Ipswich 0, Birmingham City 1: Colin Tattum's Birmingham Mail verdict

Dec 27 2008 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

BLUES showed exactly the right sort of Christmas spirit to suggest reports of their demise have been somewhat exaggerated.

James McFadden’s 39th-minute penalty decided a rather drab Boxing Day affair that was built on Blues’ typically cloying resilience.

If the starting selection didn’t exactly set the pulses racing, the vindication was in a result that got Blues back on the right track following the disappointment of the defeat by Reading.

Ipswich didn’t amount to much, but then again Blues wouldn’t let them impose any sort of control on the game.

And on this occasion there were no self-inflicted wounds from a diligent and watchful Blues in the second half when, if anything, they appeared more threatening than they did in the first.

It was certainly an interesting selection by Alex McLeish, dictated to a degree by the absence of Sebastian Larsson and Nigel Quashie.

Kemy Agustien started wide on the right, David Murphy wide on the left and Damien Johnson was involved for the first time since May, and acquitted himself remarkably well given the circumstances.

Ipswich, without David Wright and the suspended Alex Bruce, brought back Ivan Campo at centre-half and opted for a 4-3-3 formation.

The width was provided by Jon Stead and the lively Danny Haynes who, thankfully for Blues, had to go off injured in the 28th minute.

Initially that system looked promising for Ipswich and although they had plenty of possession Blues were able to deal relatively comfortably with whatever came their way.

There were no real scares of note in the first half and even if Blues lacked adventure, they would have been happy with the interval scoreline.

The goal was a result of Ipswich defender Moritz Volz getting his position wrong as he came across to cover.

Agustien delayed his cross into the box long enough to confuse the full-back and the flighted ball dropped straight at his upper body.

Referee Iain Williamson was well positioned and judged he had stuck out his arm to concede a penalty and it was left to McFadden to do the rest with a cool finish to the goalkeeper’s right.

Blues were confident at the start of the second period, and a slick move high on the left was almost capped by a spectacular Franck Queudrue goal.