Swansea 0, Birmingham City 0: Colin Tattum's big match verdict
INCREDIBLY, since losing to Blues at home in November that’s now eight successive draws for Swansea.
And after yesterday’s events at St Andrew’s, Blues will at least be grateful for that as it could have been much worse.
Blues really toiled hard against the sprightly Swans whose lack of a clinical finisher(s) to top off impressive approach work was their undoing again.
David Murphy’s dismissal in the 68th minute could have been calamitous, but Blues made sure they would not succumb, drawing on their deep well of grittiness.
However, they will have to give more than that if they are to gain the ascendancy in the tussle at the top of the Championship.
Granted, the ridiculous fixture schedule took its toll on the legs and lungs, yet Blues surely possess more invention and daring than was seen yesterday. It was grim.
For most of the first half Blues spent chasing Swansea around trying to find the ball.
The fluid movement of the visitors makes them pesky, difficult opponents and the swiftness of attacks had Blues troubled.
But Swansea were guilty of a tendency to over-play in the last third and Blues’ defence was ever watchful.
Stuart Parnaby had his hands full against Mark Gower as the ball kept coming out to the left-winger time after time.
Parnaby contained him well in the circumstances while, in midfield, Blues struggled to get a foothold.
Part of the problem was that so often they were left running back to cover and to block the various routes of Swansea’s attacks.
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