Birmingham City 1, Southampton 0: Colin Tattum's big match verdict
A SECOND successive single goal victory for Blues from what could turn out to be a pivotal week.
Without doubt, Blues needed to defeat Bristol City and Southampton and they did so deservedly, on both occasions stepping up to show what they were made of.
Players may be dropping like flies injury-wise, the average age of the side may be rocketing, there may be intriguing off-field discord, but Blues have done the business where it matters.
Read Colin Tattum and Andy Walker's live match blog from the Birmingham City v Southampton game
Keith Fahey’s goal 20 seconds into first-half stoppage time ultimately was enough, although Blues were better value than the 1-0 scoreline might suggest on face value, as they were on Wednesday night.
Reading and Cardiff City can still overtake Blues because of their games in hand, but they have no margin for error when they come around.
Likewise, Blues had no margin for error after losing at Sheffield United and the splutters of the weeks before.
And, significantly, the signs in the last four days suggest the supporters are prepared to put aside their reservations about, well, pretty much everything, and get behind the team.
Marcus Bent, unfairly treated against Bristol, was given a sympathetic round of applause when he joined the casualty list with a hamstring tear in the 18th minute.
They sang Franck Queudrue’s name and Bent’s replacement, Carlos Costly, became something of a cult figure after his trademark drag back that embarrassed a Saints defender and led to him letting rip with a snorter that was well saved by Kelvin Davis.
Costly has the leggy build of a volleyball player and a hint of Richie Moran about him, but he’s refreshingly willing, if not polished.
Alex McLeish saluted his players’ “mature” performance afterwards and praised their character.
And that’s what Blues are really all about – they’ve never really “done” soft feet, pretty football since the late 70s.
