Barnsley 1, Birmingham City 1: Colin Tattum's big match verdict

Mar 11 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ONLY Karren Brady knows if her dear diary entry changed in the three minutes it took Martin Taylor to make an error and then atone for it.

Blues looked sunk at Oakwell after Taylor inexplicably missed a routine header to gift Michael Mifsud Barnsley’s 82nd-minute goal.

What was it again? Blues once more entering Phil Scolari territory, the team much inferior to the talent at their disposal?

But when Tiny – never mind Big Phil – was swift enough to turn in a Sebastian Larsson free-kick that was not dealt with by Heinz Muller, parity was restored, and possibly a vital point salvaged.

Other results went Blues’ way and nothing much changed at the top of the table. So it was a satisfactory night, only of sorts.

And the MD might have had to scrub her original notes and be a tad kinder towards the manager and his players, who remain firmly in the mix.

We will see in the next published instalment of the diary that has caused quite a stir, and provided an intriguing, distracting, sub-plot to Blues’ recent endeavours.

Apparently they have been more than a little miffed at Wast Hills, and perhaps the barbs have galvanised the side and brought them even closer together.

That’s no bad thing as it gets ever tighter and ever more nervous in the scrap for Championship promotion, another cause to rally behind – indignation and a ‘we’ll show you’ pride – has a motivational use.

Blues, missing the injured Lee Bowyer (Damien Johnson came in for his first start since the end of December), were unable to recreate the kind of drive and incessant attacking waves that unhinged Bristol City and Southampton so impressively.

Defensively, they were solid and Taylor’s badly-judged header was the only time the ball was not dealt with properly all night.

The industry was there, and the combativeness, but it was in the final third where Blues were not quite at it or effective enough.

Barnsley, who are hovering just above the relegation zone, defended stoutly themselves and weren’t there to be pushovers.

Yet Blues needed a ruthless edge at the top end of the field, and coming through from midfield.

Carlos Costly put himself about and was full of eager running, as was Cameron Jerome.

However, neither troubled the defence to panic stations. Jerome had two of Blues’ best opportunities, both in the second-half when he sprinted past Darren Moore to balls down the channels.

Coming in from the left, he was snuffed out by Muller who got under his feet, but he could have been more decisive and got shots off from more advantageous positions.