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+----- Thread: Birmingham City @ St Andrews 27/9/2016 (/showthread.php?tid=4595)
Birmingham City @ St Andrews 27/9/2016 - themaclad - 25-09-2016
Back to St Andrews for the second time in five months as North End start a run of fixtures until the end of October but can only be described as tough.
Back in April North End fought back from 2 down to gain a point with a late Cunningham equaliser, squad wise City do not seem to have been overly active in the transfer market Che Adams arrived from Sheffield United for a large fee and Lucas Jutkiewicz arrived on loan from Burnley and has scored in his last two matches. Last season City struggled at home and proved hard to beat away from St Andrews, they have won two from four at home this season which seems to indicated they may be improving on their own turf. They have won the last two hammering Norwich and getting a late winner against Sheffield Wednesday.
Clayton Donaldson missed yesterday's draw at QPR having been injured the previous Saturday. On a good run of form at the moment five games unbeaten and could be on the verge of a decent season.
North End will need to play well and for me they need to include Pearson in midfield from the start, given our non tackling midfielders this lad gets stuck in which is not unusual for players who are on the diminutive size.(he is 5ft 4ins)
According to the manager he would have played a few more of the side who won at Bournemouth in the cup but for the fact most had played for two hours. So could be an interesting team selection.
Will be there on Tuesday night, so if the lads at the Ahmadiyya mosque are reading this get the beers in we'll see you Tuesday. Be more than happy with a point a win would be tremendous.
Birmingham City last three DWD Next three Blackburn Rovers H Nottingham Forest A Rotherham United H
PNE last three LWW Next three Aston Villa H Brighton A Huddersfield Town H
RE: Birmingham City @ St Andrews 27/9/2016 - themaclad - 28-09-2016
North End earned a point in a very well contested 2 all draw at St Andrews last night in an entertaining game. Grayson made four changes from Friday's victory and seemed to be playing a diamond formation in midfield with Welsh and Pearson in the defensive roles.
A couple of early Blues efforts were dealt with by Maxwell before Robinson nearly gave North End the league, intercepting a poor backpass, he took the ball round the keeper but had a poor angle to shoot from and hit the side netting, however it was not long before the visitors took the lead.
From their first corner North End scored, it was not a thing of beauty, Johnson's poorly hit corner found it's way towards goal after a scramble Baptiste bundled the ball home.
Following the goal North End seemed comfortable but started to give a way cheap possession which invited Blues pressure, on the half hour the ome side were level
A corner from Cotterill was powerfully headed home by Shotton, have to say Cotterill is probably one of the best crossers of the ball from either flankscaused us a lot of problems last night. The goal woke North End up, Clarke narrowly wide from a header, Robinson denied twice by excellent saves by Legzdins, although have to say probably think the keeper should have done better when we scored the second.
A free kick form the wide right out the area by Johnson went in, the keeper if he had stayed were he was would have saved it but he took a step to the left and the ball went past him.
The opening to the second half was fenetic, a series of Blues corners whilst at the other end Robinson, Perason and Cunningham all went close. However for about 30 minutes the Blues laid seige to the North End goal, more corners rained in on the visitors defence, Maxwell and Co did well to keep them out. City made two substitutions which were not well received by the home support. The substitutions meant a change in formation and the changes worked North End were being over run in midfield, Grayson recognised this and had two substitutes ready to come on, but before he could change shape the goal which was on the cards duly arrived, cross from the left first time shot by Adams scores level. Personaal view when the goal went in there would only be one winner and it would not be us, however the final 10 minutes North End looked the more likelier to score. Hugill could not find Browne when well place and Robinson went close twice. Probably Blues will think they possibly could have won but for me a more than decent point.
Birmingham City 2 Preston North End 2 Att 15779