Match Report: Birmingham City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Match Report: Birmingham City 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Blues returned to winning ways, seeing off John Eustace and Blackburn Rovers thanks to an Andre Dozzell winner
A return to home brought a return to winning ways for Birmingham City thanks to a second half Andre Dozzell goal.
This was an excellent performance from Tony Mowbray’s side with confidence shown on the ball throughout and game management evident after taking the lead.
The chosen XI raised a few eyebrows with Mowbray making seven changes. Paik Seung-Ho made his first ever start, Tyler Roberts started for the first time since opening day, Marc Roberts for the first time since Boxing Day, Cody Drameh and John Ruddy since the win away at Stoke City following injury while Koji Miyoshi and Jay Stansfield also returned.
Neil Etheridge, Kevin Long, Lee Buchanan, Ivan Sunjic and notable artists Juninho Bacuna and Siriki Dembele dropped to the bench with Scott Hogan’s spot in the squad was taken by another returnee in the form of Club Captain Lukas Jutkiewicz.
Blues had to ride early Blackburn energy but had the first notable effort at goal, Paik finding the target with a free-kick. Blues then produced the move of the match, playing what felt like a 20+ pass move from our own third that ended with Miyoshi slipping Roberts only for the forward to finish the wrong side of the post.
Blues largely controlled the rest of the first half, beating Blackburn non-confident press. Stansfield fired a snapshot half volley wide, Marc Roberts hit the post from a Miyoshi cross and Dozzell found the target from the edge of the box.
Blackburn did finish the half strong but Sammie Szmodics’ stab over the bar after sharp play was the best they could muster.
Szmodics was in behind again shortly after half time, a nice break down the right leading to the Rovers top scorer forcing a stop from Ruddy. Blues then had two huge chances, Marc Roberts heading over Dozzell’s free-kick before Tyler Roberts fluffed his lines following an Aynsley Pears error. Ryan Hedges cut inside and fired on target.
Tony Mowbray introduced the artists Bacuna and Dembele and it led to more quality in the final third. Cody Drameh belted over the bar, Dembele failed to make the most of excellent football and James did the same. Dembele then fired wide after good work from Bacuna on the other flank.
It felt like the goal wouldn’t come, and it almost never. Bacuna did brilliantly down the left to beat his man and motor away, driving to the touchline and cutting back. Dozzell saw an effort blocked. Stansfield the same. Drameh’s cross was half cleared and Dozzell threw a foot at the ball, happy to see it trickle into the net.
Blues killed the game from that point. They kept the ball, showboated, slowed the game, wasted time. It looked like the game had been seen out until the 95th minute when a long throw was flicked on and headed on target by Telalovic – thankfully it hit Ruddy and was cleared.
A lucky late escape after switching off. The final whistle blew seconds later to confirm the win and a much needed three points.
Lineups
Blues
Ruddy; Drameh Bielik Roberts Laird; Dozzell Paik (Bacuna 66); Miyoshi (Dembele 65) Roberts (Anderson 82) JJ; Stansfield. Unused: Etheridge; Long Buchanan Gardner Sunjic Jutkiewicz
Blackburn
Pears; Hyam McFadzean (Sigurdsson 82) Chrisene; Brittain JRC (Garrett 35) Tronstad Hedges (O’Riordan 72); Dolan (Moran 72) Gallagher (Telalovic 82) Szmodics. Unused: Wahlstedt; Fleck Ayari Markanday
Tactics
Blues once again lined up in a 4-2-3-1 and the style remained similar to recent outings, but with a slight tweak.
Predominantly, it was classic 4-2-3-1. Full-backs spreading the pitch. Central midfielders coming to take the ball off defenders and open the game out. Attacking midfielders dropping in to show for the ball.
However, rather than the LW and RB holding width in general play, the LB and RW did, with Laird and Miyoshi the ones to stretch play once Blues had avoided the initial press. That allowed James to venture inside and Drameh to support rather than be too advanced, protecting Roberts alongside him.
Ethan Laird shared details about the job of the full-backs after the game, admitting that Mowbray gave them license to get forward when the opportunity arose, putting trust in them to make that decision with the centre halves.
Defensively, it was more of a 4-4-2 shape with Roberts and Stansfield together and James and Miyoshi squeezing the pitch. The roles were simplified, the jobs of the midfield four being to watch Blackburn’s midfield four while the back four marshalled their front three. Players were asked to step up with their men but breaking away from that structure to press higher required communication.
Blackburn had clear ideas of targeting Blues’ right hand side. That was evident in the first few minutes and the nature of their press thereon further evidenced that. It made sense. Close a returning Cody Drameh and Marc Roberts down rather than a fit and ready Bielik and Laird.
Hedges would step right up on Drameh, Chrisene on Miyoshi with Szmodics, Gallagher and Tronstad trying to cut off angles and close men. If anybody was allowed to have the ball under little pressure, it was Roberts, who was less comfortable going short. And Ruddy’s kicks were forced towards Miyoshi or Stansfield where they ought to have the physical strength.
Fortunately, Bielik, Dozzell and Paik were superb, press resistant and made a lot of good decisions with the ball. When under pressure, Ruddy and Roberts had license to go long. Once that was broken, Blues played with fludiitiy with Miyoshi and James having license to drift inside, Stansfield and Roberts to dovetail with them if space arose and Paik and Laird happy to make darting runs – those forward runners were important too.
Blackburn were quick to get back into shape defensively when beaten, becoming more of a 5-4-1 with the wing-backs supported by the wide centre-back and attacking midfielder on their side while Stansfield was kept quiet with so many bodies around him in the centre of the pitch.
Blackburn played 3-4-3 and they had an obvious target which was to draw Blues on, find one of the front three in space in a cheating left position then look for either a forward run or the open space on the right, where Brittain was able to escape James on various occasions. Their quality from that point was generally poor. The midfield looked uncomfortable taking the ball from their defence.
Changes:
Bacuna and Dembele joined the fray on either flank with James moving into the centre of the pitch.
Chrisene moved to LWB from LCB.
Chrisene moved back to LCB with Sigurdsson going LWB, albeit more advanced.
Dembele moved from RW to ST, Bacuna LW to RW and Anderson came on LW.
Players
Paik Seung-Ho looks a player, doesn’t he. He hasn’t even adapted yet either. His midfield partner Dozzell is looking more comfortable too.
Tyler Roberts looks the player we know he can be. I’m loathe to get excited by his quality given his fitness record and I hope we can see this for a sustained period now.
Kristian Bielik was excellent, one of his best displays of the season. Ethan Laird looked fitter and appeared to be enjoying himself. Marc Roberts was excellent defensively. Bacuna had a positive impact off the bench. James had had better days yet I can’t not mention the power in his movement again. He looks like a man.
Szmodics was the obvious quality player for Blackburn but sorely lacked that around him on a frustrating evening. Blackburn just looked short of any real physicality.
Conclusions
I said it last night and I stand by it: This was a standard setter.
The team were fluid and fun in possession but matched it with a structure and organisation. Players communicated, made good decisions with and without the ball. They looked to break lines to stretch play.
We should acknowledge the level of opposition. Blackburn have lost their last six on the road and look very short of confidence and stature. It’s quite clear that structure and points was on the mind of the new man in the dugout last night. We had to beat that.
Still, you can only beat what is in front of you. These are the games we’ve typically made hard work of, struggling to break down an organised side, losing confidence with things not going right and causing our own problems. We kept our heads. Kept playing. We deserved the win.
Mowbray deserves credit for the subs. Sometimes, a manager in a relegation fight will opt to ensure they don't lose rather than take a risk but Bacuna had a huge impact on the game and the decision paid off.
The new signings are making a big impression. Dozzell gives us the composure and will to take the ball we’ve lacked. Paik looks a cut above in early appearances. Pritchard will return. Anderson and Roberts being back is important for additional quality and depth. January has provided a lot of upside to our midfield.
I’m not too bothered by the poor finishing. That will come. We’re creating the chances consistently, which is the important thing. The rest will come.
My only quibble, which was perhaps put to bed with the goal, is that I’d like to see more bodies get in the area and support the striker. Our striker won’t be able to find space between three bodies regularly and he needs support from crossing situations. Again that will come with time and confidence.
Sunderland next. A win would be lovely given the level of opposition, the narratives – Mowbray, Jobe, Pritchard, Speakmann – and the sizeable home following. Winning back to back games would be another huge boost too.
I suspect we could see more changes with Mowbray managing minutes, though not quite as many as six. This is an experienced guy knowing it’s a marathon not a sprint and he still has plenty to work out about his playing staff.