stephen Kelly, Martin Taylor, Radhi Jaidi, Mathew Sadler, Sebastian Larsson, Rowan Vine, Nicklas Bendtner (Fabrice Muamba 82), Damien Johnson, Stephen Clemence (Medhi Nafti 73), Cameron Jerome (DJ Campbell 62)
Subs not used: Neil Danns, Maik Taylor
Goals: Jaidi 13, Campbell 65, Campbell 78
Coventry City: Andy Marshall, Adam Virgo, Colin Hawkins, Marcus Hall, Elliott Ward, Stephen Hughes, Michael Mifsud, Isaac Osbourne (Khalilou Fadiga 64), Dele Adebola, Michael Doyle, Jay Tabb (Kevin Kyle 64),
Subs not used: Robert Page, Leon McKenzie, Luke Steele
Booked: Stephen Hughes 56, Michael Doyle 63
Attendance: 25424
Referee: T Kettle
Teamtalk
A first-half header from Radhi Jaidi and DJ Campbell's brace moved Birmingham back into second place with a 3-0 home win over Coventry.
The brushing aside of a limp Coventry side puts Blues firmly on track for promotion, with a game in hand on leaders Derby.
Iain Dowie has transformed Coventry's fortunes since his arrival two months ago, but this insipid display, bereft of creativity and imagination, was a far cry from the side who had gone unbeaten in their previous six games.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce suffered a blow just before kick-off with the news that Andy Cole, who signed last week on loan from Portsmouth, had been prevented from making his debut by a hamstring injury.
The former Manchester United man's absence meant there was a recall for Cameron Jerome, who partnered Nicklas Bendtner in attack, while there was no place in the 16 for fit-again striker Mikael Forssell.
Birmingham started in confident mood and Sky Blues skipper Elliott Ward did well to block Jerome's fierce strike after the former Cardiff forward had been teed up by the industrious Rowan Vine inside the opening five minutes.
Blues were very nearly rewarded for their pulsating start as Bendtner's stinging 25-yard drive was brilliantly tipped round the post by the athletic Andy Marshall.
But there was nothing the Coventry stopper could do to prevent Birmingham taking the lead from the resulting corner as Jaidi netted his third goal of the campaign.
Sebastian Larsson's outswinging corner was met by the unmarked Tunisian 12 yards out and his accurate header flew into the top corner to ensure Blues were duly rewarded for their enterprising approach.
There was no sign of Birmingham's impetus fading and Jerome wasted two golden opportunities to extend their advantage soon after.
First, his skewed header from eight yards posed more trouble to the corner flag than Marshall's goal, and then he was unable to steer a shot past the Coventry goalkeeper after capitalising on Ward's indecision over a long ball from Stephen Clemence.
Bruce's side were rampant and Damien Johnson, who scored his first goal in four years against West Brom last time out, sliced a half-volley horribly wide with only Marshall to beat.
Bendtner was orchestrating all of Birmingham's frequent attacks and after another mazy run his searching cross just eluded the unmarked Jerome, and the on-loan Arsenal ace stung the palms of Marshall with a crisp long-range drive just before the break.
There was a clear injection of enthusiasm into the Sky Blues' play in the second period and lively winger Jay Tabb was a matter of inches away from connecting with Michael Mifsud's inviting cross.
Mifsud, who had been on Euro 2008 qualifying duty with Malta this week, showed no signs of fatigue as he stole a march on Jaidi, but he was only able to flash his first-time volley over Colin Doyle's crossbar.
Coventry were made to pay the ultimate price for their profligacy though, as substitute Campbell doubled Birmingham's advantage after 65 minutes.
Campbell, who had only been on the pitch for three minutes, latched on to Stephen Kelly's hopeful punt from defence and after outpacing Ward, the former Brentford striker showed fantastic composure to clip the ball past the onrushing Marshall.
Birmingham were threatening to run riot and Vine and Larsson both went agonisingly close to adding another.
Campbell teed up Vine with an incisive pass but his powerful strike from eight yards crashed off the post, and Larsson's thumping first-time strike from 30 yards flew just wide.
The St Andrews faithful did not have to wait long to see a third though, as Campbell got in front of Ward to steer home Mehdi Nafti's left-wing cross 12 minutes from time to wrap up a comprehensive victory for Blues.
CCFC
The Sky Blues suffered their first defeat under Iain Dowie with a 3-0 defeat to Birmingham City at St. Andrews.
Goals from Radhi Jaidi in the first-half and a second half brace from substitute DJ Campbell condemned City to their first loss in seven matches.
Dowie named an unchanged side for the trip to St Andrew's.
The Sky Blues boss opted to field the same team which beat Barnsley 4-1 just over a fortnight ago.
It was a crunch local derby, with Blues aiming to return to the top two of the Championship after Sunderland rose above them yesterday, while Dowie was aiming to maintain his unbeaten run since taking charge in February.
There was no Gary McSheffrey for Birmingham City, with the forward missing out through suspension. Julian Gray was not eligible for the same reason.
It was a tense opening ten minutes with neither side creating any clear cut opportunities but it was Nicklas Bendtner who had had the first shot on goal of the afternoon after 12 minutes. The Danish striker hit a sweet shot from 25-yards out and Andy Marshall reacted well to push it round the post.
From the resulting corner, Jaidi found himself unmarked and connected well with Larsson's corner powerfully headed the ball into the bottom corner to make the score 1-0.
The goal seemed to spur on the St. Andrews outfit and Cameron Jerome nearly made the score 2-0 when the forward lost his marker when Larsson crossed the ball but the England Under 21 forward could only direct his header wide.
The Sky Blues back-line was being given a stern test and with 28 minutes on the clock Damian Johnson was gifted a glorious opportunity when Colin Hawkins headed the ball straight to former Blackburn man but he blasted it wide of Marshall's goal.
City's first opportunity of the game came on 31 minutes when Dele Adebola tried to his luck with an overhead kick but the former Blues man could only guide the ball over the crossbar.
Marshall was called into action moments later when Bendtner produced a rasping drive and the shot stopper did well to push the ball round the post.
On the stroke of half-time, Isaac Osbourne went close for the Sky Blues with an attempt from range but could only watch on as the ball went wide.
City started the second half more positively and nearly levelled the score when Adam Virgo slipped his marker from a Stephen Hughes corner and the right-back scooped his shot over the bar.
On 57 minutes Michael Mifsud latched onto an Adebola through ball and the Maltese international found Jay Tabb running into the penalty area but the former Brentford man missed the ball as he can darting in.
Dowie made a double substitution on 64 minutes with Khalilou Fadiga replacing Osbourne and Kevin Kyle coming on for Tabb.
Disaster struck a minute later when a long ball was misjudged by Elliott Ward and Campbell capitalised and chipped the ball over the oncoming Marshall into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.
The Sky Blues were beginning to claw their way back into the game and three minutes later Virgo found had an opportunity to pull a goal back when again he lost his marker from a Hughes corner but he could only lift his shot wide.
The match took a turn for the worse for the Sky Blues when Campbell scored his second goal of the afternoon when he side footed the ball past Marshall from a Medhi Nafti cross.
City tried in vain to salvage some pride in the last ten minutes but it was Birmingham who stole the local bragging rights.
4thegame
Birmingham City finally discovered some goalscoring form to confirm their position as promotion favourites.
A goal from Radhi Jaidi and two from substitute DJ Campbell enabled them to score more than once in a game for the first time this year.
It was their 13th attempt and it could not have come at a better time as it enabled them to move back into second place just two points behind leaders Derby County with a game in hand.
This was Coventry's first defeat in seven games under the control of Iain Dowie and on this occasion they were often playing second fiddle to a Blues side who could have scored a more conclusive win.
Birmingham suffered a big blow before the game when new on-loan signing Andy Cole was forced to pull out with a hamstring injury. But they made their intentions known by going into the game with a three-prong striking force of Nicklas Bendtner, Rowan Vine and Cameron Jerome.
But it was plainly obvious, even in the early stages, that they badly missed the finishing prowess of Cole.
Jerome, a raw youngster, carelessly wasted several good chances to have put the game out of Coventry's reach in the opening 20 minutes and it was only the eventual introduction of Campbell which put the game out of Coventry's reach It was left to their veteran defender Jaidi to rescue Birmingham's fortunes with an impressive opening goal in the 13th minute.
Bendtner demonstrated his promise with a confident long-range shot which Andy Marshall turned away for a corner. Seb Larsson's corner from the right was met by Jaidi who powerfully directed his header low into the near corner of the net.
It was then that Jerome, in particular, failed to capitalise upon the lead and this enabled Coventry to mount several promising attacks which were usually inspired by Michael Doyle.
Coventry, however, were able to survive due to Birmingham's weak finishing which was emphasised when a mis-directed header went straight to Damien Johnson, who conspired to blast his shot wide from ten yards.
The Sky Blues were much the sharper at the start of the second period when Birmingham were lethargic in all departments.
As a result Dele Adebola suddenly became more of a threat as Birmingham grimly held onto their slender advantage. It was in this spell that Michael Mifsud missed a golden opportunity to equalise.
A disappointing Jerome eventually made way for Campbell and, three minutes after going on, the little striker latched on to a long through ball from Stephen Kelly to score his 11th goal of the season.
Campbell was on fire as he demonstrated with his second goal in the 78th minute when he turned home a Mehdi Nafti cross.
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 11:59 pm
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