Wolverhampton Wanderers 1, Birmingham City 0: Colin Tattum on whether Blues face a bleak midwinter

Dec 13 2010 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

IF THIS is what’s in store from Blues in the coming weeks, then stand by for the bleakest of midwinters.

Forget Wembley dreams in the Carling Cup final and all that, forget mid-table security in the Premier League.

Rarely have Blues been as ineffective, listless and lacking in punch in a derby.

In fact, this was arguably the worst performance under Alex McLeish in the Premier League.

The Villa 5-1 was a capitulation in the end, and Burnley away last season was insipid.

At times during the back end of the 2008 relegation campaign, they just weren’t good enough.

But considering how Wolves have been mired and demoralised at the foot of the Premier League, and the state they were in injury-wise, it was a shocker.

Missing a whole host of regulars and slotting players into different roles, it hardly mattered to Wolves.

They began on the front foot and their positive intent was maintained, they were first to everything and even their defensive vulnerabilities were not obviously apparent.

Too many normally reliable Blues performers were right off their mark.

Scott Dann was constantly in a tangle and has not had as tortuous a game in a Blues shirt.

Sebastian Larsson’s radar was all over the place, there was little else to champion from the rest of a Blues midfield that was eclipsed in all departments.

Sylvan Ebanks-Blake’s relentless, rumbustious display up front for Wolves was in stark contrast to what came from Nikola Zigic and Cameron Jerome.

Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Ward were an excellent, mobile focal point for the home side.

In defence of the Blues pair, they were starved of decent service. At best it was hopeful, at worst aimless, until a late rally.

And here’s the rub with Blues: they can be shown up for a lack of a dynamic, creative edge and a cutting edge when the opposition are on song and they are so off it.

The underdog role does suit them better. Wolves had that yesterday and rose to the challenge with relish.

They had not kept a clean sheet all season and had conceded 30 times, more than any other team in the top flight.

But no matter, they got their just reward through Stephen Hunt’s sharply taken near-post goal five seconds before the opening 45 minutes were up.

Wayne Hennessey hardly had anything to do. Certainly not as much as the alert and agile Ben Foster.

Blues have drawn too many games this season – nine – a trait that cost them dear in 2008.

Bobbing their heads above water requires the ability to keep ticking over with wins here and there, something those around them in the table have managed to do, especially the surprise packages of the promoted trio.