Birmingham City 1, Preston North End 2: Colin Tattum's big match verdict

Apr 27 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

Sean St Ledger, seven minutes into the second half, mistimed a free five-yard header and put the ball wide, producing a sharp intake of breath among 24,000-odd people who, by now, realised the party could well be pooped.

Yet soon after Keith Fahey broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, smartly nipping into a gap to spear James McFadden’s cross in with his head.

St Andrew’s erupted, the nervous tension on and off the pitch evaporated and Blues had their favourite scoreline, one which they usually hold.

But when Lee Bowyer and Lee Williamson had ‘afters’ and grappled with one another in the centre circle like rugby league rivals as play went upfield, the match took a significant turn.

The pair ended forehead to forehead – neither butted the other – but referee Phil Dowd, who was a way away from the incident, decided it merited violent conduct and both were red-carded.

It was a harsh judgment if it was for that alone, and it affected Blues more than it did Preston.

Bowyer, already on a yellow card, should not have got involved in the unsavoury tangle as he did, however. On another occasion, the pair would have been told to stop being so stupid and just get on with the game. Unfortunately not with a chap like Dowd in charge.

With Bowyer gone, Alex McLeish maybe should have brought on Lee Carsley to help shore it up as Blues had the lead.

What transpired was a stunning 25-yarder from Paul McKenna that moved and swerved on its way past Maik Taylor to put everything back in the melting pot at 1-1 in the 69th minute.

It became end-to-end stuff. Fahey was inches away with a rising long-ranger and Cameron Jerome, from six yards’ distance, incredibly hooked a Kevin Phillips nod-down over the crossbar as he fell away. It was an agonising miss.

Blues had to throw everything at it. A draw was no good because of Sheffield’s victory. Nor was it to Preston, who maintained their desire to win.

The tension and frustration was getting to everyone. Jerome hacked at a pitch invader who also had the ball booted into his midriff by Mellor, and another ‘thicko’ ran on to confront McKenna before being toppled by stewards.

The sting in the tail was executed brilliantly by Wallace: a 25-yard viciously-bending free-kick that thudded in off the post.

He was sent off for removing his shirt in celebration of the 89th-minute wonder strike, and Blues’ chances of automatic promotion on home turf were sent packing.

Overall, the occasion and the opposition got the better of them. Blues did not play with such composure or were as efficiently measured as they have been during the doughty unbeaten run that got them tantalisingly to the brink of the Premier League. The inspiration was lacking too, and legs wobbled towards the end.

There have not been two better-struck goals against Blues this season, but that’s hardly consolation. Promotion, pride, £50million was at stake and Blues came up short.