Birmingham City (1) - West Bromwich Albion (0)

By Stuart Kidson
March 22 2003

If the Fat Lady was practicing following last weeks defeat against Chelsea, then she is waiting in the wings this week after The Baggies slumped to their 5th successive defeat in the Premiership.

Birmingham City v West Bromwich Albion
Saturday 22nd March 2003

If the Fat Lady was practicing following last weeks defeat against Chelsea, then she is waiting in the wings this week after The Baggies slumped to their 5th successive defeat in the Premiership. The one - nil defeat at the hands of Steve Bruce's Blues means that the Baggies future looks bleak for any chance of survival with football's elite.

As at Villa Park earlier in the season, a late injury time goal by the home side meant that the travelling support made their way across Birmingham with heavy hearts. At Villa Park it was Thomas Hitzlesperger who spoilt the party, this time it was Geoff Horsfield to take on the role of party pooper.

The early kick-off posed no problems for both sets of fans and as usual in this fixture there was a fair amount of good natured banter between both sets of fans. The two camps are without doubt the noisiest fans in the Premiership but it was the baggies Barmy Army who again out sang their opponents.

The Blues knew just what was at stake in this fixture and from the start attacked the Albion lines with a purpose. Clinton Morrison was waiting to pounce on a Paul Devlin cross in the first Blues foray, but resolute defending by Igor Balis denied him an early strike. It was Morrison again who was again involved minutes later when his downward header fell to former Spurs man Stephen Clemence who fluffed his shot from 15 yards out.

Ronnie Wallwork sliced a clearance and caused Albion hearts to flutter slightly when he almost turned the ball past Russell Hoult and into his own net. Luckily for Wallwork and the Barmy Army the ever reliable Hoult saved the day.

The first real chance for the Albion came after 19 minutes, when a clever knock on by Derek McInnes from Danny Dichio's cross found the unmarked Ifeyani Udeze. The Nigerian unleashed a shot that sailed just over the Blues crossbar. Minutes later referee Mr. Paul Durkin turned down yet another penalty claim from the Baggies after Jason Roberts had been hauled to the ground by Kenny Cunnigham.

The Barmy Army immediately launched into their now trade-mark chant of 'The Premiership Is Full Of Cheats'. How many more times are the Albion going to be denied a fair chance by the officials. Jason Roberts is the most fouled player in the Premiership yet none of these fouls seem to happen in the opposition area. Funny one that ain't it ?

Albion were awarded a corner shortly after (amazingly) and Deech somehow managed to head over the bar from close range after another Jason Koumas in swinging flag kicks. A dour first half was soon livened up when Derek McInnes and Robbie Savage squared up to each other on 30 minutes.

Blues had a chance from a Clemence corner shortly after the handbags at ten paces episode. Savage dummied and McInnes's Scottish team mate Paul Devlin saw his wild shot sail over the Baggies goal. The next real chance for the Blues fell to former Palace striker Clinton Morrison when he combined well with French World Cup winner, Christophe Dugarry. Dugarry had layed off to the Irish international from Devlin's high ball into the box, but unfortunately for Morrison he struggled to control his balance and scuffed at his shot which went just wide of the upright.

Albion were awarded a free-kick 30 yards out just before the break but Neil Clement failed to hit the form with free-kicks that he enjoyed last season and he had to watch as his effort went inches wide. Ronnie Wallwork caught the Blues defence napping when he sent over an inch perfect diagonal ball for Ife Udeze at the back post but he could only manage to hit the side netting.

The Baggies started brightly in the second half and Jason Koumas found Igor Balis outwide after breaking free of the Blues midfield. The Slovakian crossed into the area but the stretching Dichio could not meet the ball and Blues cleared the lines.

Jason Roberts had been paid close attention by Matthew Upson all through the game, with the former Arsenal defender seemingly thinking that Roberts was a climbing frame, but Robbo managed to ride the challenges of both Upson and Cunningham to get his pass out to Koumas who saw his shot pushed around the post by Ian Bennett.

Koumas again swung in the ball from the corner and it was again met by the head of Baggies striker Dichio to head towards goal. Roberts intercepted and his header hit the Blues crossbar.

Two minutes later it was Dugarry who could have broken the deadlock when he had the goal at his mercy. The Frenchman headed the ball straight at Houlty instead and made an easy job very hard. Morrison had to be stretchered off following a challenge with an Albion defender and Steve Bruce threw Geoff Horsfield into the fray.

An unusual mistake by Houlty almost let Dugarry in again when he fluffed a routine catch from a Jamie Clapham cross. Fortunately for the Baggies the angle was too much for the Frenchman and Neil Clement was able to clear the tame shot off the line.

It was then the turn of Ian Bennett to make a mistake when his clearance fell to the rampaging Koumas about 40 yards from goal. The Welsh maestro hit an instant shot but the scrambling keeper managed to save his blushes by dealing with the shot. Blues Darren Carter was next to fail miserably in front of goal when he half heartedly hit a shot following a cross from Savage. The ball dribbled harmlessly wide of the goalmouth.

With six minutes of the games normal time remaining Horsfield bought out the very best of Houlty when his powerfully hit header had to be tipped over the bar by the keeper. It was again Horsfield who popped up with seconds left on the clock in injury time to head home a deflected Stern John shot and send the Baggies home pointless and desperately in trouble 9 points clear of the current safety cut off.

Albion deserved more from the game but they just do not seem to have any luck with finding the net or with the officials. The saying is that these things even themselves out across the season but it seems that the Albion are the exception to that particular rule.

Man of the Match selected by Mr. Joe Holloway of Blackheath - Russell Hoult.

Team: Russell Hoult, Larus Sigurdsson, Ronnie Wallwork, Neil Clement, Igor Balis, Jason Koumas (86), Derek McInnes, Sean Grgan, Ifeyani Udeze, Jason Roberts, Danny Dichio.

Subs: Joe Murphy, Scott Dobie, James Chambers, Des Lyttle, Lee Hughes (86)