Doncaster 0, Birmingham City 2: Colin Tattum's big match verdict

Mar 16 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

COULD Blues just be finding their groove at the right time?

Lessons of the past tell us they could well be yet, on the other hand, also suggest caution.

It ain’t over ‘til it’s over and all that.

Bristol City were top with four games left last season and blew up.

At Easter two years back Blues were four points adrift and seemingly out of the picture, but surged to promotion.

Nothing can be taken for granted in the Championship.

However, a first away victory in seven attempts – and one superbly masterminded and executed – has put Blues in a strong position.

While they look to be flourishing, Reading appear to be floundering.

A seven-point gap has emerged between the second and third-placed sides.

Reading’s form has been horrendous in recent weeks. They have won just one in eight and lost three and drawn the other of their last four Madejski Stadium outings.

Blues, though, are no longer monotonous and finding themselves bogged down. They are alive, focused and playing with an urgency and an air of “we mean business” that, if maintained, can carry them all the way.

They have won three of their last four matches and, had it not been for a dodgy penalty at Sheffield Untied and a host of missed chances at Crystal Palace, would be six without defeat by now.

You can sense the players have that belief back, and the mood in the stands has changed for the better and has helped them too.

Supporters have been galvanised, they’ve bought back in, and when everyone is travelling on the same bus, you arrive quicker at the destination.

At the Keepmoat, the 1,367 enjoyed themselves like they used to on away trips. They were in hearty voice throughout and the constant singing of Anarchy In The UK – with the words changed, of course – suggested a popular new anthem to replace Coldplay as the run-out tune.

If Blues have been perceived as Johnny Rotten during their stumblings since December, then they’re Sid Vicious now.

Doncaster found that out all too well in Saturday’s evening fixture.

Alex McLeish changed the system to 4-5-1 and Liam Ridgewell was declared fit, and promptly restored to the side.

Big decisions from the manager, and wholly vindicated due to the measure of control Blues had from the first to last whistle.

Blues stifled Doncaster and didn’t allow them to construct the neat passing moves their style is based upon, so much so that they were rendered clueless.

It was windy and the pitch poor, the ball bouncing and bobbling, and Blues also adapted to the conditions as well as played to their own strengths, plus they used their know-how shrewdly.

Driven by the fearsome tackling of Lee Carsley, and the no-nonsense defending at the back (save a worrying opening 20 minutes from Radhi Jaidi), Blues were too tenacious, too clever.

They attacked swiftly, using widemen Sebastian Larsson and Hameur Bouazza to join in with Cameron Jerome, as well as Lee Bowyer, who bravely defied injury.