Manchester United 1, Birmingham City 0: Colin Tattum's big match verdict
THE song may remain the same but Blues danced to a slightly different tune at Old Trafford.
And it was a beat that provided encouragement for what’s ahead in the Premier League.
Blues’ record on United’s patch is dismal to say the least – ten defeats in a row and no goals.
United went into the match knowing they were unbeaten in 21 matches against Blues as well.
But this was the best Blues have played at Old Trafford as a Premier League side certainly, and they troubled the champions like they haven’t done in the recent past. Blues weren’t taken apart, as many feared, and didn’t look out of place.
How fitting that was, then, following the death of Jack Wiseman, the former chairman and club stalwart who helped save Blues from oblivion in the aftermath of the Kumar brothers’ crash.
He was probably looking down and uttering his ‘swingin’ catchphrase, quietly content that Alex McLeish and his players could make a decent fist of it this campaign.
Sure, United were missing a cast list that would make you shudder had they been named on the team sheet. Rio Ferdinand was the last cry-off. Blues, however, were not exactly in fine fettle coming off the back of a depressing pre-season and having to re-shape defensively in the last week or so.
There were six debutants by the end, including Christian Benitez, who produced a bright and intriguing cameo, and the shock inclusion, also as a substitute, of James O’Shea.
Wayne Rooney’s 34th-minute goal, when he followed up his own header that came back off the post, was the difference in the end.
It was a moment that left Blues annoyed as they lapsed in concentration, on one of the few occasions in the first half, and paid for it.
McLeish set out the team in a 4-5-1 with the intention of making sure United played most of their football in front of them, not in behind.
Through the urgent James McFadden and clever Keith Fahey, they also tried to spring forward as and when.
