Crystal Palace 0, Birmingham 0: Colin Tattum's big match verdict

Feb 25 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ON OTHER nights and afternoons this season Blues have created a lot fewer clear-cut chances and won.

So to fluff a handful of opportunities at a time when you most need them to be taken, the overriding feeling coming away from Selhurst Park was nothing but annoyance and frustration.

The Championship appears to be heading for one of its most thrilling and unpredictable climaxes.

And Blues have and are playing their part in that, although they would hardly like to in such manner, of course.

The catalogue of recent stutters, whether it be defeats or salvaged draws, has hurt no end.

Reading and Cardiff City can leapfrog them by winning their games in hand, and the gap on Wolves again was not cut by the required margin.

Mind, the way the league is there is no guarantee those chasing would take care of their business, just like there is no reason why Blues should not click and bring the goals needed.

But Blues have not been prolific per se, and last night it was pretty wretched when they got in sight – and close sight at that – of the frame of the goal.

Lee Bowyer and Carlos Costly, who was given his first start, missed absolute sitters at the beginning of the second half.

And with what was the last piece of match action, Cameron Jerome didn’t launch himself with enough purpose at Liam Ridgewell’s cross that fizzed over and only needed the merest sort of touch to go in from close range.

“These guys [strikers] have got to put their head in where it hurts, get on the end of things for us,” said Alex McLeish beforehand, words which still hold true.

There was a good all-round response from Saturday’s defeat by Coventry City. McLeish made changes, handing Stephen Carr his debut, recalling Radhi Jaidi in place of Martin Taylor and resting Lee Carsley to pair Keith Fahey and Bowyer in central midfield.

Blues were very focused, and defensively not at all as flimsy as at the Ricoh Arena.

Carr had his hands full against the tricky Victor Moses but handled him with intelligence and pugnacity; he was impressive and lasted the course with no problems.

Costly partnered Marcus Bent up front and it was the latter who began what became a list of misses in the 28th minute when he powered Sebastian Larsson’s cross wide with his head from 12 yards.

Palace felt they should have had a penalty in stoppage time when Neil Danns and Fahey grappled; Danns wriggled loose and was thwarted smartly by Maik Taylor as the referee allowed play to continue.

Shortly into the second half came the defining moments.